Fig. 1

The vrs3 phenotype. a Spike of the two-rowed cv. Bowman. b Spike of the vrs3 NIL BW419(int-a.1). Scale bar in a applies to b, 1 cm. c Bowman spikelet triplet with fertile central and infertile lateral spikelets. d–h Spikelet triplets from a homozygous vrs3 individual from the BW419(int-a.1)*Bowman F2 population. d Six-rowed spikelet triplet. e Spikelet triplet with fertile central spikelet and infertile, pointed lateral spikelets. f–h Spikelet triplet with additional fertile spikelets and awned palea. g Adaxial and h abaxial views of the same spikelet triplet showing the formation of additional florets within the central spikelet. Scale bar in c applies to d–h, 1 cm. i, j Scanning electron microscopy of developing spikes of i Bowman and j vrs3 NIL BW902(vrs3.f). Developing lemmas are highlighted in pink, anthers in green and glumes in yellow. Scale bar in i applies to j, 500 µm