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20 pages, 7053 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tissue-Specific Proteome and Subcellular Microscopic Analyses Reveal the Effect of High Salt Concentration on Actin Cytoskeleton and Vacuolization in Aleurone Cells during Early Germination of Barley

by Georgi Dermendjiev, Madeleine Schnurer, Jakob Weiszmann, Sarah Wilfinger, Emanuel Ott, Claudia Gebert, Wolfram Weckwerth and Verena Ibl

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(17), 9642; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22179642 - 06 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2563

Abstract

Cereal grain germination provides the basis for crop production and requires a tissue-specific interplay between the embryo and endosperm during heterotrophic germination involving signalling, protein secretion, and nutrient uptake until autotrophic growth is possible. High salt concentrations in soil are one of the [...] Read more.

Cereal grain germination provides the basis for crop production and requires a tissue-specific interplay between the embryo and endosperm during heterotrophic germination involving signalling, protein secretion, and nutrient uptake until autotrophic growth is possible. High salt concentrations in soil are one of the most severe constraints limiting the germination of crop plants, affecting the metabolism and redox status within the tissues of germinating seed. However, little is known about the effect of salt on seed storage protein mobilization, the endomembrane system, and protein trafficking within and between these tissues. Here, we used mass spectrometry analyses to investigate the protein dynamics of the embryo and endosperm of barley (Hordeum vulgare, L.) at five different early points during germination (0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after imbibition) in germinated grains subjected to salt stress. The expression of proteins in the embryo as well as in the endosperm was temporally regulated. Seed storage proteins (SSPs), peptidases, and starch-digesting enzymes were affected by salt. Additionally, microscopic analyses revealed an altered assembly of actin bundles and morphology of protein storage vacuoles (PSVs) in the aleurone layer. Our results suggest that besides the salt-induced protein expression, intracellular trafficking and actin cytoskeleton assembly are responsible for germination delay under salt stress conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morphology and Physiology of Seeds and Other Plant Storage Tissues)

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14 pages, 2909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gibberellin Signaling Promotes the Secondary Growth of Storage Roots in Panax ginseng

by Chang Pyo Hong, Jinsoo Kim, Jinsu Lee, Seung-il Yoo, Wonsil Bae, Kyoung Rok Geem, Jin Yu, Inbae Jang, Ick Hyun Jo, Hyunwoo Cho, Donghwan Shim and Hojin Ryu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(16), 8694; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22168694 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3251

Abstract

Gibberellins (GAs) are an important group of phytohormones associated with diverse growth and developmental processes, including cell elongation, seed germination, and secondary growth. Recent genomic and genetic analyses have advanced our knowledge of GA signaling pathways and related genes in model plant species. [...] Read more.

Gibberellins (GAs) are an important group of phytohormones associated with diverse growth and developmental processes, including cell elongation, seed germination, and secondary growth. Recent genomic and genetic analyses have advanced our knowledge of GA signaling pathways and related genes in model plant species. However, functional genomics analyses of GA signaling pathways in Panax ginseng, a perennial herb, have rarely been carried out, despite its well-known economical and medicinal importance. Here, we conducted functional characterization of GA receptors and investigated their physiological roles in the secondary growth of P. ginseng storage roots. We found that the physiological and genetic functions of P. ginseng gibberellin-insensitive dwarf1s (PgGID1s) have been evolutionarily conserved. Additionally, the essential domains and residues in the primary protein structure for interaction with active GAs and DELLA proteins are well-conserved. Overexpression of PgGID1s in Arabidopsis completely restored the GA deficient phenotype of the Arabidopsis gid1a gid1c (atgid1a/c) double mutant. Exogenous GA treatment greatly enhanced the secondary growth of tap roots; however, paclobutrazol (PCZ), a GA biosynthetic inhibitor, reduced root growth in P. ginseng. Transcriptome profiling of P. ginseng roots revealed that GA-induced root secondary growth is closely associated with cell wall biogenesis, the cell cycle, the jasmonic acid (JA) response, and nitrate assimilation, suggesting that a transcriptional network regulate root secondary growth in P. ginseng. These results provide novel insights into the mechanism controlling secondary root growth in P. ginseng. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morphology and Physiology of Seeds and Other Plant Storage Tissues)

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24 pages, 25710 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chilling Requirement Validation and Physiological and Molecular Responses of the Bud Endodormancy Release in Paeonia lactiflora ‘Meiju’

by Runlong Zhang, Xiaobin Wang, Xiaohua Shi, Lingmei Shao, Tong Xu, Yiping Xia, Danqing Li and Jiaping Zhang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(16), 8382; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22168382 - 04 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2533

Abstract

The introduction of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) in low-latitude areas is of great significance to expand the landscape application of this world-famous ornamental. With the hazards of climate warming, warm winters occurs frequently, which makes many excellent northern herbaceous peony cultivars [...] Read more.

The introduction of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) in low-latitude areas is of great significance to expand the landscape application of this world-famous ornamental. With the hazards of climate warming, warm winters occurs frequently, which makes many excellent northern herbaceous peony cultivars unable to meet their chilling requirements (CR) and leads to their poor growth and flowering in southern China. Exploring the endodormancy release mechanism of underground buds is crucial for improving low-CR cultivar screening and breeding. A systematic study was conducted on P. lactiflora ‘Meiju’, a screened cultivar with a typical low-CR trait introduced from northern China, at the morphological, physiological and molecular levels. The CR value of ‘Meiju’ was further verified as 677.5 CUs based on the UT model and morphological observation. As a kind of signal transducer, reactive oxygen species (ROS) released a signal to enter dormancy, which led to corresponding changes in carbohydrate and hormone metabolism in buds, thus promoting underground buds to acquire strong cold resistance and enter endodormancy. The expression of important genes related to ABA metabolism, such as NCED3, PP2C, CBF4 and ABF2, reached peaks at the critical stage of endodormancy release (9 January) and then decreased rapidly; the expression of the GA2ox8 gene related to GA synthesis increased significantly in the early stage of endodormancy release and decreased rapidly after the release of ecodormancy (23 January). Cytological observation showed that the period when the sugar and starch contents decreased and the ABA/GA ratio decreased was when ‘Meiju’ bud endodormancy was released. This study reveals the endodormancy regulation mechanism of ‘Meiju’ buds with the low-CR trait, which lays a theoretical foundation for breeding new herbaceous peony cultivars with the low-CR trait. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morphology and Physiology of Seeds and Other Plant Storage Tissues)

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16 pages, 4360 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lipid Remodeling Confers Osmotic Stress Tolerance to Embryogenic Cells during Cryopreservation

by Liang Lin, Junchao Ma, Qin Ai, Hugh W. Pritchard, Weiqi Li and Hongying Chen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(4), 2174; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22042174 - 22 Feb 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4059

Abstract

Plant species conservation through cryopreservation using plant vitrification solutions (PVS) is based in empiricism and the mechanisms that confer cell integrity are not well understood. Using ESI-MS/MS analysis and quantification, we generated 12 comparative lipidomics datasets for membranes of embryogenic cells (ECs) of [...] Read more.

Plant species conservation through cryopreservation using plant vitrification solutions (PVS) is based in empiricism and the mechanisms that confer cell integrity are not well understood. Using ESI-MS/MS analysis and quantification, we generated 12 comparative lipidomics datasets for membranes of embryogenic cells (ECs) of Magnolia officinalis during cryogenic treatments. Each step of the complex PVS-based cryoprotocol had a profoundly different impact on membrane lipid composition. Loading treatment (osmoprotection) remodeled the cell membrane by lipid turnover, between increased phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and decreased phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The PA increase likely serves as an intermediate for adjustments in lipid metabolism to desiccation stress. Following PVS treatment, lipid levels increased, including PC and PE, and this effectively counteracted the potential for massive loss of lipid species when cryopreservation was implemented in the absence of cryoprotection. The present detailed cryobiotechnology findings suggest that the remodeling of membrane lipids and attenuation of lipid degradation are critical for the successful use of PVS. As lipid metabolism and composition varies with species, these new insights provide a framework for technology development for the preservation of other species at increasing risk of extinction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morphology and Physiology of Seeds and Other Plant Storage Tissues)

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15 pages, 9953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Localization and Dynamics of the Methionine Sulfoxide Reductases MsrB1 and MsrB2 in Beech Seeds

by Natalia Wojciechowska, Agnieszka Bagniewska-Zadworna, Julia Minicka, Kornel M. Michalak and Ewa M. Kalemba

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(1), 402; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22010402 - 02 Jan 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2532

Abstract

Beech seeds are produced irregularly, and there is a need for long-term storage of these seeds for forest management practices. Accumulated reactive oxygen species broadly oxidize molecules, including amino acids, such as methionine, thereby contributing to decreased seed viability. Methionine oxidation can be [...] Read more.

Beech seeds are produced irregularly, and there is a need for long-term storage of these seeds for forest management practices. Accumulated reactive oxygen species broadly oxidize molecules, including amino acids, such as methionine, thereby contributing to decreased seed viability. Methionine oxidation can be reversed by the activity of methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msrs), which are enzymes involved in the regulation of many developmental processes and stress responses. Two types of Msrs, MsrB1 and MsrB2, were investigated in beech seeds to determine their abundance and localization. MsrB1 and MsrB2 were detected in the cortical cells and the outer area of the vascular cylinder of the embryonic axes as well as in the epidermis and parenchyma cells of cotyledons. The abundances of MsrB1 and MsrB2 decreased during long-term storage. Ultrastructural analyses have demonstrated the accumulation of these proteins in protein storage vacuoles and in the cytoplasm, especially in close proximity to the cell membrane. In silico predictions of possible Msr interactions supported our findings. In this study, we investigate the contribution of MsrB1 and MsrB2 locations in the regulation of seed viability and suggest that MsrB2 is linked with the longevity of beech seeds via association with proper utilization of storage material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morphology and Physiology of Seeds and Other Plant Storage Tissues)

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21 pages, 3291 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Involvement of the MetO/Msr System in Two Acer Species That Display Contrasting Characteristics during Germination

by Natalia Wojciechowska, Shirin Alipour, Ewelina Stolarska, Karolina Bilska, Pascal Rey and Ewa M. Kalemba

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(23), 9197; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21239197 - 02 Dec 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2086

Abstract

The levels of methionine sulfoxide (MetO) and the abundances of methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msrs) were reported as important for the desiccation tolerance of Acer seeds. To determine whether the MetO/Msrs system is related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and involved in the regulation [...] Read more.

The levels of methionine sulfoxide (MetO) and the abundances of methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msrs) were reported as important for the desiccation tolerance of Acer seeds. To determine whether the MetO/Msrs system is related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and involved in the regulation of germination in orthodox and recalcitrant seeds, Norway maple and sycamore were investigated. Changes in water content, MetO content, the abundance of MsrB1 and MsrB2 in relation to ROS content and the activity of reductases depending on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides were monitored. Acer seeds differed in germination speed—substantially higher in sycamore—hydration dynamics, levels of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion radicals (O₂^•−) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH), which exhibited peaks at different stages of germination. The MetO level dynamically changed, particularly in sycamore embryonic axes, where it was positively correlated with the levels of O₂^•− and the abundance of MsrB1 and negatively with the levels of •OH and the abundance of MsrB2. The MsrB2 abundance increased upon sycamore germination; in contrast, it markedly decreased in Norway maple. We propose that the ROS–MetO–Msr redox system, allowing balanced Met redox homeostasis, participates in the germination process in sycamore, which is characterized by a much higher speed compared to Norway maple. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morphology and Physiology of Seeds and Other Plant Storage Tissues)

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Review

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12 pages, 1690 KiB

Open AccessReview

Crosstalk during the Carbon–Nitrogen Cycle That Interlinks the Biosynthesis, Mobilization and Accumulation of Seed Storage Reserves

by Manpreet Kaur, Yamini Tak, Surekha Bhatia, Bavita Asthir, José M. Lorenzo and Ryszard Amarowicz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(21), 12032; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms222112032 - 06 Nov 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2825

Abstract

Carbohydrates are the major storage reserves in seeds, and they are produced and accumulated in specific tissues during the growth and development of a plant. The storage products are hydrolyzed into a mobile form, and they are then translocated to the developing tissue [...] Read more.

Carbohydrates are the major storage reserves in seeds, and they are produced and accumulated in specific tissues during the growth and development of a plant. The storage products are hydrolyzed into a mobile form, and they are then translocated to the developing tissue following seed germination, thereby ensuring new plant formation and seedling vigor. The utilization of seed reserves is an important characteristic of seed quality. This review focuses on the seed storage reserve composition, source–sink relations and partitioning of the major transported carbohydrate form, i.e., sucrose, into different reserves through sucrolytic processes, biosynthetic pathways, interchanging levels during mobilization and crosstalk based on vital biochemical pathways that interlink the carbon and nitrogen cycles. Seed storage reserves are important due to their nutritional value; therefore, novel approaches to augmenting the targeted storage reserve are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morphology and Physiology of Seeds and Other Plant Storage Tissues)

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12 pages, 1741 KiB

Open AccessReview

Dead but Not Dead End: Multifunctional Role of Dead Organs Enclosing Embryos in Seed Biology

by Gideon Grafi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(21), 8024; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21218024 - 28 Oct 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2976

Abstract

Dry fruits consist of two types, dehiscent and indehiscent, whereby the fruit is splitting open or remains closed at maturity, respectively. The seed, the dispersal unit (DU) of dehiscent fruits, is composed of three major parts, the embryo and the food reserve, encapsulated [...] Read more.

Dry fruits consist of two types, dehiscent and indehiscent, whereby the fruit is splitting open or remains closed at maturity, respectively. The seed, the dispersal unit (DU) of dehiscent fruits, is composed of three major parts, the embryo and the food reserve, encapsulated by the maternally-derived organ, the seed coat. Indehiscent fruit constitutes the DU in which the embryo is covered by two protective layers (PLs), the seed coat and the fruit coat. In grasses, the caryopsis, a one-seeded fruit, can be further enclosed by the floral bracts to generate two types of DUs, florets and spikelets. All protective layers enclosing the embryo undergo programmed cell death (PCD) at maturation and are thought to provide mainly a physical shield for embryo protection and a means for dispersal. In this review article, I wish to highlight the elaborate function of these dead organs enclosing the embryo as unique storage structures for beneficial substances and discuss their potential role in seed biology and ecology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morphology and Physiology of Seeds and Other Plant Storage Tissues)

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19 pages, 1589 KiB

Open AccessReview

Globoids and Phytase: The Mineral Storage and Release System in Seeds

by Claus Krogh Madsen and Henrik Brinch-Pedersen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(20), 7519; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21207519 - 12 Oct 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3091

Abstract

Phytate and phytases in seeds are the subjects of numerous studies, dating back as far as the early 20th century. Most of these studies concern the anti-nutritional properties of phytate, and the prospect of alleviating the effects of phytate with phytase. As reasonable [...] Read more.

Phytate and phytases in seeds are the subjects of numerous studies, dating back as far as the early 20th century. Most of these studies concern the anti-nutritional properties of phytate, and the prospect of alleviating the effects of phytate with phytase. As reasonable as this may be, it has led to a fragmentation of knowledge, which hampers the appreciation of the physiological system at hand. In this review, we integrate the existing knowledge on the chemistry and biosynthesis of phytate, the globoid cellular structure, and recent advances on plant phytases. We highlight that these components make up a system that serves to store and—in due time—release the seed’s reserves of the mineral nutrients phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, and others, as well as inositol and protein. The central component of the system, the phytate anion, is inherently rich in phosphorous and inositol. The chemical properties of phytate enable it to sequester additional cationic nutrients. Compartmentalization and membrane transport processes regulate the buildup of phytate and its associated nutrients, resulting in globoid storage structures. We suggest, based on the current evidence, that the degradation of the globoid and the mobilization of the nutrients also depend on membrane transport processes, as well as the enzymatic action of phytase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morphology and Physiology of Seeds and Other Plant Storage Tissues)

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