Editorial

4 pages, 196 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Physiological and Environmental Regulation of Seed Germination: From Signaling Events to Molecular Responses

by Emmanuel Baudouin, Juliette Puyaubert and Christophe Bailly

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 4839; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23094839 - 27 Apr 2022

Viewed by 1382

A timely and efficient seed germination is critical for plantlets’ establishment and robustness as well as plant development and plant performance in both natural ecosystems and agrosystems [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Environmental Regulation of Seed Germination: From Signaling Events to Molecular Responses)

Research

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15 pages, 2007 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Role for Plastid Thioredoxins in Seed Physiology in Relation to Hormone Regulation

by Guillaume Née, Gilles Châtel-Innocenti, Patrice Meimoun, Juliette Leymarie, Françoise Montrichard, Pascale Satour, Christophe Bailly and Emmanuelle Issakidis-Bourguet

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(19), 10395; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms221910395 - 27 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1833

Abstract

In Arabidopsis seeds, ROS have been shown to be enabling actors of cellular signaling pathways promoting germination, but their accumulation under stress conditions or during aging leads to a decrease in the ability to germinate. Previous biochemical work revealed that a specific class [...] Read more.

In Arabidopsis seeds, ROS have been shown to be enabling actors of cellular signaling pathways promoting germination, but their accumulation under stress conditions or during aging leads to a decrease in the ability to germinate. Previous biochemical work revealed that a specific class of plastid thioredoxins (Trxs), the y-type Trxs, can fulfill antioxidant functions. Among the ten plastidial Trx isoforms identified in Arabidopsis, Trx y1 mRNA is the most abundant in dry seeds. We hypothesized that Trx y1 and Trx y2 would play an important role in seed physiology as antioxidants. Using reverse genetics, we found important changes in the corresponding Arabidopsis mutant seeds. They display remarkable traits such as increased longevity and higher and faster germination in conditions of reduced water availability or oxidative stress. These phenotypes suggest that Trxs y do not play an antioxidant role in seeds, as further evidenced by no changes in global ROS contents and protein redox status found in the corresponding mutant seeds. Instead, we provide evidence that marker genes of ABA and GAs pathways are perturbed in mutant seeds, together with their sensitivity to specific hormone inhibitors. Altogether, our results suggest that Trxs y function in Arabidopsis seeds is not linked to their previously identified antioxidant roles and reveal a new role for plastid Trxs linked to hormone regulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Environmental Regulation of Seed Germination: From Signaling Events to Molecular Responses)

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17 pages, 2609 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Histone Chaperone HIRA Is a Positive Regulator of Seed Germination

by Elodie Layat, Marie Bourcy, Sylviane Cotterell, Julia Zdzieszyńska, Sophie Desset, Céline Duc, Christophe Tatout, Christophe Bailly and Aline V. Probst

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(8), 4031; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22084031 - 14 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3159

Abstract

Histone chaperones regulate the flow and dynamics of histone variants and ensure their assembly into nucleosomal structures, thereby contributing to the repertoire of histone variants in specialized cells or tissues. To date, not much is known on the distribution of histone variants and [...] Read more.

Histone chaperones regulate the flow and dynamics of histone variants and ensure their assembly into nucleosomal structures, thereby contributing to the repertoire of histone variants in specialized cells or tissues. To date, not much is known on the distribution of histone variants and their modifications in the dry seed embryo. Here, we bring evidence that genes encoding the replacement histone variant H3.3 are expressed in Arabidopsis dry seeds and that embryo chromatin is characterized by a low H3.1/H3.3 ratio. Loss of HISTONE REGULATOR A (HIRA), a histone chaperone responsible for H3.3 deposition, reduces cellular H3 levels and increases chromatin accessibility in dry seeds. These molecular differences are accompanied by increased seed dormancy in hira-1 mutant seeds. The loss of HIRA negatively affects seed germination even in the absence of HISTONE MONOUBIQUITINATION 1 or TRANSCRIPTION ELONGATION FACTOR II S, known to be required for seed dormancy. Finally, hira-1 mutant seeds show lower germination efficiency when aged under controlled deterioration conditions or when facing unfavorable environmental conditions such as high salinity. Altogether, our results reveal a dependency of dry seed chromatin organization on the replication-independent histone deposition pathway and show that HIRA contributes to modulating seed dormancy and vigor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Environmental Regulation of Seed Germination: From Signaling Events to Molecular Responses)

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21 pages, 6406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Transcriptome Profiles of Soybean (Glycine max) Tissues during Early Seed Development

by Shuo Sun, Changyu Yi, Jing Ma, Shoudong Wang, Marta Peirats-Llobet, Mathew G. Lewsey, James Whelan and Huixia Shou

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(20), 7603; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21207603 - 14 Oct 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3593

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max) is an important crop providing oil and protein for both human and animal consumption. Knowing which biological processes take place in specific tissues in a temporal manner will enable directed breeding or synthetic approaches to improve seed quantity [...] Read more.

Soybean (Glycine max) is an important crop providing oil and protein for both human and animal consumption. Knowing which biological processes take place in specific tissues in a temporal manner will enable directed breeding or synthetic approaches to improve seed quantity and quality. We analyzed a genome-wide transcriptome dataset from embryo, endosperm, endothelium, epidermis, hilum, outer and inner integument and suspensor at the global, heart and cotyledon stages of soybean seed development. The tissue specificity of gene expression was greater than stage specificity, and only three genes were differentially expressed in all seed tissues. Tissues had both unique and shared enriched functional categories of tissue-specifically expressed genes associated with them. Strong spatio-temporal correlation in gene expression was identified using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, with the most co-expression occurring in one seed tissue. Transcription factors with distinct spatiotemporal gene expression programs in each seed tissue were identified as candidate regulators of expression within those tissues. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment of orthogroup clusters revealed the conserved functions and unique roles of orthogroups with similar and contrasting expression patterns in transcript abundance between soybean and Arabidopsis during embryo proper and endosperm development. Key regulators in each seed tissue and hub genes connecting those networks were characterized by constructing gene regulatory networks. Our findings provide an important resource for describing the structure and function of individual soybean seed compartments during early seed development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Environmental Regulation of Seed Germination: From Signaling Events to Molecular Responses)

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12 pages, 723 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Temperature Regulation of Primary and Secondary Seed Dormancy in Rosa canina L.: Findings from Proteomic Analysis

by Tomasz A. Pawłowski, Barbara Bujarska-Borkowska, Jan Suszka, Tadeusz Tylkowski, Paweł Chmielarz, Ewelina A. Klupczyńska and Aleksandra M. Staszak

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(19), 7008; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21197008 - 23 Sep 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2393

Abstract

Temperature is a key environmental factor restricting seed germination. Rose (Rosa canina L.) seeds are characterized by physical/physiological dormancy, which is broken during warm, followed by cold stratification. Exposing pretreated seeds to 20 °C resulted in the induction of secondary dormancy. The [...] Read more.

Temperature is a key environmental factor restricting seed germination. Rose (Rosa canina L.) seeds are characterized by physical/physiological dormancy, which is broken during warm, followed by cold stratification. Exposing pretreated seeds to 20 °C resulted in the induction of secondary dormancy. The aim of this study was to identify and functionally characterize the proteins associated with dormancy control of rose seeds. Proteins from primary dormant, after warm and cold stratification (nondormant), and secondary dormant seeds were analyzed using 2-D electrophoresis. Proteins that varied in abundance were identified by mass spectrometry. Results showed that cold stratifications affected the variability of the highest number of spots, and there were more common spots with secondary dormancy than with warm stratification. The increase of mitochondrial proteins and actin during dormancy breaking suggests changes in cell functioning and seed preparation to germination. Secondary dormant seeds were characterized by low levels of legumin, metabolic enzymes, and actin, suggesting the consumption of storage materials, a decrease in metabolic activity, and cell elongation. Breaking the dormancy of rose seeds increased the abundance of cellular and metabolic proteins that promote germination. Induction of secondary dormancy caused a decrease in these proteins and germination arrest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Environmental Regulation of Seed Germination: From Signaling Events to Molecular Responses)

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Review

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26 pages, 1392 KiB

Open AccessReview

ABA Metabolism and Homeostasis in Seed Dormancy and Germination

by Naoto Sano and Annie Marion-Poll

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(10), 5069; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22105069 - 11 May 2021

Cited by 92 | Viewed by 8056

Abstract

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key hormone that promotes dormancy during seed development on the mother plant and after seed dispersal participates in the control of dormancy release and germination in response to environmental signals. The modulation of ABA endogenous levels is largely [...] Read more.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key hormone that promotes dormancy during seed development on the mother plant and after seed dispersal participates in the control of dormancy release and germination in response to environmental signals. The modulation of ABA endogenous levels is largely achieved by fine-tuning, in the different seed tissues, hormone synthesis by cleavage of carotenoid precursors and inactivation by 8′-hydroxylation. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on ABA metabolism in developing and germinating seeds; notably, how environmental signals such as light, temperature and nitrate control seed dormancy through the adjustment of hormone levels. A number of regulatory factors have been recently identified which functional relationships with major transcription factors, such as ABA INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), ABI4 and ABI5, have an essential role in the control of seed ABA levels. The increasing importance of epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of ABA metabolism gene expression is also described. In the last section, we give an overview of natural variations of ABA metabolism genes and their effects on seed germination, which could be useful both in future studies to better understand the regulation of ABA metabolism and to identify candidates as breeding materials for improving germination properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Environmental Regulation of Seed Germination: From Signaling Events to Molecular Responses)

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23 pages, 6415 KiB

Open AccessReview

Molecular Control of Oil Metabolism in the Endosperm of Seeds

by Romane Miray, Sami Kazaz, Alexandra To and Sébastien Baud

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(4), 1621; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22041621 - 05 Feb 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4078

Abstract

In angiosperm seeds, the endosperm develops to varying degrees and accumulates different types of storage compounds remobilized by the seedling during early post-germinative growth. Whereas the molecular mechanisms controlling the metabolism of starch and seed-storage proteins in the endosperm of cereal grains are [...] Read more.

In angiosperm seeds, the endosperm develops to varying degrees and accumulates different types of storage compounds remobilized by the seedling during early post-germinative growth. Whereas the molecular mechanisms controlling the metabolism of starch and seed-storage proteins in the endosperm of cereal grains are relatively well characterized, the regulation of oil metabolism in the endosperm of developing and germinating oilseeds has received particular attention only more recently, thanks to the emergence and continuous improvement of analytical techniques allowing the evaluation, within a spatial context, of gene activity on one side, and lipid metabolism on the other side. These studies represent a fundamental step toward the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms governing oil metabolism in this particular tissue. In particular, they highlight the importance of endosperm-specific transcriptional controls for determining original oil compositions usually observed in this tissue. In the light of this research, the biological functions of oils stored in the endosperm of seeds then appear to be more diverse than simply constituting a source of carbon made available for the germinating seedling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Environmental Regulation of Seed Germination: From Signaling Events to Molecular Responses)

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18 pages, 1037 KiB

Open AccessReview

Emerging Roles of RNA-Binding Proteins in Seed Development and Performance

by Lijuan Lou, Ling Ding, Tao Wang and Yong Xiang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(18), 6822; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21186822 - 17 Sep 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3535

Abstract

Seed development, dormancy, and germination are key physiological events that are not only important for seed generation, survival, and dispersal, but also contribute to agricultural production. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) directly interact with target mRNAs and fine-tune mRNA metabolism by governing post-transcriptional regulation, including [...] Read more.

Seed development, dormancy, and germination are key physiological events that are not only important for seed generation, survival, and dispersal, but also contribute to agricultural production. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) directly interact with target mRNAs and fine-tune mRNA metabolism by governing post-transcriptional regulation, including RNA processing, intron splicing, nuclear export, trafficking, stability/decay, and translational control. Recent studies have functionally characterized increasing numbers of diverse RBPs and shown that they participate in seed development and performance, providing significant insight into the role of RBP–mRNA interactions in seed processes. In this review, we discuss recent research progress on newly defined RBPs that have crucial roles in RNA metabolism and affect seed development, dormancy, and germination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Environmental Regulation of Seed Germination: From Signaling Events to Molecular Responses)

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13 pages, 1487 KiB

Open AccessReview

Seed Germination in Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.): A Review of Metabolic Pathways and Control Mechanisms

by Jing Cui, Emmanuelle Lamade and Guillaume Tcherkez

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(12), 4227; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21124227 - 13 Jun 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 10513

Abstract

Oil palm is an oil-producing crop of major importance at the global scale. Oil palm mesocarp lipids are used for myriads industrial applications, and market demand has been growing for decades. In addition, oil palm seeds are oleaginous, and the oil extracted therefrom [...] Read more.

Oil palm is an oil-producing crop of major importance at the global scale. Oil palm mesocarp lipids are used for myriads industrial applications, and market demand has been growing for decades. In addition, oil palm seeds are oleaginous, and the oil extracted therefrom can be used for several purposes, from food to cosmetics. As such, there is a huge need in oil palm seeds to maintain the global cohort of more than 2 billion trees. However, oil palm seed germination is a rather difficult process, not only to break dormancy, but also because it is long and often reaches lower-than-expected germination rates. Surprisingly, despite the crucial importance of germination for oil palm plantation management, our knowledge is still rather limited, in particular about germinating oil palm seed metabolism. The present review incorporates different pieces of information that have been obtained in the past few years, in oil palm and in other palm species, in order to provide an overview of germination metabolism and its control. Further insights can also be gained from other oleaginous model plants, such as Arabidopsis or canola, however, palm seeds have peculiarities that must be accounted for, to gain a better understanding of germinating seed metabolism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Environmental Regulation of Seed Germination: From Signaling Events to Molecular Responses)

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