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Salt Induces Features of a Dormancy-Like State in Seeds of Eutrema (Thellungiella) salsugineum, a Halophytic Relative of Arabidopsis

Authors :
Universitat Politècnica de València. Instituto Universitario Mixto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas - Institut Universitari Mixt de Biologia Molecular i Cel·lular de Plantes
Israel Science Foundation
Kazachkova, Yana
Khan, Asif
Acuña, Tania
Lopez Diaz, Isabel
Carrera Bergua, Esther
Khozin-Goldberg, Inna
Fait, Aaron
Barak, Simon
Universitat Politècnica de València. Instituto Universitario Mixto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas - Institut Universitari Mixt de Biologia Molecular i Cel·lular de Plantes
Israel Science Foundation
Kazachkova, Yana
Khan, Asif
Acuña, Tania
Lopez Diaz, Isabel
Carrera Bergua, Esther
Khozin-Goldberg, Inna
Fait, Aaron
Barak, Simon
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

[EN] The salinization of land is a major factor limiting crop production worldwide. Halophytes adapted to high levels of salinity are likely to possess useful genes for improving crop tolerance to salt stress. In addition, halophytes could provide a food source on marginal lands. However, despite halophytes being salt-tolerant plants, the seeds of several halophytic species will not germinate on saline soils. Yet, little is understood regarding biochemical and gene expression changes underlying salt-mediated inhibition of halophyte seed germination. We have used the halophytic Arabidopsis relative model system, Eutrema (Thellungiella) salsugineum to explore salt-mediated inhibition of germination. We show that E. salsugineum seed germination is inhibited by salt to a far greater extent than in Arabidopsis, and that this inhibition is in response to the osmotic component of salt exposure. E. salsugineum seeds remain viable even when germination is completely inhibited, and germination resumes once seeds are transferred to non-saline conditions. Moreover, removal of the seed coat from salt treated seeds allows embryos to germinate on salt-containing medium. Mobilization of seed storage reserves is restricted in salt treated seeds, while many germination associated metabolic changes are arrested or progress to a lower extent. Salt-exposed seeds are further characterized by a reduced GA/ABA ratio and increased expression of the germination repressor genes, RGL2,AB15, and DOG1. Furthermore, a salt-mediated increase in expression of a LATE EMBRYOGENESIS ABUNDANT gene and accretion of metabolites involved in osmoprotection indicates induction of processes associated with stress tolerance, and accumulation of easily mobilized carbon reserves. Overall, our results suggest that salt inhibits E. salsugineum seed germination by inducing a seed state with molecular features of dormancy while a physical constraint to radicle emergence is provided by the seed coat layers. This see

Details

Database :
OAIster
Notes :
TEXT, English
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1138438983
Document Type :
Electronic Resource