光信号与激素调控种子休眠和萌发研究进展

休眠是种子植物在长期进化过程中产生的适应性性状, 通过抑制种子在不适宜的环境中萌发进而保证植物能够在逆境中生存。此外, 休眠有助于种子的长距离运输和扩散, 因此休眠对种子延续和物种保存具有重要意义。种子由休眠向萌发的发育转变不仅关系到物种的繁衍, 而且对保证农业生产中作物的产量和品质也具有重要作用。种子的休眠和萌发受到内源激素和外源光信号的共同调控。其中, 外源光信号主要通过调控内源ABA和GA的生物合成及信号转导进而调控种子休眠和萌发。该文系统综述了外源光信号和内源激素调控种子休眠和萌发的作用通路以及两类信号通路之间的交互作用, 旨在为农业生产中利用光和激素调控种子休眠与萌发提供参考。     

蛋白质磷酸化修饰与种子休眠及萌发调控

种子休眠与萌发是截然不同而又紧密联系的两个生理过程,也是植物生命周期中的关键阶段,对自然状态下的植物物种繁殖与地理分布以及农业生产均具有重要意义,且两个过程受不同内源激素和环境信号之间的精确互作调控。大量研究表明,蛋白质磷酸化修饰作为一种重要的翻译后修饰方式,参与调控种子休眠与萌发以及植物逆境胁迫响应等过程并发挥重要作...     

生长素调控种子的休眠与萌发

植物种子的休眠与萌发,是植物生长发育过程中的关键阶段,也是生命科学领域的研究热点。种子从休眠向萌发的转换是极为复杂的生物学过程,由外界环境因子、体内激素含量及信号传导和若干关键基因协同调控。大量研究表明,植物激素脱落酸(Abscisic acid, ABA)和赤霉素(Gibberellin acid, GA)是调控种子休眠水平,决定种子从休眠转向萌发的主要内源因子。ABA与GA在含量和信号传导两个层次上的精确平衡,确保了植物种子能以休眠状态在逆境中存活,并在适宜的时间启动萌发程序。生长素(Auxin)是经典植物激素之一,其对向性生长和组织分化等生物学过程的调控已有大量研究。但最近有研究证实,生长素对种子休眠有正向调控作用,这表明生长素是继ABA之后的第二个促进种子休眠的植物激素。本文在回顾生长素的发现历程、阐释生长素体内合成途径及信号传导通路的基础上,重点综述了生长素通过与ABA的协同作用调控种子休眠的分子机制,并对未来的研究热点进行了讨论和展望。     

MicroRNA在种子发育、休眠与萌发过程中的作用

植物microRNA(miRNA)是一类小分子非编码RNA,对植物的生长发育发挥着重要调控作用。种子发育、休眠与萌发是植物生命进程中的重要阶段。在这一阶段内,种子受各种环境因子及内源激素调控,并且不同植物种子具有不同发育及休眠特性。随着人们对种子发育、休眠及萌发机理的探究,越来越多miRNA被鉴定,它们能够基于植物激素信号传导、抗氧化作用、关键转录因子调控等途径参与种子形态建成、物质代谢及各种胁迫响应。本文主要综述了近年来植物miRNA的形成及调控机理,以及在种子发育、休眠及萌发过程中发挥的调控作用,旨在为今后的研究方向提供参考。     

濒危植物巴东木莲种子休眠与萌发特性的研究

巴东木莲(Manglietia patungensis)为我国特有种, 属国家重点保护植物。为找出其生殖环节中的致危因素, 作者对巴东木莲种子休眠与后熟过程中的形态和萌发特性进行了研究。结果表明, 巴东木莲种胚发育不完全可能是种子休眠的主要原因, 在其后熟过程中胚不断分化、发育成熟; 种皮具有较好的透性, 与休眠的关系不大; 种子不同部位均存在萌发抑制物, 胚乳中高含量的萌发抑制物是影响胚萌发的重要因素。内源激素ABA和IAA在巴东木莲种子休眠与萌发过程中起着重要作用, ABA是引起休眠的关键因素, IAA有助于种子的萌发, IAA/ABA相对含量的变化对种子的休眠和萌发产生重要影响。巴东木莲种子的休眠是由种子本身的形态和生理特点引起的综合休眠, 在4℃低温保湿条件下才能完成其形态和生理后熟过程, 而自然条件下, 巴东木莲种子成熟时正值秋季少雨, 很容易失水而不能完成其后熟过程而失去生活力, 这可能是导致该物种自然更新困难的重要原因。     

植物种子休眠的原因及休眠的多形性

概述了植物种子休眠的原因及种子休眠的多形性。种壳障碍、胚形态发育不全和生理后熟以及种子中含有化学抑制剂都可导致种子休眠。根据不同的分类标准可将种子休眠可分成不同类型,但通常将休眠分为外源休眠、内源休眠和综合休眠。影响休眠的因素是复杂的,植物种类不同,休眠特性不同;同种植物的种子,来源于不同居群和植株,在不同时期采集,位于母株不同位置,其休眠有可能不同;甚至同一果实中的不同种子,休眠特性都会有差异。影响休眠性状表达的基因既有核基因,又有质基因,休眠通常表现为一种受多基因控制的数量性状。种子休眠的多形性有利于调节种子萌发的时空分布。     

脱落酸调控种子休眠和萌发的分子机制

脱落酸(ABA)是调控种子休眠和萌发过程的主要植物激素。种子内源ABA含量和种胚对ABA敏感性共同调控种子休眠和萌发过程, 确保植物种子以休眠状态在逆境中保持其自身繁衍能力, 并在适宜的环境下启动萌发程序。种子ABA合成代谢和ABA信号转导途径涉及许多重要基因家族, 它们通过复杂的调控网络精确地控制着种胚发生、种子成熟、休眠及萌发进程。该文对ABA调控种子休眠和萌发的分子机制最新研究进展进行综述, 并展望了今后的研究方向。     

GA3和变温层积对天女木兰种子萌发及内源激素的影响

用不同质量浓度GA3浸泡天女木兰种子并结合变温层积处理,应用高效液相色谱法对不同时期种子中4种激素GA3、IAA、ABA、ZR含量进行测定,并测量种胚长和萌发率,以探讨天女木兰种胚发育,内源激素含量变化与种子休眠萌发之间的调控关系,为进一步研究种子休眠机理提供理论基础。结果表明:(1)天女木兰成熟种子胚发育不完全,胚乳内高浓度ABA和低浓度GA3是其休眠的主要原因。(2)GA3处理能促使天女木兰种子提前30d完成形态后熟,并以1 500mg·L-1 GA3处理效果最佳。(3)在变温层积过程,天女木兰种胚发育可分三个阶段:阶段Ⅰ(0~70d)完成种胚进一步分化;阶段Ⅱ(70~120d)种胚快速生长时期;阶段Ⅲ(120~150d)休眠完全解除,种子具备发芽能力。种子能否打破休眠主要取决于阶段Ⅰ和Ⅱ的状况。(4)GA3/ABA、IAA/ABA和ZR/ABA在种子后熟期间的变化同胚生长发育存在一致性,认为内源激素的相对水平对种子休眠具有重要的调控作用。     

小花草玉梅种子萌发过程中常见内源激素含量的变化及萌发机制

植物内源激素在调节种子休眠和萌发过程中具有极其重要的作用。本研究运用反式高效液相色谱(RP-HPLC)与紫外检测器联用的方法对小花草玉梅干种子、吸胀种子和露白种子中的赤霉素GAs、脱落酸ABA、玉米素ZT和生长素IAA含量进行了检测,旨在研究植物内源激素水平在种子萌发过程中的变化是否直接关系着小花草玉梅种子在光照或黑暗条件下的萌发能力。结果显示,种子吸胀过程中,光照促进了ZT同时抑制了ABA的积累,并且ZT对ABA萌发抑制作用的解除也受光的促进,露白种子中的ABA/ZT,ABA/GAs和(ABA+IAA)/(GAs+ZT)水平在黑暗条件下高于光照条件,上述均是导致光照条件下种子萌发率较高的重要原因;相对于干种子,IAA含量在种子吸胀初期急速下降,(ABA+IAA)/(GAs+ZT)在种子萌发过程中有所降低,而ABA/GAs却表现出明显的上升趋势;各激素水平所受光照的影响均在种子开始露白时显著减弱,另外,吸胀第9天是小花草玉梅种子萌发过程中激素变化的一个关键的时间节点。总之,种子萌发并非直接关系着GA含量的升高和ABA含量的降低。因光照直接促进了小花草玉梅种子的萌发,本研究认为高寒草甸充足的光照和较强的太阳辐射通过调节种子内源激素水平在一定程度上对种子萌发过程中的休眠解除具有重要作用。     

油菜素内酯与脱落酸互作调控植物生长与抗逆的分子机制研究进展

植物需要同时协调多种不同信号来调节整个生长发育过程。植物激素油菜素内酯(BR)和脱落酸(ABA)是其中发挥重要作用的两类主要内源信号,并且在种子萌发、植物抗逆等过程中存在着密切的交叉互作。随着BR和ABA信号通路中关键元件的不断解析,两者互作调控气孔运动、逆境响应、种子休眠与萌发、植物发育等过程的分子机制研究取得显著进展。本文综述了近年来有关BR和ABA的功能、信号转导通路以及两者互作分子机制的最新进展。     

The role of light in regulating seed dormancy and germination

Seed dormancy is an adaptive trait in plants. Breaking seed dormancy determines the timing of germination and is, thereby essential for ensuring plant survival and agricultural production. Seed dormancy and the subsequent germination are controlled by both internal cues (mainly hormones) and environmental signals. In the past few years, the roles of plant hormones in regulating seed dormancy and germination have been uncovered. However, we are only beginning to understand how light signaling pathways modulate seed dormancy and interaction with endogenous hormones. In this review, we summarize current views of the molecular mechanisms by which light controls the induction, maintenance and release of seed dormancy, as well as seed germination, by regulating hormone metabolism and signaling pathways.     

Dormancy and germination: How does the crop seed decide?

Whether seeds germinate or maintain dormancy is decided upon through very intricate physiological processes. Correct timing of these processes is most important for the plants life cycle. If moist conditions are encountered, a low dormancy level causes pre‐harvest sprouting in various crop species, such as wheat, corn and rice, this decreases crop yield and negatively impacts downstream industrial processing. In contrast, a deep level of seed dormancy prevents normal germination even under favourable conditions, resulting in a low emergence rate during agricultural production. Therefore, an optimal seed dormancy level is valuable for modern mechanised agricultural systems. Over the past several years, numerous studies have demonstrated that diverse endogenous and environmental factors regulate the balance between dormancy and germination, such as light, temperature, water status and bacteria in soil, and phytohormones such as ABA (abscisic acid) and GA (gibberellic acid). In this updated review, we highlight recent advances regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of seed dormancy and germination processes, including the external environmental and internal hormonal cues, and primarily focusing on the staple crop species. Furthermore, future challenges and research directions for developing a full understanding of crop seed dormancy and germination are also discussed.     

种子休眠机理研究概述

种子休眠是植物本身适应环境和延续生存的一种特性,是种子植物进化的一种稳定对策。野生植物特别是原产温带的植物,其种子大多有深而长的休眠期。关于种子休眠的概念有多种,这些概念引出了许多学说、假说和模型。种壳障碍、胚形态发育不完全和生理后熟以及种子中含有化学抑制剂等,都可导致种子休眠。根据不同的分类标准可将种子分成不同类型,一般将种子分为强迫休眠和机体休眠;机体休眠又可分为外部休眠、内部休眠和综合休眠。植物种类不同休眠特性也不同;同种植物的种子来源于不同的居群和植株时,若采集时期不同,其休眠也可能不同;甚至在同一果实中的不同种子,休眠特性亦可能有差异。影响休眠性状表达的基因既有核基因,也有质基因,休眠通常表现为一种受多基因控制的数量性状。种子休眠具有重要的生态学意义,能有效地调节种子萌发的时空分布。研究种子的休眠特性和机理及其解除方法,有助于农业生产和植物多样性保护。     

Physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the integration of light and temperature cues in Arabidopsis thaliana seeds

The relief of dormancy and the promotion of seed germination are of extreme importance for a successful seedling establishment. Although alternating temperatures and light are signals promoting the relief of seed dormancy, the underlying mechanisms of their interaction in seeds are scarcely known. By exposing imbibed Arabidopsis thaliana dormant seeds to two‐day temperature cycles previous of a red light pulse, we demonstrate that the germination mediated by phytochrome B requires the presence of functional PSEUDO‐RESPONSE REGULATOR 7 (PRR7) and TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION 1 (TOC1) alleles. In addition, daily cycles of alternating temperatures in darkness reduce the protein levels of DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 (DOG1), allowing the expression of TOC1 to induce seed germination. Our results suggest a functional role for some components of the circadian clock related with the action of DOG1 for the integration of alternating temperatures and light signals in the relief of seed dormancy. The synchronization of germination by the synergic action of light and temperature through the activity of circadian clock might have ecological and adaptive consequences.     

Soil burial induced dormancy in weedy rice seeds through hormone level changes: Implications in adaptive evolution and weed control

Seed dormancy plays a key role in preventing seeds of higher plants from random germination under adverse environmental conditions. Previous studies suggested that a critical temperature could regulate germination of weedy rice seeds without primary dormancy at seed dispersion. However, what will happen to the non-dormant seeds after shattering in the soil seed banks when temperature fluctuates to exceed the critical temperature remains an interesting question to be investigated. To determine whether or not soil burial can change the status of dormancy in weedy rice seeds, we examined germination ratios of weedy rice seeds after soil-burial treatments. In addition, we compared hormone levels in the untreated seeds and viable but ungerminated seeds after soil burial. Results showed that soil burial induced a proportion of 41%–72% dormant seeds in the initially non-dormant weedy rice seeds. Also, the induction of seed dormancy is associated with the change of hormone levels in the seeds treated by soil burial, suggesting that soil burial can significantly activate the control of hormone production in seeds. Together, the previously reported mechanism of critical temperature-inhibited seed germination and the newly found phenomenon of soil burial-induced seed dormancy provide a “double-security” strategy to ensure germination of weedy rice seeds under a favorable condition in agricultural ecosystems. The findings not only reveal the important role of rapid evolution of adaptive functions in weeds, such as weedy rice, in adapting to changing agricultural environments, but also facilitate the design of strategies for effective weedy rice control practices.     

Effects of storage,mucilage presence,photoperiod, thermoperiod and salinity on germination of Farsetia aegyptia Turra (Brassicaceae) seeds: implications for restoration and seed banks in Arabian Desert

Seed viability and germination are key factors in the success of restoration efforts, especially when stored seeds are used. However, the effect of seed storage on germination of most of the native Arabian species is not well documented. We investigated the effect of storage time and role of the seed mucilage in regulating germination, dormancy, salinity tolerance and consequential survival strategy of F. aegyptia in an unpredictable arid desert setting. Effect of light and temperature during germination was studied under two photoperiods and two thermoperiods using intact and de-mucilaged seeds. Presence of mucilage and thermoperiod did not affect the germination. However, seed collection year and photoperiod had a highly significant effect on the germination. Increasing salinity levels decreased the germination of F. aegyptia but ungerminated seeds were able to germinate when salinity stress was alleviated. Seed storage at room temperature enhances the germination percentage, indicating that F. aegyptia seeds have physiological dormancy and it can be alleviated by after-ripening at dry storage. In addition, F. aegyptia seeds show ability to germinate at lower salinity concentration and remain viable even at higher saline conditions, indicating their adaptability to cope with such harsh environmental conditions.     

Role of endogenous hormones,glumes, endosperm and temperature on germination of Leymus chinensis (Poaceae) seeds during development

Aims Leymus chinensis is an original dominant plant in the Songnen grassland, and it has great value for restoration of severely degraded land. However, seeds are dormant, and low germination percentage is a problem for restoring L.chinensis grassland. The mechanism of seed dormancy is not been well understood. The primary aims of the present study were to investigate the dormancy mechanism of L.chinensis seeds (caryopses) with reference to the role of embryo-covering layers, endogenous hormones and temperature.Methods Changes in concentration of the endogenous hormones GA 3, indoleacetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR) and abscisic acid (ABA) in L.chinensis seeds from anthesis to maturity were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Germination at different stages of maturity were tested at 16/28°C, 5/28°C and 5/35°C for intact seeds with glumes (control), intact seeds with glumes removed (naked-whole seeds) and intact seeds with glumes and one-half of the endosperm removed (naked-half seeds).Important findings Of the four endogenous hormones monitored, only the concentration of ZR differed significantly between the beginning and the end of seed development (increased); the GA 3 /ABA ratio also did not differ. Rank of germination percentage of control at the three temperature regimens was 5/28°C> 16/28°C> 5/35°C. Germination percentage of the naked-half seeds reached 100% under the three temperature regimens. We concluded that dormancy of L.chinensis seeds is not mainly controlled by endogenous hormones. Germination temperature, mechanical resistance of glumes and inhibition of endosperm are the main factors controlling dormancy and germination of L.chinensis seeds.