| Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Arboretumlaan 4, 6703 BD Wageningen, The Netherlands;(2) Present address: Seed Conservation Department, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Wakehurst Place, Selsfield Road, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6TN, UK;(3) Department of Plant Systems Biology, Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium;(4) Laboratoire Associé de l Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;(5) Present address: Department for Plant Health and the Environment, INRA, 06606 Antibes, France;(6) Plant Research International, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands |
| Abstract: | Differential display analysis using dormant and non-dormant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh seeds resulted in a set of genes that were associated with either dormancy or germination. Expression of the germination-associated genes AtRPL36B and AtRPL27B, encoding two ribosomal proteins, was undetectable in the dry seed, low in dormant seed, and high under conditions that allowed completion of germination. Expression of these genes was also found to be light-regulated and to correlate with germination speed. Expression of the dormancy-associated genes ATS2 and ATS4, encoding a caleosin-like protein and a protein similar to a low-temperature-induced protein respectively, was high in the dry seed and decreased during germination. Expression of ATS2 and ATS4 was high in primary and secondary dormant seed but low in after-ripened or chilled seed. The expression of both genes was also light-regulated, but no relationship with temperature-dependent germination speed was found. |
