A multiscale approach reveals regulatory players of water stress responses in seeds during germination

Abstract

Seed germination is regulated by environmental factors, particularly water availability. Water deficits at the time of sowing impair the establishment of crop plants.Transcriptome and proteome profiling was used to document the responses of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds to moderate water stress during germination in two hybrids that are nominally classed as drought sensitive and drought tolerant. Differences in the water stress-dependent accumulation reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes activities were observed between the hybrids. A pathway-based analysis of the hybrid transcriptomes demonstrated that the water stress-dependent responses of seed metabolism were similar to those of the plant, with a decreased abundance of transcripts encoding proteins associated with metabolism and cell expansion. Moreover, germination under water stress conditions was associated with increased levels of transcripts encoding heat shock proteins. Exposure of germinating seeds to water stress specifically affected the abundance of a small number of proteins, including heat shock proteins. Taken together, these data not only identify factors that are likely to play a key role in drought tolerance during seed germination, but they also demonstrate the importance of the female parent in the transmission of water stress tolerance.

A Correlative Study of Sunflower Seed Vigor Components as Related to Genetic Background

“…Several temperatures (5,10,15,20,25,30 and 35 • C) were applied to the seeds of the 44 genotypes during germination tests on water (Table S1). Figure 2, comparing germination percentages of seeds of SOLQUA-160 and SOLQUA-165, shows that both genotypes can germinate to 100% between 10 and 25 • C, which correspond to optimal temperatures for sunflower seed germination.…”

“…In the last decades, molecular aspects of seed dormancy and germination have been reported in different species (for review [11][12][13]) and in sunflower in particular [14][15][16][17]. Several genes have been related to seed vigor [18][19][20], but, they can hardly be used as vigor genetic markers. The quantitative trait loci (QTL) approach allows the identification of loci that influence seed vigor in Brassica oleracea, such as speed of germination (SOG1), which contains two genes related to abscisic acid that influence negatively the speed of germination [21][22][23].…”

Seeds primed with 5-aminolevulinic acid mitigated temperature and drought stresses of wheat at germination and early seedling growth

“…Germination is an essential developmental stage change in the life cycle of a plant, which plays an important role in crop establishment and environmental adaptation (Liu et al, 2019). Germination and early stage of growth are most sensitive to environmental stresses, particularly drought and high temperature (Saux et al, 2020;Shahrajabian et al, 2020). Numerous studies have examined the inhibition of seed germination and seedling establishment as a result of heat and drought stress in several crops (Shaban, 2013;Wen, 2015;Saberali and Shirmohamadi-Aliakbarkhani, 2020).…”

“…Decreased water potential is a general consequence of drought, which has negative effects on germination and consequent seedling growth (Shahrajabian et al, 2017). The disturbance of water availability during germination may induce erratic and decreased germination, leading to poor stand establishment (Saux et al, 2020). Furthermore, drought stress can delay, reduce, or inhibit germination and seedling vigor of wheat cultivars (Jovović et al, 2018).…”

Effect of pre-soaking substrate and light availability on seed germination and seedling establishment of Dracaena draco (L.) L., a threatened species

“…Furthermore, recognizing the criteria of seed germination and seedling establishment for threatened species used in reintroduction projects is crucial to ensuring artificial seedling propagation (Ren et al 2014). It has been shown that imbibition is an important trigger for seed germination and several species require light for high germination rates (Hegarty 1978;Bell 1999;Saux et al 2020). Soil type is also an important factor influencing seed germination and growth (Iralu et al 2019).…”