Effect of desiccation on isolated embryos of maize. Onset of desiccation tolerance during development

Bochicchio, Adriana; Vazzana, Concetta; Raschi, A.; Bartels, Dorothea; Salamini, F.

doi:10.1051/agro:19880104

Cited by 27 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Characterization of the mutant collection in terms of ABA content indicates that all the mutants tested show a Desiccation tolerance of the embryo, an important feature related to both fitness as well as productivity of the plant, is acquired by the embryo between 20 and 25 days after pollination (Bochicchio et al, 1988). The incomplete germination shared by some of the tested mutants suggests that the mutation can be associated to loss of desiccation tolerance in some mutants whereas in others such tolerance is completely or partially maintained.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Vivipary as a tool to analyze late embryogenic events in maize

et al. 2008

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In maize vivipary, the precocious germination of the seed while still attached to the ear, is the diagnostic phenotype of mutants, which are impaired in the biosynthesis or response to abscisic acid (ABA). Of the 15 genes so far described, 12 control specific steps in ABA biosynthesis, two mediate hormone response and one still has an undefined role. We have analyzed a collection of 25 independent vp isolates with the aim of determining the degree of mutational saturation that has so far been reached. Of the 25 viviparous mutants complementation tested, 22 correspond to known loci: six are allelic to vp1, another six to vp5, one to vp7, two to vp9, six to vp10 and one to w3. The remaining three represent genes not previously identified. All mutants so far tested except rea show a decrease in ABA content. As to the only two mutants (vp1 and rea) whose endogenous ABA content is not impaired, the reduction in sensitivity of the double mutant compared to the single ones suggests that the two genes control separate pathways in the ABA signal transduction. Some of the mutants in this collection have a characteristic incomplete germination that allows the embryo of the mature dry seed to resume germination. By exploiting this feature it is possible to infer, through a germination test, whether the mutant has been impaired in the acquisition of desiccation tolerance. This information provides the starting point for the dissection of the genetic basis of desiccation tolerance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Vivipary as a tool to analyze late embryogenic events in maize

et al. 2008

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“…To assess desiccation tolerance of the 20-and 25-DAP excised embryos, we used the germination test according to the method of Bochicchio et al (1988). Embryos were germinated aseptically in 9-cm Petri dishes (five embryos per dish) on a solid medium containing 0.8% (w/v) agar, 2% (w/v) Suc, and mineral salts at 25°C in a growth chamber for up to 15 d. Embryos were scored as germinated if their coleoptile and radicle or secondary roots had visibly grown (longer than 0.2 cm).…”

Section: Desiccation-tolerance Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This desiccation tolerance is often inferred from the capacity of embryos to germinate after drying. In maize (Zea mays L.), excised, immature embryos acquire the ability to germinate at 14 DAP (Bochicchio et al, 1988). The rate of drying further determines how early in development isolated embryos acquire desiccation tolerance (Bochicchio et al, 1994b).…”

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confidence: 99%

Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy Detects Changes in Protein Secondary Structure Associated with Desiccation Tolerance in Developing Maize Embryos1

Wolkers

Bochicchio²,

Selvaggi³

et al. 1998

Plant Physiology

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Isolated immature maize (Zea mays L.) embryos have been shown to acquire tolerance to rapid drying between 22 and 25 d after pollination (DAP) and to slow drying from 18 DAP onward. To investigate adaptations in protein profile in association with the acquisition of desiccation tolerance in isolated, immature maize embryos, we applied in situ Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy. In fresh, viable, 20-and 25-DAP embryo axes, the shapes of the different amide-I bands were identical, and this was maintained after flash drying. On rapid drying, the 20-DAP axes had a reduced relative proportion of ␣-helical protein structure and lost viability. Rapidly dried 25-DAP embryos germinated (74%) and had a protein profile similar to the fresh control axes. On slow drying, the ␣-helical contribution in both the 20-and 25-DAP embryo axes increased compared with that in the fresh control axes, and survival of desiccation was high. The protein profile in dry, mature axes resembled that after slow drying of the immature axes. Rapid drying resulted in an almost complete loss of membrane integrity in the 20-DAP embryo axes and much less so in the 25-DAP axes. After slow drying, low plasma membrane permeability ensued in both the 20-and 25-DAP axes. We conclude that slow drying of excised, immature embryos leads to an increased proportion of ␣-helical protein structures in their axes, which coincides with additional tolerance of desiccation stress.

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“…In the majority of higher plants tolerance to protoplastic dehydration is strictly restricted to the seed. During embryogenesis the developing embryo acquires desiccation tolerance Bochicchio et al 1988;Bewley et al 1989), but the onset of germination interrupts the state of tolerance and both the seed and the emerging seedling rapidly lose the ability to survive desiccation. A remarkable situation occurs in a small group of angiosperms termed poikilohydric or resurrection plants (Walter 1955;Gaff 1977).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular cloning of abscisic acid-modulated genes which are induced during desiccation of the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum

Bartels¹,

Schneider²,

Terstappen³

et al. 1990

Planta

312

267

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Leaves of the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum Hochst, can be desiccated up to 1% relative water content and are still viable after rehydration. To clone genes related to this extreme desiccation tolerance, an in-vitro system was first developed which allows the induction of the same resurrection response in callus tissue upon treatment with abscisic acid (ABA). Several proteins and in-vitro-synthesized polypeptides were then identified which can be induced both in desiccation-tolerant, naturally dried leaves and in ABA-treated calli surviving after rehydration. Complementary-DNA clones corresponding to mRNAs expressed only in desiccation-tolerant tissues were obtained and classified into several gene families. In hybrid-selected translation experiments, representative cDNA clones were associated with water stress and ABA-inducible polypeptides abundantly expressed in dried leaves and ABA-treated calli. The expression pattern of several of these abundant transcripts was analyzed in RNA-hybridization experiments. Upon stress or ABA treatment the transcription levels increased rapidly, but they declined after relief from the stress state. This, together with data on genomic copy numbers indicated that a set of abundantly expressed genes are involved in the desiccation process of resurrection plants. Data on endogenous ABA contents before and after stress applications and on the physiological effects of exogenous ABA treatments indicate that in Craterostigma plantagineum the induction of an extreme desiccation tolerance is mediated by this plant hormone.

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Effect of desiccation on isolated embryos of maize. Onset of desiccation tolerance during development

Abstract: SUMMARYThe research described in this paper was designed to define the stage of development during which the excised embryo of maize acquires desiccation tolerance. The

Cited by 27 publications

References 17 publications

Vivipary as a tool to analyze late embryogenic events in maize

Vivipary as a tool to analyze late embryogenic events in maize

Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy Detects Changes in Protein Secondary Structure Associated with Desiccation Tolerance in Developing Maize Embryos1

Molecular cloning of abscisic acid-modulated genes which are induced during desiccation of the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum

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