Quantitative trait loci analysis reveals a correlation between the ratio of sucrose/raffinose family oligosaccharides and seed vigour in Medicago truncatula

Abstract

Seed vigour is important for successful establishment and high yield, especially under suboptimal environmental conditions. In legumes, raffinose oligosaccharide family (RFO) sugars have been proposed as an easily available energy reserve for seedling establishment. In this study, we investigated whether the composition or amount of soluble sugars (sucrose and RFO) is part of the genetic determinants of seed vigour of Medicago truncatula using two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for germination rate, hypocotyl and radicle growth under water deficit and nutritional stress, seed weight and soluble sugar content was performed using RIL populations LR1 and LR4. Seven of the 12 chromosomal regions containing QTL for germination rate or post-germinative radicle growth under optimal or stress conditions co-located with Suc/RFO QTL. A significant negative correlation was also found between seed vigour traits and Suc/RFO. In addition, one QTL that explained 80% of the variation in the ratio stachyose/verbascose co-located with a stachyose synthase gene whose expression profile in the parental lines could explain the variation in oligosaccharide composition. The correlation and co-location of Suc/RFO ratio with germination and radicle growth QTL suggest that an increased Suc/RFO ratio in seeds of M. truncatula might negatively affect seed vigour.

Evidence for participation of the methionine sulfoxide reductase repair system in plant seed longevity

“…3 and 4). In M. truncatula species, this relationship, characterized by a very high R 2 coefficient (≥0.96), has been established in both maturing seeds of Jemalong, harvested during longevity acquisition, and full mature seeds of Jemalong and DZA315-16, two genotypes of naturally contrasting seed quality (34). Thus, MSR capacity appears to be a good marker to predict seed performance in this species.…”

“…After characterizing the MSR family in this species, we investigated MSR abundance and activity in seeds of varying quality, using artificial aging treatments and taking advantage of the natural variability reported for this trait (34). We then analyzed the longevity of seeds in Arabidopsis thaliana lines, which exhibit altered MSR capacity owing to genetic transformation.…”

Reciprocal effect of parental lines on the physiological potential and seed composition of corn hybrid seeds

“…Another characteristic that can be determined genetically is the chemical composition of the seeds, such as storage protein, starch and soluble sugar contents (Bewley and Black, 1994;Song and Messing, 2003;Vandecasteele et al, 2011;Wu and Messing, 2014), and these can also influence seed vigour (Han et al, 2014). The mature maize endosperm is a major storage site for starch and protein, valuable storage reserves for the establishing seedling.…”

“…Thus the performance of hybrid seeds changes according to the selected genotypes, and differences between reciprocal crosses exist (Navratil and Burris, 1984;Roveri-José et al, 2004). This manifestation of phenotype may be attributable to seed chemical composition, especially regarding the quantity, identity and mobilization of storage proteins, lipids, starch and soluble sugars, as these can influence seed physiological potential (Footitt et al, 2002;McDonough et al, 2004;Vandecasteele et al, 2011), including quality (Wang and Frei, 2011).…”

Variability in the oligosaccharide concentration in seeds of the mapping population of pea (Pisum sativum L.)

“…In soybean four QTL for oligosaccharide content were identified (Kim et al 2006). In Medicago truncatula QTL mapping revealed one QTL that explained variation in the stachyose/verbascose ratio co-located with a stachyose synthase gene, determining the oligosaccharide composition (Vandecasteele et al 2011). For QTL analyses saturated genetic maps are necessary.…”