Regulatory function of the endogenous hormone in the germination process of quinoa seeds

Abstract

The economic and health significance of quinoa is steadily growing on a global scale. Nevertheless, the primary obstacle to achieving high yields in quinoa cultivation is pre-harvest sprouting (PHS), which is intricately linked to seed dormancy. However, there exists a dearth of research concerning the regulatory mechanisms governing PHS. The regulation of seed germination by various plant hormones has been extensively studied. Consequently, understanding the mechanisms underlying the role of endogenous hormones in the germination process of quinoa seeds and developing strategies to mitigate PHS in quinoa cultivation are of significant research importance. This study employed the HPLC-ESI-MS/MS internal standard and ELISA method to quantify 8 endogenous hormones. The investigation of gene expression changes before and after germination was conducted using RNA-seq analysis, leading to the discovery of 280 differentially expressed genes associated with the regulatory pathway of endogenous hormones. Additionally, a correlation analysis of 99 genes with significant differences identified 14 potential genes that may act as crucial “transportation hubs” in hormonal interactions. Through the performance of an analysis on the modifications in hormone composition and the expression of associated regulatory genes, we posit a prediction that implies the presence of a negative feedback regulatory mechanism of endogenous hormones during the germination of quinoa seeds. This mechanism is potentially influenced by the unique structure of quinoa seeds. To shed light on the involvement of endogenous hormones in the process of quinoa seed germination, we have established a regulatory network. This study aims to offer innovative perspectives on the breeding of quinoa varieties that exhibit resistance to PHS, as well as strategies for preventing PHS.

The Impact of Magnetic Field and Gibberellin Treatment on the Release of Dormancy and Internal Nutrient Transformation in Tilia miqueliana Maxim. Seeds

“…GAs play an important role in embryo growth and seed development and germination [35]. The application of exogenous GA 3 can modify the hormone balance in plant seeds and reduce the production of inhibitory substances.…”

Editorial: Seed dormancy, germination, and pre-harvest sprouting, volume II

“…They found that commercial quinoa varieties range from no dormancy to strong dormancy, and seed coat thickness and eccentricity are particularly important traits affecting seed dormancy levels. Additionall, Zeng et al., (2024) characterised the dynamic profiles of eight endogenous hormones during quinoa seed germination using the HPLC-ESI-MS/MS and ELISA method, complemented with transcriptome network analyses using RNA-seq. They found that quinoa shared some common metabolic patterns with other crops during seed germination, but also exhibited a few quinoa-specific hormone changes that will require further attention.…”

“…2) Improved analytical approaches and genomic resources have assisted new research in this area, such as the optimised hormone detection method used by Nelson et al. , the transcriptome sequencing by Zeng et al., 2024 and Nelson et al. , and the genetic map and genome assembly for mungbean used by Laosatit et al.…”