Dormancy cycling in Arabidopsis seeds is controlled by seasonally distinct hormone-signaling pathways.

ABSTRACT: Seeds respond to environmental signals, tuning their dormancy cycles to the seasons and thereby determining the optimum time for plant establishment. The molecular regulation of dormancy cycling is unknown, but an extensive range of mechanisms have been identified in laboratory experiments. Using a targeted investigation of gene expression over the dormancy cycle of Arabidopsis seeds in the field, we investigated how these mechanisms are seasonally coordinated. Depth of dormancy and gene expression patterns were correlated with seasonal changes in soil temperature. The results were consistent with abscisic acid (ABA) signaling linked to deep dormancy in winter being repressed in spring concurrent with enhanced DELLA repression of germination as depth of dormancy decreased. Dormancy increas

SUBMITTER: Footitt S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3250134 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature