Selection for low dormancy in annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) seeds results in high constitutive expression of a glucose-responsive α-amylase isoform.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

α-Amylase in grass caryopses (seeds) is usually expressed upon commencement of germination and is rarely seen in dry, mature seeds. A heat-stable α-amylase activity was unexpectedly selected for expression in dry annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) seeds during targeted selection for low primary dormancy. The aim of this study was to characterize this constitutive activity biochemically and determine if its presence conferred insensitivity to the germination inhibitors abscisic acid and benzoxazolinone.

Methods

α-Amylase activity in developing, mature and germinating seeds from the selected (low-dormancy) and a field-collected (dormant) population was characterized by native activity PAGE. The response of seed germination and α-amylase activity to abscisic a

SUBMITTER: Goggin DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3503496 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature