Retarded germination of Nicotiana tabacum seeds following insertion of exogenous DNA mimics the seed persistent behavior.

ABSTRACT: Tobacco seeds show a coat-imposed dormancy in which the seed envelope tissues (testa and endosperm) impose a physical constraint on the radicle protrusion. The germination-limiting process is represented by the endosperm rupture which is induced by cell-wall weakening. Transgenic tobacco seeds, obtained by insertion of exogenous genes codifying for seed-based oral vaccines (F18 and VT2eB), showed retarded germination with respect to the wild type and modified the expression of endogenous proteins. Morphological and proteomic analyses of wild type and transgenic seeds revealed new insights into factors influencing seed germination. Our data showed that the interference of exogenous DNA influences the germination rather than the dormancy release, by modifying the maturation process. Dry seed

SUBMITTER: Onelli E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5720674 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature