Seed comparative genomics in three coffee species identify desiccation tolerance mechanisms in intermediate seeds.

ABSTRACT: In contrast to desiccation-tolerant 'orthodox' seeds, so-called 'intermediate' seeds cannot survive complete drying and are short-lived. All species of the genus Coffea produce intermediate seeds, but they show a considerable variability in seed desiccation tolerance (DT), which may help to decipher the molecular basis of seed DT in plants. We performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of developing seeds in three coffee species with contrasting desiccation tolerance. Seeds of all species shared a major transcriptional switch during late maturation that governs a general slow-down of metabolism. However, numerous key stress-related genes, including those coding for the late embryogenesis abundant protein EM6 and the osmosensitive calcium channel ERD4, were up-regulated during DT acquis

SUBMITTER: Stavrinides AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7031068 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature