]*>","")" /> Proanthocyanidins Inhibit Seed Germination by Maintaining High Level of Abscisic Acid in <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>

J Integr Plant Biol ›› 2012, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (9): 663-673.DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2012.01142.x

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Proanthocyanidins Inhibit Seed Germination by Maintaining High Level of Abscisic Acid in Arabidopsis thaliana

Liguo Jia1, Qiuyu Wu1, Nenghui Ye1, Rui Liu1, Lu Shi1, Weifeng Xu1, Hui Zhi1, A. N. M. Rubaiyath Bin Rahman1, Yiji Xia1 and Jianhua Zhang2*   

  • 收稿日期:2012-01-16 接受日期:2012-06-18 出版日期:2012-07-05 发布日期:2012-07-05

Proanthocyanidins Inhibit Seed Germination by Maintaining High Level of Abscisic Acid in Arabidopsis thaliana

Liguo Jia1, Qiuyu Wu1, Nenghui Ye1, Rui Liu1, Lu Shi1, Weifeng Xu1, Hui Zhi1, A. N. M. Rubaiyath Bin Rahman1, Yiji Xia1 and Jianhua Zhang2*   

  1. 1Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
    2School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  • Received:2012-01-16 Accepted:2012-06-18 Online:2012-07-05 Published:2012-07-05
  • About author:*Corresponding author Tel: (852) 39436288; Fax: (852) 26036382; E-mail: jhzhang@cuhk.edu.hk

Abstract:

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are the main products of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway in seeds, but their biological function during seed germination is still unclear. We observed that seed germination is delayed with the increase of exogenous PA concentration in Arabidopsis. A similar inhibitory effect occurred in peeled Brassica napus seeds, which was observed by measuring radicle elongation. Using abscisic acid (ABA), a biosynthetic and metabolic inhibitor, and gene expression analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction, we found that the inhibitory effect of PAs on seed germination is due to their promotion of ABA via de novo biogenesis, rather than by any inhibition of its degradation. Consistent with the relationship between PA content and ABA accumulation in seeds, PA-deficient mutants maintain a lower level of ABA compared with wild-types during germination. Our data suggest that PA distribution in the seed coat can act as a doorkeeper to seed germination. PA regulation of seed germination is mediated by the ABA signaling pathway.

Jia L, Wu Q, Ye N, Liu R, Shi L, Xu W, Zhi H, Rahman ANMRB, Xia Y, Zhang J (2012) Proanthocyanidins inhibit seed germination by maintaining a high level of abscisic acid in Arabidopsis thaliana. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 54(9), 663–673.

Key words: Abscisic acid, Arabidopsis, Brassica napus, proanthocyanidins, seed germination

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