Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T01:43:42.676Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Characterization of dormancy behaviour in seeds of the model legume Medicago truncatula

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2010

William Bolingue ,
Benoit Ly Vu ,
Olivier Leprince  and
Julia Buitink
William Bolingue
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR 1191 Physiologie Moléculaire des Semences, IFR 149 QUASAV, 49045Angers, France
Benoit Ly Vu
Affiliation:
Agrocampus Ouest, UMR 1191 Physiologie Moléculaire des Semences, IFR 149 QUASAV, 49045Angers, France
Olivier Leprince
Affiliation:
Agrocampus Ouest, UMR 1191 Physiologie Moléculaire des Semences, IFR 149 QUASAV, 49045Angers, France
Julia Buitink*
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR 1191 Physiologie Moléculaire des Semences, IFR 149 QUASAV, 49045Angers, France
*
*Correspondence Fax: +33241 225549 Email: julia.buitink@angers.inra.fr
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Seeds of Medicago truncatula, a genomic model species for legumes, exhibit physiological and physical dormancy. Here, the factors influencing the germination behaviour of freshly harvested and stored seeds were investigated using several genotypes. Hardseededness is promoted when mature seeds are equilibrated at relative humidities (RH) below 75%. The release of physical dormancy during imbibition was dependent on the initial water content/RH that the seeds were dried to: the drier the seeds, the longer the imbibition time needed to break physical dormancy. The kinetics of physical dormancy release was slower than that of physiological dormancy, making it possible to uncouple both phenomena. Freshly harvested embryos without seed coverings germinated at the same speed as afterripened seeds. The depth of dormancy varied between different M. truncatula genotypes, from more to less dormant: DZA315.16>A17 (Jemalong)>R108>DZA45.5. This difference was eliminated by removing the endosperm. Collectively, these observations indicate that the endosperm is likely the main factor in the reduced germination of freshly harvested seeds. White light decreased germination speed of dormant seeds whereas it had no effect on non-dormant seeds. Recently harvested seeds were most dormant at temperatures above 17°C, whereas afterripened seeds germinated over a wider range of temperature. Fluridone could efficiently break dormancy, reinforcing the role of abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis. However, dormancy was not affected by gibberellic acid (100 μM GA3) or nitrate. The particular dormancy features unravelled here for M. truncatula, combined with the available genomic resources, make it a new, useful model for genetic and molecular studies which can complement those developed for Arabidopsis.

Keywords

afterripeningdormancyendospermgerminationlightMedicago truncatulatemperature
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 20 , Issue 2 , June 2010 , pp. 97 - 107
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2004) A classification system for seed dormancy. Seed Science Research 14, 1–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benedito, V., Torez-Jerez, I., Murray, J., Andriankaja, A., Allen, S., Kakar, K., Wandrey, M., Verdier, J., Zuber, H., Ott, T., Moreau, S., Niebel, A., Frickey, T., Weiller, G., He, J., Dai, X., Zhao, P., Tang, Y. and Udvardi, M. (2008) A gene expression atlas of the model legume Medicago truncatula. The Plant Journal 55, 504–513.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bethke, P.C., Libourel, I.G.L. and Jones, R.L. (2007) Nitric oxide in seed dormancy and germination. pp. 153–175in Bradford, K.J.; Nonogaki, H. (Eds) Seed development, dormancy and germination. Annual Plant Reviews vol. 27. Sheffield, UK, Blackwell Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bewley, J.D. and Black, M. (1994) Seeds: physiology of development and germination. New York, Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boudet, J., Buitink, J., Hoekstra, F.A., Rogniaux, H., Larré, C., Satour, P. and Leprince, O. (2006) Comparative analysis of the heat stable proteome of radicles of Medicago truncatula seeds during germination identifies late embryogenesis abundant proteins associated with desiccation tolerance. Plant Physiology 140, 1418–1436.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buitink, J., Ly Vu, B., Satour, P. and Leprince, O. (2003) A physiological model to study the re-establishment of desiccation tolerance in germinated radicles of Medicago truncatula Gaertn. seeds. Seed Science Research 13, 273–286.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buitink, J., Leger, J.J., Guisle, I., Ly Vu, B., Wuillème, S., Lamirault, G., Le Bars, A., Le Meur, N., Becker, A., Küster, H. and Leprince, O. (2006) Transcriptome profiling uncovers metabolic and regulatory processes occurring during the transition from desiccation sensitive to desiccation-tolerant stages in Medicago truncatula seeds. The Plant Journal 47, 735–750.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cadman, C.S., Toorop, P.E., Hilhorst, H.W. and Finch-Savage, W.E. (2006) Gene expression profiles of Arabidopsis Cvi seeds during dormancy cycling indicate a common underlying dormancy control mechanism. The Plant Journal 46, 805–822.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cantliffe, D.J., Shuler, K.D. and Guedes, A.C. (1981) Overcoming seed thermodormancy in a heat-sensitive romaine lettuce by seed priming. HortScience 16, 196–198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carrera, E., Holman, T., Medhurst, A., Dietrich, D., Footitt, S., Theodoulou, F.L. and Holdsworth, M.J. (2008) Seed after-ripening is a discrete developmental pathway associated with specific gene networks in Arabidopsis. The Plant Journal 53, 214–224.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Corbineau, F., Belaid, D. and Côme, D. (1992) Dormancy of Bromus rubens L. seeds in relation to temperature, light and oxygen effects. Weed Research 32, 303–310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Debeaujon, I., Lepiniec, L., Pourcel, L. and Routaboul, J.-M. (2007) Seed coat development and dormancy. pp. 25–49in Bradford, K.J.; Nonogaki, H. (Eds) Seed development, dormancy and germination. Annual Plant Reviews vol. 27. Sheffield, UK, Blackwell Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Djemel, N., Guedon, D., Lechevalier, A., Salon, C., Miquel, M., Prosperi, J.M., Rochat, C. and Boutin, J.P. (2005) Development and composition of the seeds of nine genotypes of the Medicago truncatula species complex. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 46, 557–566.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Domoney, C., Duc, G., Ellis, T.H.N., Ferrandiz, C., Firnhaber, C., Gallardo, K., Hofer, J., Kopka, J., Kuster, H., Madueno, F., Munier-Jolain, N.G., Mayer, K., Thompson, R., Udvardi, M. and Salon, C. (2006) Genetic and genomic analysis of legume flowers and seeds. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 9, 133–141.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Faria, J.M.R., Buitink, J., van Lammeren, A.A.M. and Hilhorst, H.W.M. (2005) Changes in DNA and microtubules during loss and re-establishment of desiccation tolerance in germinating Medicago truncatula seeds. Journal of Experimental Botany 56, 2119–2130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Finch-Savage, A.E. and Leubner-Metzger, G. (2006) Seed dormancy and the control of germination. New Phytologist 171, 501–523.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Finch-Savage, W.E., Cadman, C.S.C., Toorop, T.E., Lynn, J.R. and Hilhorst, H.W.M. (2007) Seed dormancy release in Arabidopsis Cvi by dry after-ripening, low temperature, nitrate and light shows common quantitative patterns of gene expression directed by environmentally specific sensing. The Plant Journal 51, 60–78.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gallardo, K., Le Signor, C., Vandekerckhove, J., Thompson, R.D. and Burstin, J. (2003) Proteomics of Medicago truncatula seed development establishes the time frame of diverse metabolic processes related to reserve accumulation. Plant Physiology 133, 664–682.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gallardo, G., Lesignor, C., Darmency, M., Burstin, J., Thompson, R., Rochat, C., Boutin, J.-P., Kuester, H., Buitink, J., Leprince, O., Limami, A. and Grusak, M.A. (2006) Seed biology of Medicago truncatula. The Medicago truncatula handbook. Available athttp://www.noble.org/MedicagoHandbook/ (accessed 3 February 2010).Google Scholar
Gallardo, K., Firnhaber, C., Zuber, H., Héricher, D., Belghazi, M., Henry, C., Küster, H. and Thompson, R. (2007) A combined proteome and transcriptome analysis of developing Medicago truncatula seeds: evidence for metabolic specialization of maternal and filial tissues. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics 6, 2165–2179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Garcia, J., Barker, D.G. and Journet, E.-P. (2006) Seed storage and germination. The Medicago truncatula handbook. Available athttp://www.noble.org/MedicagoHandbook/ (accessed 3 February 2010).Google Scholar
Glevarec, G., Bouton, S., Jaspard, E., Riou, M.-T., Cliquet, J.-B., Suzuki, A. and Limami, M.A. (2004) Respective roles of GS/GOGAT cycle and GDH in ammonium and amino acid metabolism during germination and post-germinative growth in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Planta 219, 286–297.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gubler, F., Hughes, T., Waterhouse, P. and Jacobsen, J. (2008) Regulation of dormancy in barley by blue light and after-ripening: effects on abscisic acid and gibberellin metabolism. Plant Physiology 147, 886–896.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hilhorst, H.W.M. and Karssen, C.M. (1988) Dual effect of light on the gibberellin-stimulated and nitrate-stimulated seed germination of Sisymbrium officinale and Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiology 86, 591–597.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hilton, J.R. (1982) An unusual effect of the far-red absorbing form of phytochrome: photoinhibition of seed germination in Bromus sterilis l. Planta 155, 524–528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Julier, B., Huguet, T., Chardon, F., Ayadi, R., Pierre, J.-B., Prosperi, J.-M., Barre, P. and Huyghe, C. (2007) Identification of quantitative trait loci influencing aerial morphogenesis in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 114, 1391–1406.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nonogaki, H., Chen, F. and Bradford, K.J. (2007) Mechanisms and genes involved in germination sensu stricto. pp. 264–304in Bradford, K.J.; Nonogaki, H. (Eds) Seed development, dormancy and germination. Annual Plant Reviews 27. Sheffield, UK, Blackwell Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pierre, J.B., Huguet, T., Barré, P., Huyghe, C. and Julier, B. (2008) Detection of QTLs for flowering date in three mapping populations of the model legume species Medicago truncatula. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 117, 609–620.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ronfort, J., Bataillon, T., Santoni, S., Delalande, M., David, J. and Prosperi, J.-M. (2006) Microsatellite diversity and broad scale geographic structure in a model legume: building a set of nested core collection for studying naturally occurring variation in Medicago truncatula. BMC Plant Biology 6, 28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosnoblet, C., Aubry, C., Leprince, O., Ly Vu, B., Rogniaux, H. and Buitink, J. (2007) The regulatory gamma subunit SNF4b of the sucrose non-fermenting-related kinase complex is involved in longevity and stachyose accumulation during maturation of Medicago truncatula seeds. The Plant Journal 51, 47–59.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Russi, L., Cocks, P.S. and Roberts, E.H. (1992) Coat thickness and hard-seededness in some Medicago and Trifolium species. Seed Science Research 2, 243–249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sankaran, R.P., Huguet, T. and Grusak, M.A. (2009) Identification of QTL affecting seed mineral concentrations and content in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 119, 241–253.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Seo, M., Hanada, A., Kuwahara, A., Endo, A., Okamoto, M., Yamauchi, Y., North, H., Marion-Poll, A., Sun, T.-P., Koshiba, T., Kamiya, Y., Yamaguchi, S. and Nambara, E. (2006) Regulation of hormone metabolism in Arabidopsis seeds: phytochrome regulation of abscisic acid metabolism and abscisic acid regulation of gibberellin metabolism. The Plant Journal 48, 354–366.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Trinh, T.H., Ratet, P., Kondorosi, E., Durand, P., Kamate, K., Bauer, P. and Kondorosi, A. (1998) Rapid and efficient transformation of diploid Medicago truncatula and Medicago sativa ssp. falcata lines improved in somatic embryogenesis. Plant Cell Reports 17, 345–355.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Verdier, J., Kakar, K., Gallardo, K., Le Signor, C., Aubert, G., Schlereth, A., Town, C.D., Udvardi, M.K. and Thompson, R.D. (2008) Gene expression profiling of M. truncatula transcription factors identifies putative regulators of grain legume seed filling. Plant Molecular Biology 67, 567–580.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yamaguchi, S. and Kamiya, Y. (2002) Gibberellins and light-stimulated seed germination. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 20, 369–376.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, H.L. and Grusak, M.A. (2005) Structure and development of Medicago truncatula pod wall and seed coat. Annals of Botany 95, 737–747.CrossRefGoogle Scholar