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Nitric oxide accelerates seed germination in warm-season grasses

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Abstract

The nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) significantly promoted germination of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L. cv Kanlow) in the light and in the dark at 25°C, across a broad range of concentrations. SNP also promoted seed germination in two other warm-season grasses. A chemical scavenger of NO inhibited germination and blocked SNP stimulation of seed germination. The phenolic (+)-catechin acted synergistically with SNP and nitrite in promoting seed germination. Acidified nitrite, an alternate NO donor also significantly stimulated seed germination. Interestingly, sodium cyanide, potassium ferricyanide and potassium ferrocyanide at 200 μM strongly enhanced seed germination as well, whereas potassium chloride was without effect. Ferrocyanide and cyanide stimulation of seed germination was blocked by an NO scavenger. Incubation of seeds with a fluorescent NO-specific probe provided evidence for NO production in germinating switchgrass seeds. Abscisic acid (ABA) at 10 μM depressed germination, inhibited root elongation and essentially abolished coleoptile emergence. SNP partially overcame ABA effects on radicle emergence but did not overcome the effects of ABA on coleoptile elongation. Light microscopy indicated extension of the radicle and coleoptiles in seeds maintained on water or on SNP after 2 days. In contrast, there was minimal growth of the radicle and coleoptile in ABA-treated seeds even after 3–4 days. These data indicate that seed germination of warm-season grasses is significantly influenced by NO signaling pathways and document that NO could be an endogenous trigger for release from dormancy in these species.

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Abbreviations

ABA :

Abscisic acid

DAF-FM :

4-amino-5-methylamino-2’,7’ difluorofluorescein

NO :

Nitric oxide

PTIO :

2-Phenyl-4,4,5,5,-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide

SNP :

Sodium nitroprusside

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Acknowledgements

We thank Cynthia Larsen and Ashley Hejny for technical assistance. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture. This work is published as Journal Series No. 14,608 from the Agriculture Research Division, University of Nebraska.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA-ARS, 344A Keim Hall and Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, East Campus, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0937, USA

    Gautam Sarath & Robert B. Mitchell

  2. Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3102, USA

    Paul C. Bethke & Russell Jones

  3. Biology Department, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA

    Lisa M. Baird

  4. Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0665, USA

    Guichuan Hou

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  1. Gautam Sarath
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  2. Paul C. Bethke
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  3. Russell Jones
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  4. Lisa M. Baird
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  5. Guichuan Hou
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  6. Robert B. Mitchell
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Correspondence to Gautam Sarath.

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Sarath, G., Bethke, P.C., Jones, R. et al. Nitric oxide accelerates seed germination in warm-season grasses. Planta 223, 1154–1164 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-0162-3

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