Abstract
The role of cis-abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GAs) in the induction of cell-cycle activities has been studied during imbibition and subsequent germination of tomato seeds. Using flow cytometry, nuclear replication activity was investigated in embryo root tips isolated from seeds of the ABA-deficient mutant sit w, the GA-deficient mutant gib-1, and the wild-type (MM) tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Moneymaker) upon imbibition in water, 10 μM GA4+7, 5 μM ABA or 5 μM ABA+10 μM GA4+7. The nuclei of fully matured dry MM, sit w and gib-1 seeds predominantly showed 2C DNA signals, indicating that the cell-cycle activity of most root-tip cells had been arrested at the G1 phase of nuclear division. However, ABA-deficient sit w seeds contained a significantly higher amount of G2 cells (4C DNA) compared with the other genotypes, suggesting that, during maturation, cell-cycle activity in sit w seeds is less efficiently arrested in G1. Upon imbibition in water, an induction of the 4C signal, indicating nuclear replication, was observed in the root tip cells of both MM and sit w embroys. The augmentation in the 4C signal occurred before visible germination. Gib-1 seeds did not show cell-cycle activity and did not germinate in water. Upon imbibition in GA4+7, both cell-cycle activity and subsequent germination were enhanced in MM and sit w seeds, and were induced in gib-1. In ABA, the germination of MM and sit w seeds was inhibited while nuclear replication of these seeds was not affected. It is concluded that GA influences germination by acting upon processes that precede cell-cycle activation, while ABA affects growth by acting upon processes that follow cell-cycle activation.
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Abbreviations
- ABA:
-
abscisic acid
- GA:
-
gibberellic acid
- MM:
-
wild type tomato
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We thank F. Sarracco (Plant Breeding and Seed Production Department, University of Turin, Italy) and J.G. Van Pijlen (CPRODLO, Wageningen, The Netherlands) for their help in dissecting embryos and fruitful discussions, and S.P.C. Groot (CPRO-DLO) for critically reading the manuscript. The studies of Mr. Yongqing Liu in the Netherlands were made possible by a sandwich fellowship from the Wageningen Agricultural University and Human Agricultural College P.R. China.
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Liu, Y., Bergervoet, J.H.W., De Vos, C.H.R. et al. Nuclear replication activities during imbibition of abscisic acid- and gibberellin-deficient tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seeds. Planta 194, 368–373 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00197537
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00197537