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Aquaporin expression during seed osmopriming and post-priming germination in spinach

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

Aquaporins (AQPs) are proteinaceous channels known to regulate transmembrane water transport, and therefore may be important component of imbibition during osmopriming and germination. To explore the association between AQPs and osmopriming-led enhanced germination performance, we studied the expression patterns of four spinach (Spinacia oleracea) AQP coding genes (SoPIP1;1, SoPIP1;2, SoPIP2;1, and SoδTIP) during osmopriming and subsequent germination under optimal conditions, chilling and drought. All these genes were up-regulated within 2–4 d of priming (phase II-imbibition). We hypothesize such up-regulation to facilitate the pressure potential-driven cell expansion and increase germination potential of primed seeds. Our data during post-priming germination suggest that SoPIP1;1 and SoδTIP were more closely associated with enhanced germination performance. In general, all AQPs were downregulated under chilling and drought. However, under chilling, SoPIP2;1 was expressed at relatively higher level in primed seeds that also exhibited greater chilling tolerance, while SoPIP1;2 and SoδTIP exhibited opposite pattern. Similarly, SoPIP1;1, SoPIP2;1, and SoδTIP exhibited higher expression in primed seeds that also had greater drought tolerance.

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Abbreviations

AQP:

aquaporin

PEG:

polyethylene glycol

PIP:

plasma membrane intrinsic protein

qPCR:

quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

TIP:

tonoplast intrinsic protein

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011-1100, USA

    K. Chen & R. Arora

  2. Seed Science Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011-1100, USA

    A. Fessehaie

Authors
  1. K. Chen
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  2. A. Fessehaie
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  3. R. Arora
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Correspondence to R. Arora.

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Acknowledgments: This journal paper of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa, Project No. 3601 was supported by Hatch Act and State of Iowa funds. We thank Dr. Manjit Misra (Director, Seed Science Center), Plant Science Institute, and the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University for their financial assistance to support this work.

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Chen, K., Fessehaie, A. & Arora, R. Aquaporin expression during seed osmopriming and post-priming germination in spinach. Biol Plant 57, 193–198 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-012-0266-0

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