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Seed-Specific Expression of AINTEGUMENTA in Medicago truncatula Led to the Production of Larger Seeds and Improved Seed Germination

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Abstract

The increase of seed size is of great interest in Medicago spp., to improve germination, seedling vigour and, consequently, early forage yield as well as for optimizing seeding techniques and post-seeding management. This study evaluated the effects of the ectopic expression of the AINTEGUMENTA (ANT) cDNA from Arabidopsis thaliana, under the control of the seed-specific USP promoter from Vicia faba, on seed size, germination and seedling growth in barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.). All the transgenic T2 barrel medic lines expressing ANT produced seeds significantly larger than those of control plants. Microscopic analysis on transgenic T3 mature seeds revealed that cotyledon storage parenchyma cells were significantly larger and contained larger storage vacuoles than those of the untransformed control. Moreover, the percentage of germination was significantly higher and germination was more rapid in transgenic than in control seeds. Our results indicate that the seed-specific expression of ANT in barrel medic led to larger seeds and improved seed germination, and revealed a regulatory role for ANT in controlling seed size development.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Stefania Barzaghi for the seed image analysis and Dr. Luciano Pecetti for the critical reading of the manuscript. We are grateful to Francesco Lascala, Massimo Sari and Annalisa Seminari (CRA-FLC, Lodi) and Giancarlo Carpinelli and Marco Guaragno (CNR-IGV, Perugia) for the excellent technical assistance. The scientific support of Dr. Efisio Piano (CRA-FLC, Lodi) and Dr. Sergio Arcioni (CNR-IGV, Perugia) during the completion of the project is greatly acknowledged. The research was supported by funds from “Programma di ricerca speciale: Incremento della Produzione di Proteine Vegetali per l’Alimentazione Zootecnica (legge 49/2001)”.

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  1. Anca Macovei

    Present address: International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, 110067, New Delhi, India

  2. Francesco Panara

    Present address: ENEA Centro Ricerche TRISAIA, 75026, Rotondella, Matera, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consiglio per la Ricerca e Sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Centro di Ricerca per le Produzioni Foraggere e Lattiero-Casearie, 26900, Lodi, Italy

    Massimo Confalonieri, Maria Carelli & Carla Scotti

  2. Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Valentina Galimberti, Anca Macovei & Marco Biggiogera

  3. CNR, Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, 06128, Perugia, Italy

    Francesco Panara & Ornella Calderini

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  1. Massimo Confalonieri
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  2. Maria Carelli
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Correspondence to Massimo Confalonieri.

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M. Confalonieri and M. Carelli contributed equally to this work.

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Confalonieri, M., Carelli, M., Galimberti, V. et al. Seed-Specific Expression of AINTEGUMENTA in Medicago truncatula Led to the Production of Larger Seeds and Improved Seed Germination. Plant Mol Biol Rep 32, 957–970 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-014-0706-4

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