Abstract
Proteins that have homology with dehydrins have been identified immunologically in the desiccationsensitive (recalcitrant) seeds of English oak (Quercus robur L.), European chestnut (Castanea sativa L.), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.), sycamore (Acer psuedoplatanus L.) and silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.), and in the desiccation-tolerant seeds of Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.). The mRNA for a late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein (dehydrin) was also detected by Northern blotting, using a cDNA clone (D11) from cotton embryos, in the recalcitrant and orthodox seeds. Medium-stringency washing was required to detect this hybridization. InQ. robur the amount of dehydrin protein increased during seed development, andLEA mRNA was induced by limited desiccation and by abscisic acid. Confirmation of the presence of dehydrin mRNA in matureQ. robur andC. sativa seeds was obtained by in-vitro translation of the extracted polyadenylated RNA followed by analysis of the immunoprecipitation products. Thus the presence of dehydrin proteins is not sufficient to confer desiccation tolerance on truly recalcitrant seeds, nor can their presence or absence be used as clear criteria for identification of recalcitrant seeds.
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Abbreviations
- ABA:
-
abscisic acid
- LEA:
-
late embryogenesis abundant
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Finch-Savage, W.E., Pramanik, S.K. & Bewley, J.D. The expression of dehydrin proteins in desiccation-sensitive (recalcitrant) seeds of temperate trees. Planta 193, 478–485 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02411551
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02411551