Brassinosteroids and gibberellins promote tobacco seed germination by distinct pathways

Abstract.

Seed germination of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Havana 425 is determined by the balance of forces between the growth potential of the embryo and the mechanical restraint of the micropylar endosperm. In contrast to the gibberellin GA₄, the brassinosteroid (BR) brassinolide (BL) did not release photodormancy of dark-imbibed photodormant seeds. Brassinolide promoted seedling elongation and germination of non-photodormant seeds, but did not appreciably affect the induction of class I β-1,3-glucanase (βGLU I) in the micropylar endosperm. Brassinolide, but not GA₄, accelerated endosperm rupture of tobacco seeds imbibed in the light. Brassinolide and GA₄ promoted endosperm rupture of dark-imbibed non-photodormant seeds, but only GA₄ enhanced βGLU I induction. Promotion of endosperm rupture by BL was dose-dependent and 0.01 µM BL was most effective. Brassinolide and GA₄ promoted abscisic acid (ABA)-inhibited dark-germination of non-photodormant seeds, but only GA₄ replaced light in inducing βGLU I. These results indicate that BRs and GAs promote tobacco seed germination by distinct signal transduction pathways and distinct mechanisms. Gibberellins and light seem to act in a common pathway to release photodormancy, whereas BRs do not release photodormancy. Induction of βGLU I in the micropylar endosperm and promotion of release of 'coat-enhanced' dormancy seem to be associated with the GA-dependent pathway, but not with BR signalling. It is proposed that BRs promote seed germination by directly enhancing the growth potential of the emerging embryo in a GA- and βGLU I-independent manner.