This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 132/2/1077    most recent pp.103.022715v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Clerkx, E. J.M. Articles by Koornneef, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Clerkx, E. J.M. Articles by Koornneef, M. Agricola Articles by Clerkx, E. J.M. Articles by Koornneef, M.

CELL BIOLOGY AND SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION

Characterization of green seed, an Enhancer of abi3-1 in Arabidopsis That Affects Seed Longevity¹

Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University, Arboretumlaan 4, NL–6703 BD Wageningen, The Netherlands (E.J.M.C., H.B.-D.V., G.J.R., M.K.); and Graduate School of Experimental Plant Science (E.J.M.C., H.B.-D.V., G.J.R., M.K.) and Plant Research International (S.P.C.G.), Wageningen-University and Research Center, P.O. box 16, NL–6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands

Seeds are usually stored in physiological conditions in which they gradually lose their viability and vigor depending on storage conditions, storage time, and genotype. Very little is known about the underlying genetics of seed storability and seed deterioration. We analyzed a mutant in Arabidopsis disturbed in seed storability. This mutant was isolated as a grs (green-seeded) mutant in an abi3-1 (abscisic acid 3) mutant background. Genetic and physiological characterization showed that the monogenic grs mutant was not visibly green seeded and mapped on chromosome 4. This enhancer mutation did not affect the ABA sensitivity of seed germination or seed dormancy but was found to affect seed storability and seedling vigor. Seed storability was assessed in a controlled deterioration test, in which the germination capacity of the mutant decreased with the duration of the treatment. The decrease in viability and vigor was confirmed by storing the seeds in two relative humidities (RHs) for a prolonged period. At 60% RH, the mutant lost germinability, but storage at 32% RH showed no decrease of germination although seed vigor decreased. The decrease in viability and vigor could be related to an increase in conductivity, suggesting membrane deterioration. This was not affected by light conditions during imbibition, expected to influence the generation of active oxygen species. During seed maturation, ABI3 regulates several processes: acquiring dormancy and long-term storability and loss of chlorophyll. Our results indicate that GRS is a common regulator in the latter two but not of dormancy/germination.

¹ This work was supported by the Technology Foundation STW, by the Applied Science Division of NWO, and by the Technology Program of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

^* Corresponding author; e-mail maarten.koornneef{at}wur.nl; fax 31–317–483146.

Received February 26, 2003; returned for revision March 24, 2003; accepted March 27, 2003.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. J.M. Clerkx, M. E. El-Lithy, E. Vierling, G. J. Ruys, H. Blankestijn-De Vries, S. P.C. Groot, D. Vreugdenhil, and M. Koornneef Analysis of Natural Allelic Variation of Arabidopsis Seed Germination and Seed Longevity Traits between the Accessions Landsberg erecta and Shakdara, Using a New Recombinant Inbred Line Population Plant Physiology, May 1, 2004; 135(1): 432 - 443. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]