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Endogenous abscisic acid and precocious germination of developing soybean seeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2007

Carlos O. Gosparini ,
Hector A. Busilacchi ,
Paolo Vernieri  and
Eligio N. Morandi
Carlos O. Gosparini
Affiliation:
Cátedras de Fisiología VegetalFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Campo Experimental J. Villarino, CC14, S2125ZAA, Zavalla, Santa Fe, Argentina
Hector A. Busilacchi
Affiliation:
Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Campo Experimental J. Villarino, CC14, S2125ZAA, Zavalla, Santa Fe, Argentina
Paolo Vernieri
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biologia delle Piante Agrarie, Universitá degli Studi di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge no 23, 56124Pisa, Italy
Eligio N. Morandi*
Affiliation:
Cátedras de Fisiología VegetalFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Campo Experimental J. Villarino, CC14, S2125ZAA, Zavalla, Santa Fe, Argentina
*
*Correspondence: Fax: 54-341-4970085 Email: emorandi@unr.edu.ar
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Abstract

The germination of developing seeds is very uncommon and is generally associated with deficiencies in abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis or sensitivity. This paper examines the quantitative relationship between the inhibition of precocious germination and endogenous ABA in the embryonic axis (ABAa) of hydrated soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeds, isolated after the completion of histodifferentiation and before the beginning of dehydration, as well as the magnitude and evolution of axis sensitivity to endogenous ABA during that period. Developing seeds harvested at 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 d after anthesis (DAA) were subjected to incubation or washing to induce changes in ABA content. ABA content was measured by radioimmunoassay, using a monoclonal antibody against free ABA. Germinability was measured as the time to 50% germination (t50). Washing and incubation induced eight- and twofold increases, respectively, in the rate of ABAa decline compared with the in planta ABAa decline. The threshold ABAa for inhibition of precocious germination (ABAc) increased slightly from 25 to 40 DAA [1.15–1.66 μg ABA (g DW)− 1]. This contrasted with the substantial decline in ABAa [10.90–2.07 μg ABA (g DW)− 1] during the same period, and indicated that sensitivity to endogenous ABA of hydrated seeds was initially high and diminished slowly during development. The relationship between (ABAa–ABAc) and t50 was linear for immature seeds incubated before and after washing. Below the ABAc, there were no differences in the t50 of 25–45 DAA seeds. The ABAa contribution to the control of precocious soybean seed germination was evident, although other potentially interacting factors were also present.

Keywords

abscisic acidGlycine maxprecocious germinationseed developmentseed maturationsoybean

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , September 2007 , pp. 165 - 174
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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