Correlation between α-amylase gene expression and seedling vigor in rice

Abstract

This report examines the relationship between seedling vigor, α-amylase enzyme activity and α-amylase mRNA accumulation in ten varieties of rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown at two temperatures (15°C and 30°C). A significant, positive correlation was observed between seedling vigor, α-amylase enzyme activity, and the accumulation of mRNA from one rice α-amylase gene (RAmy1A) at both temperature regimens. The results of this study support previous experiments which have correlated α-amylase enzyme activity to seedling vigor. We have extended this correlation to the expression of one of ten genes that comprise the rice α-amylase multigene family. These results suggest that the expression of α-amylase gene RAmy1A is an important, and possibly rate-limiting factor in determining seedling vigor in rice.