DELLA-Mediated Gibberellin Acid Participation in the Regulation of Dormancy and Growth of Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.

Abstract

In Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. (F. mandshurica), the mature seeds exhibit a deep dormancy trait, and the seedlings are vulnerable to external environmental factors, such as low temperature and drought, leading to ecological dormancy. In order to investigate the role of FmDELLA in growth and development, the variation in FmDELLA transcriptional level, the endogenous hormone content in seed germination and bud dormancy release, and the effects of the month, organs, and exogenous hormones on FmDELLA were determined. The results showed that FmDELLA genes had a synergistic impact with the XERICO, PP2C, and DOG genes on regulating hypocotyl elongation during seed germination. Unlike growing buds, the dormant buds had much higher levels of FmDELLA transcripts. Still, these transcript levels were lowered by using 100 mg/L exogenous gibberellin acid (GA), which could promote bud dormancy release. Exogenous hormones regulated the transcription of FmDELLA, which primarily occurred in the stems, leaves, buds, and flowers and reached its lowest level in September. The transition from dormancy to germination for buds and seeds was related to increased GA, auxin, and cytokinin and decreased abscisic acid. In conclusion, our study revealed the role of FmDELLA in the seed germination and release of bud dormancy and provided a solid basis for F. mandshurica tissue culture and micropropagation.