Effects of CaCN2treatment of seeds of Inubie (Echinochloa oryzicola) on synthesis of protein and RNA during germination

Abstract

Abstract Protein and RNA induction during the germination of Inubie (Echinochloa oryzicola) seeds pretreated with CaCN2 was studied. It was observed that the germination of Echinochloa oryzicola seeds was delayed after pretreatment with a high concentration of CaCN2 for 18 h. A considerable difference in the protein patterns was detected in the SDS-PAGE gel between the control (H2O) and CaCN2 treatment, particularly a 48 kilodalton (kD) protein band disappeared in CaCN2 treatment. At the tested three levels of CaCN2, the induction of this 48 kD protein was apparently inhibited during the germination process even when the duration of the pretreatment was as short as 2 h. When imbibed with water, the amount of the 48 kD protein increased rapidly within 1 h from the trace level in the dry seeds, and reached the maximum level after about 1–2 d. The results showed that the CaCN2 treatment also decreased the total RNA level in the germinating seeds. The relation of this protein induction and RNA decline with th...