Abstract
ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore differences in the low-temperature tolerance of a desert plant, Anabasis aphylla, at different seed germination stages during the fall using transcriptome sequencing to identify related genes. The survival rate of the seeds decreased with lower temperatures at different germination stages, and the tolerance of the stages in decreasing order was as follows: imbibition (I) ≈ testa rupture (II) > testa removal (III) > elongation (IV). Superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities and the malondialdehyde content showed a downward trend after stage II. Transcriptome sequencing of seeds, including ripe and dry dominant seeds (W1) and seeds during different germination stages [imbibition (W2), testa removal (W3), and elongation (W4)] was performed. Some genes were downregulated during seed germination, which mainly included cytochrome P450, oleosin, ethylene-responsive transcription factor, and low temperature-induced protein. This study suggests that downregulated of some genes may result in a decrease in low-temperature tolerance.
Highlights
Anabasis aphylla belongs to the Chenopodiaceae family and is the predominant and constructive species in the Junggar Basin of northwestern China
One portion of the A. aphylla seeds at different germination stages was used for low-temperature tolerance and physiological experiments, and the other portion was used for transcriptome sequencing, with three biological replicates for each germination stage
The A. aphylla seeds at different germination stages that were subjected to gradual cooling to the target temperatures exhibited variations in tolerance to low temperatures (Table 1)
Summary
Anabasis aphylla belongs to the Chenopodiaceae family and is the predominant and constructive species in the Junggar Basin of northwestern China. It is highly saline alkalineresistant, cold-resistant, and drought-resistant, and stabilizes the sand and improves the soil (Feng et al 2011). Our previous studies showed that the seeds of A. aphylla can germinate in early spring when the ground is moist due to melting snow (Wang et al 2017; Peng et al 2018) or precipitation occurs before freezing. In the Junggar Basin, precipitation pulses in the fall and melting snow before freezing increase the surface water retention time in deserts with alluvial fan soil, facilitating seed germination of desert plants. The anti-freezing mechanism of A. aphylla seedlings under climate change conditions will provide a reference for the study of stress resistance in desert plants
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