Sulfur in Seeds: An Overview.

Sananda Mondal,Kalipada Pramanik,Snehashis Karmakar,Debasish Panda,Debjani Dutta,Bandana Bose

doi:10.3390/plants11030450

Sananda Mondal, Kalipada Pramanik + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030450

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Abstract

Sulfur is a growth-limiting and secondary macronutrient as well as an indispensable component for several cellular components of crop plants. Over the years various scientists have conducted several experiments on sulfur metabolism based on different aspects of plants. Sulfur metabolism in seeds has immense importance in terms of the different sulfur-containing seed storage proteins, the significance of transporters in seeds, the role of sulfur during the time of seed germination, etc. The present review article is based on an overview of sulfur metabolism in seeds, in respect to source to sink relationships, S transporters present in the seeds, S-regulated seed storage proteins and the importance of sulfur at the time of seed germination. Sulfur is an essential component and a decidable factor for seed yield and the quality of seeds in terms of oil content in oilseeds, storage of qualitative proteins in legumes and has a significant role in carbohydrate metabolism in cereals. In conclusion, a few future perspectives towards a more comprehensive knowledge on S metabolism/mechanism during seed development, storage and germination have also been stated.

Highlights

Sulfur is an essential macronutrient; according to its chemical nature it plays important roles in various cellular metabolic processes [1]
This study indicates the level of different sulfur-containing proteins which is a reflection of respective mRNAs of the proteins
Bose and Mishra [94] observed that only 24 h of pre-sowing soaking of mustard (B. rapa; a sulfur enriched crop) seeds with Mg(NO3 )2 and MgSO4 salts improved the percent germination; their finding validated that the affectivity can be carried over from vegetative phase to yield; this experiment depicted that NO3 - and/or SO4 2- might be a responsible factor for the improvement of yield

Summary

Introduction

Sulfur is an essential macronutrient; according to its chemical nature it plays important roles in various cellular metabolic processes [1]. Tabe and Droux [19] conducted an experiment by applying sulfur in different crop plants and it was found that sulfur is delivered to seeds through the phloem as sulfate in pods of legumes, or in reduced forms such as GSH in rice grains and S-methylmethionine in wheat. Albumins are recognized as reserve proteins in legume seeds [27] In this context, deficiency and/or toxicity of sulfur in the form of sulfate affects the growth and development of plants as well as seed metabolism. The aim of the present review article is to include the different aspects of seeds regulated by sulfur, i.e., source to sink relationships, S transporters present in the seeds, S-regulated seed storage proteins present/accumulated in the seeds and the role of sulfur in seed germination

Source to Sink Relationship

Sulfate Transporters: Transporters

Sulfur Regulated Seed Germination

Findings

Conclusions