Abstract
Nitrogen (N) remobilization from reserves to sinks is essential for seedling establishment and seed production. Cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS1) is up-regulated during both seed germination and seed filling in plants. However, the specific roles of the individual GS1 isogenes with respect to N remobilization, early seedling vigour, and final seed productivity are not known. In this study, impairment of seed germination and seedling establishment is demonstrated in the single knockout mutant gln1;2, and the double knockout mutant gln1;1:gln1;2. The negative effect of Gln1;2 deficiency was associated with reduced N remobilization from the cotyledons and could be fully alleviated by exogenous N supply. Following reproductive growth, both the single and double Gln1;2-knockout mutants showed decreased seed yield due to fewer siliques, less seeds per silique, and lower dry weight per seed. The gln1;1 single mutant had normal seed yield structure but primary root development during seed germination was reduced in the presence of external N. Gln1;2 promoter-green fluorescent protein constructs showed that Gln1;2 localizes to the vascular cells of roots, petals, and stamens. It is concluded that Gln1;2 plays an important role in N remobilization for both seedling establishment and seed production in Arabidopsis.
Highlights
Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for plant growth and development (Hawkesford et al, 2012)
Cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS1) is up-regulated during both seed germination and seed filling in plants
The specific roles of the individual GS1 isogenes with respect to N remobilization, early seedling vigour, and final seed productivity are not known
Summary
Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for plant growth and development (Hawkesford et al, 2012). Besides a key role in primary N assimilation, GS is crucial for reassimilation of NH4+ which is constantly generated in large quantities in plants via processes such as photorespiration, lignin biosynthesis, and protein turnover (Li et al, 2014). During the latter process, protein-bound N is converted to Gln, promoting recycling of N in storage proteins.
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