Young Seeds Research Articles

DEVELOPMENT OF PAN DE SASA: NYPA FRUTICANS FILLING IN PANDESAL

Nypa fruticans recognized as a valuable resource in the coastal areas of the Philippines, but still, it is considered as underutilized fruit. As the consequence of a deficiency in knowledge regarding this fruit, the known products resulted in a low number. That is why the researchers tend to prove that it is feasible to create a unique filling for pastries and another possible usage. The study aims to produce new fillings for pandesal using Nypa fruticans (Nipa fruit). The researchers aims to determine the essential aspect of Pan De Sasa include the following terms: Product Description, Ingredients, Tools, and Equipment. Lastly, the acceptance of the sensory quality of the product will be assessed with the following criteria: Taste/Flavor, Texture/Mouth Feel, Appearance/Color, and Smell/Aroma. The study covers to utilize Convenient Sampling and Availability Sampling technique. The study has a design to contribute new knowledge to the possible usage of the underutilized Nypa Fruticans for pandesal as a filling, Mixed methods such as experimental, quantitative and descriptive research are applied. The ingredients of Pan de Sasa consist of Grated fruits of Nypa Fruticans, Evaporated Milk, Raw Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Salt, Water, Instant Dry Yeast, White Sugar, Vegetable Shortening and Bread Crumbs. After a series of trials, the Pan de Sasa had been produced. It takes a numerous process before arriving to the desired output. It includes the making of the sasa filling, mixing of the ingredients for dough, kneading, proofing, dividing, stuffing, and baking of the Pan de Sasa. Based on the data gathered by the researchers and the ratings given by the respondents, the overall acceptability of Pan de Sasa is extremely likely. Majority from the respondents, 72%, give a rating of I like extremely for the Taste/Flavor category, 22% for I like very much, and 6% for I like moderately. It indicates that the taste is extremely acceptable. The researchers recommend to further improve the product, and introduce it to the market and make it marketable and profitable. In dealing with product development, do a series of trials and errors until you arrive at your desire output. Critically check the measurement of each ingredient: small mistakes can cause changes to the overall product. For the grated Nypa Fruticans production, use advanced technologies as grating it manually may leave some residue. For further production, always secure a stock of Nypa fruticans, and choose young seeds as this has softer jelly-like endosperm. Practicing proper safety and sanitation is also crucial to ensure that the product is safe to consume. Examining the Pan De Sasa under a microbiological test is recommended for quality assurance of its safeness.

True-to-type micropropagated plants of para rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.) via somatic embryogenesis

Plant micropropagation via somatic embryogenesis is a powerful technique for rapid mass propagation, especially in para rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.). However, somaclonal variations are the major limitation of this process. To date, DNA fingerprinting, i.e., RAPD (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA), Star Codon Targeted (SCoT), and SSRs (Simple Sequence Repeats), is one of the most successful technologies to detect the genetic fidelity in the somatic embryos. The aim of present study was to induce somatic embryos from inner integument explants of para rubber cv. ‘RRIM 600’ at different developmental stages and subsequent acclimatization and transplantation (under greenhouse and field conditions) of the propagated seedlings. The genetic stability of the plants derived from somatic embryos was also analysed in comparison to the mother plant using RAPD, SCoT and SSRs markers. Somatic embryos derived from inner integuments of 5-week-old immature seeds after pollination were more efficient than older and younger seeds. In addition, para rubber mother plants cv. ‘RRIM600’ and plants derived from somatic embryogenesis demonstrated the same pattern of DNA fragments, as confirmed by three PCR-based techniques, RAPD, SCoT and SSRs, whereas these in the pattern were different from ‘RRIT 226’, ‘PB 235’, ‘PB 251’, ‘PB 255’ and ‘BMP 24’. Interestingly, T2 plant was found to possess somaclonal variations when compared with mother plant. Based on the results, we confirm that the plants derived from somatic embryogenesis of para rubber cv. ‘RRIM 600’ were true-to-type to that of ‘RRIM 600’ master stock.

Seed-specific expression of TaYUC10 significantly increases auxin and protein content in wheat seeds.

Present study revealed that specific expression of TaYUC10.3 in wheat young seeds could increase the content of auxin, and protein. Auxin is a vital endogenous hormone in plants, which is involved in the regulation of various physiological and biochemical processes in plants. The flavin-containing monooxygenase encoded by the YUCCA gene is a rate-limiting enzyme in the tryptophan-dependent pathway of auxin synthesis. TaYUC10.3 was identified, cloned and found that it was abundantly expressed in wheat young seeds. In this study, a seed-specific expression vector of TaYUC10.3 was constructed with the promoter of 1Bx17 glutenin subunit gene and transformed wheat using the particle bombardment method. The quantitative RT-PCR showed that TaYUC10.3 was expressed in a large amount in young seeds of the transgenic lines. Plant hormone-targeted metabolomics showed that the auxin content of the transgenic lines was significantly increased compared with controls. The GC / MS non-targeted metabolite multiple statistical analyses showed that the variable importance in projection (VIP) of tryptophan reduced in the transgenic lines. Simultaneously, the VIP of indole acetic acid increased. The precursor amino acids for synthesizing some proteins and carbohydrates were upregulated in the transgenic lines. Subsequently, it was found that the protein content of the seeds of the transgenic TaYUC10.3 wheat was significantly higher than that of the control. The wet gluten content and sedimentation value of the transgenic TaYUC10.3 wheat were also high. This result indicated that TaYUC10.3 might participate in auxin synthesis and affects the protein content of wheat seeds.

Detection of Coffee Bean Damage in The Roasting Process Based on Shape Features Analysis

Many studies raise the issue of analysis on the quality of coffee beans (green beans). Green beans are the term used to indicate coffee beans before roasting. The importance of analyzing the quality of coffee beans not only in coffee beans but also in rice seeds. Rice seeds are used as a mixture in the roasting process of coffee. Analysis of the quality of roasted coffee is very important. In roasted coffee beans can be damaged and changes to the coffee beans. Some types of damage to coffee beans include, blackened seeds, partially blackened seeds, browned seeds, broken seeds, perforated seeds, epidermis seeds, horned skin seeds, too young seeds, spotted seeds, and dirty seeds. This study focuses on one of the damage factors, namely broken coffee beans after broken beans. In this study, analysis of roasted coffee quality was determined by shape analysis. The shape analysis uses elongation values. there are two categories of classification, the first class of coffee is of good quality, and the second is coffee with poor grade. Classification is good if the elongation value is more than 0.85, for other conditions it is classified as bad. The results of this study have the following accuracy values, at coffee with a classification of good accuracy of 93.4%, while those at coffee with a bad classification of accuracy are 78.5%.

3D Electron Microscopy Gives a Clue: Maize Zein Bodies Bud From Central Areas of ER Sheets.

Zeins are the main storage proteins in maize seed endosperm, and the onset of zein synthesis in young seeds challenges the endomembrane system and results in the formation of storage organelles. Even though zeins lack a conventional endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal, they accumulate within the ER and assemble in conspicuous ER-derived protein bodies (PBs) stabilized by disulfide bridge formation and hydrophobic interaction between zein chains. Zein body formation during seed development has been extensively studied, as well as the mechanisms that lead to the initiation of PBs. However, the exact course of the PB formation process and the spatial relationship with the ER remain unclear. The development of serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) techniques that allow three-dimensional imaging combined with the high resolution of electron microscopy provides new perspectives on the study of the plant endomembrane system. Here, we demonstrate that (i) the ER of maize seeds is mainly formed by massive sheets and (ii) PBs are not budding from tubules or the edge of sheets, but protrude from the entire surface of the ER sheet.

Viability Test and Breeding Growth on Poly-embryos Seeds

Seeds are mature ovules. One or more ovaries form in an ovary in a legume, but never more than one seed is formed in an ovary in a monocot. Each ripe seed always consists of at least two parts, namely: (1) Embryo, (2) Seed coat (Seed coat or testa). Embryo formed or derived from fertilized eggs (zygote) by undergoing cell division in the embryo. The seed coat is formed from the integument (one or more) of the ovules. In legumes generally, there are two layers of the seed coat. Every very young and growing seed always consists of three parts, namely: (1) Embryo, (2) seed coat, (3) Endosperm. Endosperm is a storage food storage network that is absorbed by the embryo before or during seed germination and is always present in very young seeds. Poly-embryos is the presence of more than one embryo in one seed, but these embryos do not always mature or mature, remain undeveloped or degenerate. The purpose of this research is to study the germination of one seed that has more than one embryo and to determine the growth of seedlings from poly-embryonic seeds. The results showed that the highest plant growth (plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight of orange seeds) was found in orange seeds that had 1 embryo compared to orange seeds which had 2 and 3 embryos. Seed germination and growth are strongly influenced by the number of food reserves stored in seeds.

UJI VIABILITAS TERHADAP BENIH POLYEMBRIONI

Seeds are mature ovules. One or more of the ovaries formed in the legume, but never more than one seed formed in the ovaries of monocots. Each ripe seed always consists of at least two parts, namely: (1) Embryo, (2) Seed coat (Seed coat or testa). Embryo is formed or derived from fertilized eggs (zygote) by undergoing cell division in the embryo sac. Seed coat is formed from the integument (one or more) of the ovules. In legumes generally there are two layers of seed coat. Every very young and growing seed always consists of three parts: (1) Embryo, (2) seed coat, (3) Endosperm. Endosperm is a storage food storage network which is absorbed by the embryo before or during seed germination and is always present in very young seeds. Polyembryonics is the presence of more than one embryo in one seed, but these embryos do not always mature or mature, remain undeveloped or degenerate. The purpose of this research is to study the germination of one seed that has more than one embryo and to determine the growth of seedlings from polyembryonic seeds. The results showed that the highest plant growth (plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight of orange seeds) was found in orange seeds that had 1 embryo compared to orange seeds which had 2 and 3 embryos. Seed germination and growth is strongly influenced by the amount of food reserves stored in seeds (Magagula and Ossom 2011 in Hasnah M, 2013). Keywords: Citrus Seed, Polyembrioni, Seed Viability

The endospermic origin of the storage tissue of a rare tree endemic to Chile, Gomortega keule, is confirmed by microsatellites

ABSTRACT In angiosperms, the usual storage tissue found in seeds is the endosperm, which originates at the characteristic event of the double fertilisation. The mature seeds of Gomortega keule (Molina) Baillon, in the monotypic family Gomortegaceae, contain a storage tissue composed of two distinct parts. This uncommon form suggests one of the parts may actually correspond to perisperm. In this work we aimed to combine genetic and histological observations to determine the endospermic origins of the two tissue parts. Seven microsatellite DNA loci were amplified and genotyped. Genetic profiles of tissue parts were grouped in expected classes following the model of the double fertilisation of angiosperms. The majority of observations matched those expected classes. Genotyping inconsistencies could be attributed to fruits that were mistakenly assigned to a maternal tree, or due to null alleles or mutations. In observations made from histological preparations, the outer part of the storage tissue represents a larger proportion in mature seeds than is found in young seeds, suggesting that the outer part of the storage tissue develops later than the inner part. The observations of the endosperm, a single cell layer of perisperm, and details of the seed coat, show that there was no evidence that the perisperm has any continuity with the storage tissue. This finding suggested a common endospermic origin for the two parts of the storage tissue. There was a cell layer in between the inner and outer part of the endosperm, which has not been previously reported, and it supports the finding of differentiation of the two endosperm parts. The pattern of two tissue parts in the endosperm of G. keule is a unique feature among angiosperm plants. The observations suggest early stages of evolution towards a greater histological differentiation of the endosperm parts in this species.

The detection of differentially expressed gene and atlas construction of pre-mRNA alternative splicing during seed germination of Arabidopsis thaliana

Seed germination is the initial phase of life cycle for plants and plays a pivotal role in regeneration of plant population, continuation of plant species and crop yield. However, seed germination is an extremely complex biological process and its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. It is well known that gene expression and pre-mRNA alternative splicing are vital to the central dogma. In Arabidopsis genome, ~60% multi-exon genes are alternatively spliced. Alternative splicing is involved in the response to environmental cues, including abiotic and biotic stresses, in the regulation of crucial developmental processes such as flowering, and in circadian timekeeping. The present paper studies the effect of gene expression and alternative splicing on seed germination in Arabidopsis . We constructed RNA-seq datasets from dry seeds, germinating seeds 1–3, Young seeds and Seeds in Arabidopsis and carried out quality control for the raw reads by using FastQC and Trimmomatic. StringTie estimated transcript and gene expression from a mapping to the Arabidopsis genome obtained from Hisat2. We next created the gene expression matrix for Arabidopsis , which includes 37336 genes along the rows and 12 samples along the columns, and employed DESeq2 to systematically identify differentially expressed genes between different stages during seed germination. To elucidate the biological functions of differentially expressed genes, we performed a functional enrichment analysis of these genes using clusterProfiler tool. The results showed that many genes involved in metabolic processes, such as glycolysis and DNA synthesis, were activated during the seed germination. It ensures the reactivation of metabolism and basic cellular activities of seeds. Some genes involved in environmental responses, such as oxidative stress, toxic substance, heat, and water, were inhibited. This is essential for seeds to be successfully activated from a dormant state. Furthermore, rMATS was utilized to detect the pre-mRNA alternative splicing events and differential alternative splicing events under different conditions. We constructed the atlas of pre-mRNA alternative splicing at different stages of seed germination and analyzed the distribution characteristics of alternative splicing patterns across every stage. Besides, we detected the differential alternative splicing events between different germination stages and analyzed the biological functions of differential alternative splicing events during seed germination using clusterProfiler. A total of 18 genes, in which differential retained intron events were identified between dry seeds and germinating seeds 3, were enriched on splicing process. By visualization of alternative splicing events in AT4G25500 , which was done by using the rmats2sashimiplot tool, the inclusion levels and functions of differential alternative splicing between different stages of seed germination were clearly illuminated. Overall, we investigated the dynamic changes of gene expressed levels and alternative splicing events during seed germination of Arabidopsis based on bioinformatics methods and dissected omics features and regulated mechanisms during seed germination from the perspective of gene expression and alternative splicing of pre-mRNA. This study is expected to be helpful for elucidating the regulated mechanisms of seed germination and to provide a guideline for relevant experimental works.

Comprehensive Transcriptome Profiling in Relation to Seed Storage Compounds in Tetralocular Brassica rapa

Tetralocular type of Brassica rapa has a wide silique, containing more seeds than in the bilocular type. To elucidate physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying seed development of the tetralocular silique, we defined the embryo development of tetralocular B. rapa (‘Sarsyun’) from 10 to 49 days after flowering (DAF) and measured total C, soluble sugars, lipid content, and changes in genome-wide transcript abundance during the seed filling phase. Hexoses transiently accumulated in young seeds at higher levels than sucrose, whereas a high sucrose level was observed in mature seeds. In contrast, the silique wall exhibited high levels of total soluble sugars at 14–35 DAF, but their levels dissipated after 35 DAF. The gradual decrease in total soluble sugars in the silique wall was likely correlated with seed lipid accumulation. Lipid accumulation in seeds began at approximately 21 DAF, reaching the maximum (45% dry matter) at 35–42 DAF. High lipid accumulation between 28 and 35 DAF was strongly correlated with a rapid increase in seed dry weight. In parallel, 34,423 contigs from four different developing seeds (21, 28, 35, and 42 DAF) were analyzed for transcriptional profiling of the developing seeds. Most genes involved in seed photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism were highly expressed at 21 or 28 DAF and were subsequently downregulated. The expression of genes coding for oleosins and fatty acid synthesis and elongation markedly increased at 28 DAF through 35 DAF, respectively, remaining high thereafter. The expression of major storage protein genes increased at 28 or 35 DAF. The accumulation of seed storage compounds in tetralocular B. rapa was highly dependent on photoassimilates in seeds and the silique wall. Transcriptional changes and transcript abundances in relation to seed storage compounds differed across seed development stages. Overall, dynamic changes to transcript abundance of most genes in relation to seed storage products occurred between 28 and 35 DAF. We proposed that the tetralocular ovary in B. rapa may be a useful trait for improving seed yield and yield contributing traits in Brassica species.

Differential expression of vacuolar and defective cell wall invertase genes in roots and seeds of metalliferous and non-metalliferous populations of Rumex dentatus under copper stress

Acid invertase activities in roots and young seeds of a metalliferous population (MP) of Rumex dentatus were previously observed to be significantly higher than those of a non-metalliferous population (NMP) under Cu stress. To date, no acid invertase gene has been cloned from R. dentatus. Here, we isolated four full-length cDNAs from the two populations of R. dentatus, presumably encoding cell wall (RdnCIN1 and RdmCIN1 from the NMP and MP, respectively) and vacuolar invertases (RdnVIN1 and RdmVIN1 from the NMP and MP, respectively). Unexpectedly, RdnCIN1 and RdmCIN1 most likely encode special defective invertases with highly attenuated sucrose-hydrolyzing capacity. The transcript levels of RdmCIN1 were significantly higher than those of RdnCIN1 in roots and young seeds under Cu stress, whereas under control conditions, the former was initially lower than the latter. Unexpected high correlations were observed between the transcript levels of RdnCIN1 and RdmCIN1 and the activity of cell wall invertase, even though RdnCIN1 and RdmCIN1 do not encode catalytically active invertases. Similarly, the transcript levels of RdmVIN1 in roots and young seeds were increased under Cu stress, whereas those of RdnVIN1 were decreased. The high correlations between the transcript levels of RdnVIN1 and RdmVIN1 and the activity of vacuolar invertase indicate that RdnVIN1 and RdmVIN1 might control distinct vacuolar invertase activities in the two populations. Moreover, a possible indirect role for acid invertases in Cu tolerance, mediated by generating a range of sugars used as nutrients and signaling molecules, is discussed.

Pollination and in vitro germination of seeds for interspecific hybridization of Psidium guajava and Psidium cattleianum

The genus Psidium includes important fruit crops. However, there are very few studies focusing on its reproductive biology, which limits the establishment of breeding programs. The present work investigated the reproductive biology of Psidium guajava and Psidium cattleianum in terms of compatibility of crossings between these two species aiming at interspecific hybridization because the latter species is an important source of resistance against the nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii. Several types of crosses were performed to understand the reproductive biology of these species, including the compatibility of intra- and interspecific crossings, using assisted in vivo germination of pollen grains on the stigma. In addition, the in vitro germination of both Psidium species was studied at different stages of fruit development to rescue young seeds to improve the chances of obtaining the hybrids. No fruits of 270 pollinations were obtained on guava buds at the pre-anthesis stage, regardless of the source of the pollen grain and the cultivar used as female genotype. Microscopic analyzes demonstrated the germination of pollen grains and pollen tube growth at crosses between guava cv. ‘Pedro Sato’ (P. guajava) and Psidium cattleianum. High germination percentages of Psidium cattleianum seeds were obtained in MS medium without sucrose or containing 15 g/L of this carbohydrate.

Decline in RNA integrity of dry-stored soybean seeds correlates with loss of germination potential.

This study investigates the relationship between germination ability and damage to RNA in soybean seeds (cv 'Williams 82') stored dry at 5 °C for 1-27 years. Total germination of 14 age cohorts harvested between 2015 and 1989 ranged from 100% to 3%. Germination decline followed classic seed viability kinetics, with symptomatic seed aging beginning after 17 years of storage. RNA integrity was assessed in dry seeds by electrophoresis of total RNA, followed by calculation of the RNA integrity number (RIN, Agilent Bioanalyzer software), which evaluates RNA fragment size distributions. Analysis of RNA extracted from cotyledons, embryonic axes, plumules, and seed coats across the range of age cohorts showed consistent RNA degradation: older seeds had over-representation of small RNAs compared with younger seeds, which had nearly a 2:1 ratio of 25S and 18S rRNAs. RIN values for cotyledons and embryonic axes from the same seed were correlated. Decline in RIN tracked reduced germination, with a pronounced decrease in RIN after 17 years of storage. This led to a high correlation between the mean RIN of cotyledon RNA and the total germination percentage (R2=0.91, P<0.0001). Despite this relationship, germinable and non-germinable seeds within cohorts could not be distinguished unless the RIN was <3.5, indicating substantial deterioration. Our work demonstrates that seed RNA incurs damage over time, observable in fragment size distributions. Under the experimental conditions used here, RIN appears to be a promising surrogate for germination tests used to monitor viability of stored seeds.

Analysis of Genes with Alternatively Spliced Transcripts in the Leaf, Root, Panicle and Seed of Rice Using a Long Oligomer Microarray and RNA-Seq.

Pre-mRNA splicing further increases protein diversity acquired through evolution. The underlying driving forces for this phenomenon are unknown, especially in terms of gene expression. A rice alternatively spliced transcript detection microarray (ASDM) and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) were applied to differentiate the transcriptome of 4 representative organs of Oryza sativa L. cv. Ilmi: leaves, roots, 1-cm-stage panicles and young seeds at 21 days after pollination. Comparison of data obtained by microarray and RNA-Seq showed a bell-shaped distribution and a co-lineation for highly expressed genes. Transcripts were classified according to the degree of organ enrichment using a coefficient value (CV, the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean values): highly variable (CVI), variable (CVII), and constitutive (CVIII) groups. A higher index of the portion of loci with alternatively spliced transcripts in a group (IAST) value was observed for the constitutive group. Genes of the highly variable group showed the characteristics of the examined organs, and alternatively spliced transcripts tended to exhibit the same organ specificity or less organ preferences, with avoidance of ‘organ distinctness’. In addition, within a locus, a tendency of higher expression was found for transcripts with a longer coding sequence (CDS), and a spliced intron was the most commonly found type of alternative splicing for an extended CDS. Thus, pre-mRNA splicing might have evolved to retain maximum functionality in terms of organ preference and multiplicity.

Effects of growth temperature and carbon dioxide enrichment on soybean seed components at different stages of development

Soybean plants were grown to maturity in controlled environment chambers and at the onset of flowering three temperature treatments were imposed that provided optimum [28/24 °C], low [22/18 °C] or high [36/32 °C] chamber air temperatures. In addition, plants were treated continuously with either 400 or 800 μmol mol−1 CO2. Seeds were harvested at 42, 53, 69 and 95 days after planting (i.e., final maturity). This study quantified 51 metabolites in developing soybean seeds, plus total lipids and proteins were measured at maturity. About 80% of measured soluble carbohydrates, amines and organic acids decreased to low levels in mature seeds, although important exceptions were raffinose, ribose/arabinose, citrate and all eight fatty acids. This suggested that the metabolism of young seeds supported lipid and protein synthesis. A total of 35 and 9 metabolites differed among temperature and CO2 treatments, respectively, and treatment effects were predominately observed on the first and second samplings. However, shikimate, pinitol and oleate were increased by high temperature treatments in mature seeds. The above results indicated that CO2 enrichment primarily altered metabolite levels during the initial stages of seed development and this was likely due to enhanced photosynthate formation in leaves.

Sporophytic apomixis in polyembryonic Handroanthus serratifolius (Vahl) S.O. Grose (Bignoniaceae) characterizes the species as an agamic polyploid complex

Neopolyploidy has been associated with gametophytic apomixis and breakdown of gametophytic self-incompatibility. Nevertheless, Bignoniaceae presents agamic polyploid complexes with neopolyploidy associated to sporophytic apomixis. Apomictic populations are commonly polyploid, polyembryonic and self-fertile, while diploids are mostly late-acting self-incompatible (LSI) and monoembryonic. Contrastingly, Handroanthus serratifolius shows hexaploid monoembryonic and polyembryonic populations, although breeding system has been studied only for monoembryonic individuals, which are LSI. Our aim here was to investigate breeding system and early embryology in polyembryonic individuals of H. serratifolius to define if they form an agamic polyploid complex. Experimental pollinations and histological analyzes of ovules and young seeds were carried out. Megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis occurred as in other sexual species of Bignoniaceae. The polyembryonic individuals were self-fertile and double fertilization was observed both after self and cross-pollinated pistils. Adventitious embryos originated from the hypostasis and integument of the ovule, indicating sporophytic apomixis. Adventitious embryo precursor cells occurred in all pistils, including unpollinated ones. But unpollinated pistils aborted possibly due to absence of endosperm, and pollination was required for fruit-set (pseudogamy). It is possible that the self-fertility in polyembryonic individuals ensues as the initial endosperm of self-fertilized ovules supply early adventitious embryos development, and these embryos would later prevent the abortion of selfed pistils. The sporophytic apomixis in polyembryonic populations and the occurrence of sexual monoembryonic populations of H. serratifolius allows us to consider the species part of an agamic polyploid complex. But in contrast with other Handroanthus agamic complexes, both apomictic and sexual LSI plants were hexaploid.

Heat stress yields a unique MADS box transcription factor in determining seed size and thermal sensitivity.

Early seed development events are highly sensitive to increased temperature. This high sensitivity to a short-duration temperature spike reduces seed viability and seed size at maturity. The molecular basis of heat stress sensitivity during early seed development is not known. We selected rice (Oryza sativa), a highly heat-sensitive species, to explore this phenomenon. Here, we elucidate the molecular pathways that contribute to the heat sensitivity of a critical developmental window during which the endosperm transitions from syncytium to the cellularization stage in young seeds. A transcriptomic comparison of seeds exposed to moderate (35°C) and severe (39°C) heat stress with control (28°C) seeds identified a set of putative imprinted genes, which were down-regulated under severe heat stress. Several type I MADS box genes specifically expressed during the syncytial stage were differentially regulated under moderate and severe heat stress. The suppression and overaccumulation of these genes are associated with precocious and delayed cellularization under moderate and severe stress, respectively. We show that modulating the expression of OsMADS87, one of the heat-sensitive, imprinted genes associated with syncytial stage endosperm, regulates rice seed size. Transgenic seeds deficient in OsMADS87 exhibit accelerated endosperm cellularization. These seeds also have lower sensitivity to a moderate heat stress in terms of seed size reduction compared with seeds from wild-type plants and plants overexpressing OsMADS87 Our findings suggest that OsMADS87 and several other genes identified in this study could be potential targets for improving the thermal resilience of rice during reproductive development.

Cloning and Functional Analysis of Peanut AhDGAT2a Promoter

Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) is a rate-limiting enzyme in triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis pathway. In this study, GenomeWalking method was used for cloning the promoter sequence of AhDGAT2a gene from Luhua 14, and finally a 1200 bp fragment flanking 5′-upstream of AhDGAT2a was obtained and named as pAhDGAT2a. The crucial regulatory elements in pAhDGAT2a were further analyzed with software PlantCARE. There were many TATA-box, CAAT-box, light regulation, stress and defense response and hormone response elements. To assess the activity of pAhDGAT2a, we constructed pAhDGAT2a:GUS cassettes and introduced it into the tobacco SR1 genome by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Expression pattern was monitored by histochemical staining. Results showed that GUS activity driven by the pAhDGAT2a was detected in almost all vegetative and reproductive tissues, with a higher expression level in stigma, anther and young seeds than in the other organs, indicating that pAhDGAT2a has a constitutive promoter activity.

Influence of leaf and silique photosynthesis on seeds yield and seeds oil quality of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

With the purpose of enhancing oil production, the present work was carried out to elucidate relationships between photosynthesis of leaves, siliques and seeds yield and seeds oil accumulation of oilseed rape. Field trials, in which two repeated experiments was carried out during 2012–2014 growth season, a rape hybrids the “Qin You No.7” (Brassica napus L.) variety was taken into account. The results showed that, on rape plant the photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll a, b, carotenoid contents of leaf were significantly higher than that of silique shell. Oil content of 94.7% was achieved in young seeds (sampled at 25th day after flowering ending stage of the tested rape plant) versus to mature seeds, saturated fatty acids percent was higher whereas oleic acid percent was lower of oil extracted from young seeds. During flowering period of the rape plants tested, area and dry weight of leaves attained maximum, treatments of removing leaves induced reduction in seeds number per silique, siliques number, seeds yield per plant and seeds oil content, these indexes were respectively decreased by 73.6%, 43.4%, 83.4% and 10.5% in maximum, and seeds oil composition was not significantly influenced; during seeds growing period of the tested plants, surface area and dry weight of siliques attained maximum, under shading siliques treatment, the 1000-seed weight, seeds yield per plant and seeds oil content were respectively reduced by 57.5%, 61.4% and 44.7% in maximum, and seeds oil oleic acid (C18:1) and linolenic acid (C18:3) percent was decreased, linolic acid (C18:2) and erucidic acid (C22:1) percent was increased. So for oilseed rape plant during flowering period, surface area and photosynthesis of leaves dramatically influenced siliques number, seeds number and seeds yield; while in seeds growth period, surface area and photosynthesis of siliques greatly influenced 1000-seed yield, seeds yield, seeds oil content and oil composition; oil accumulation in rape seeds initiated early since seeds commencing growth, seed mature degree influenced oil composition of seeds.

Genome-wide identification and transcriptional analysis of folate metabolism-related genes in maize kernels.

BackgroundMaize is a major staple food crop globally and contains various concentrations of vitamins. Folates are essential water-soluble B-vitamins that play an important role as one-carbon (C1) donors and acceptors in organisms. To gain an understanding of folate metabolism in maize, we performed an intensive in silico analysis to screen for genes involved in folate metabolism using publicly available databases, followed by examination of the transcript expression patterns and profiling of the folate derivatives in the kernels of two maize inbred lines.ResultsA total of 36 candidate genes corresponding to 16 folate metabolism-related enzymes were identified. The maize genome contains all the enzymes required for folate and C1 metabolism, characterized by highly conserved functional domains across all the other species investigated. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these enzymes in maize are conserved throughout evolution and have a high level of similarity with those in sorghum and millet. The LC-MS analyses of two maize inbred lines demonstrated that 5-methyltetrahydrofolate was the major form of folate derivative in young seeds, while 5-formyltetrahydrofolate in mature seeds. Most of the genes involved in folate and C1 metabolism exhibited similar transcriptional expression patterns between these two maize lines, with the highest transcript abundance detected on day after pollination (DAP) 6 and the decreased transcript abundance on DAP 12 and 18. Compared with the seeds on DAP 30, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate was decreased and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate was increased sharply in the mature dry seeds.ConclusionsThe enzymes involved in folate and C1 metabolism are conserved between maize and other plant species. Folate and C1 metabolism is active in young developing maize seeds at transcriptional levels.