The seed-specific heat shock factor A9 regulates the depth of dormancy in Medicago truncatula seeds via ABA signalling

During the later stages of seed maturation, two key adaptive traits are acquired that contribute to seed lifespan and dispersal, longevity and dormancy. The seed-specific heat shock transcription factor A9 is an important hub gene in the transcriptional network of late seed maturation. Here, we demonstrate that HSFA9 plays a role in thermotolerance rather than in ex situ seed conservation. Storage of hsfa9 seeds of Medicago truncatula and Arabidopsis had comparable lifespan at moderate storage relative humidity (RH), whereas at high RH, hsfa9 seeds lost their viability much faster than wild type seeds. Furthermore, we show that in M. truncatula, Mthsfa9 seeds acquired more dormancy during late maturation than wild type. Transient expression of MtHSFA9 in hairy roots and transcriptome analysis of Mthsfa9 Tnt1 insertion mutants identified a deregulation of genes involved in ABA biosynthesis, catabolism and signalling. Consistent with these results, Mthsfa9 seeds exhibited increased ABA levels and higher sensitivity to ABA. These data suggest that in legumes, HSFA9 acts as a negative regulator of the depth of seed dormancy during seed development via the modulation of hormonal balance.

NMR metabolite profiling analysis reveals changes in phospholipid metabolism associated with the re-establishment of desiccation tolerance upon osmotic stress in germinated radicles of cucumber

The adaptation of metabolism is thought to play a role in the acquisition of desiccation tolerance (DT). However, the importance of such a role and whether specific regulatory pathways exist remain to be assessed. Using in vitro 31P and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and biochemical assays, we analysed metabolite profiles of perchloric extracts from germinating radicles of cucumber to identify changes in carbon and phosphate metabolism associated with DT. Emerged radicles measuring 2 mm long can be rendered tolerant to desiccation by incubation in a polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution with a water potential of 1.5 MPa. However, in 4-mm-long emerged radicles, this treatment was ineffective. This manipulable system enabled the discrimination of changes in metabolites associated with DT from those associated with the response to osmotic stress. Independent of radicle length, the PEG treatment resulted in an increase in sucrose (Suc) content, whereas glucose (Glc), fructose (Fru) and the hexose phosphate pool, as well as phosphoenolpyruvate decreased three- to fourfold. In addition, three derivatives arising early during phospholipid catabolism (glycerylphosphorylcholine, glycerylphosphorylethanolamine and glycerylphosphorylinositol) appeared in the PEG-treated radicles. Interestingly, phospholipid degradation was much more pronounced in osmotically challenged radicles that remain sensitive to drying. This was proved by the appearance of catabolites, such as phosphocholine and phosphoethanolamine, solely in 4 mm PEG-treated radicles. Furthermore, glycerol-3-phosphate and its derivative 3-phosphoglycerate increased significantly. Our data suggest that the metabolic response leading to the re-establishment of DT is not entirely identical to that of an osmotic response. It is inferred that membrane remodelling and/or increased phospholipid catabolism is an adaptive response common to osmotic adjustment and DT but is controlled differently in tolerant and sensitive radicles.