Clues on an intraspecific communication system in seed-seedling transition

Author(s)

Ribeiro-Oliveira, Joao Paulo ^{[1, 2]} ; Silveira, Lilian E. D. ^[1] ; Pinto, Lilian V. A. ^[3] ; Silva, Edvaldo A. A. ^[1] ; Hilhorst, Henk W. M. ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Agron, Dept Prod & Melhoramento Vegetal, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Ciencias Agr, Ave Joao Naves Avila 2121, BR-38400902 Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

^[3] Inst Fed Educ Ciencia & Tecnol Sul Minas Gerais, Inconfidentes - Brazil

^[4] Wageningen Univ, Lab Plant Physiol, Wageningen - Netherlands

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM; v. 172, n. 3, p. 1609-1618, JUL 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

How much interactivity is in a seed-seedling transition system? We hypothesize that seed-seed, seed-seedling, and seedling-seedling interactions can drive the early plant development in artificial growth systems directly due to mutual stimulation phenomena. To test the hypothesis, we performed seed germination measurements, gene expression in germination sensu stricto, water dynamics in germinating seeds, and information theory. For a biological model, we used Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil. seeds. This is a neotropical species with high intraspecific variability in the seed sample. Our findings demonstrate that the dynamic and transient seed-seedling transition system is influenced by the number of individuals (seed or seedling) in the artificial system. In addition, we also discuss that: (1) the information entropy enables the quantification of system disturbance relative to individuals at the same physiological stage (seed-seed or seedling-seedling), which may be determinant for embryo growth during germination and (2) the intraspecific communication in seed-seedling transition systems formed by germinating seeds has the potential to alter the expression pattern of key genes for embryo development. Therefore, the phenomenon of mutual stimulation during the germination process can be an important aspect of seed-seedling transition, especially in laboratory conditions. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/50211-9 - Genetic and molecular basis of chlorophyll in seeds: a step forward to improve soybean adaptability to climate change
• Grantee: Edvaldo Aparecido Amaral da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/12405-9 - Genetic and molecular basis of chlorophyll retention in seeds: a step forward to improve soybean adaptability to climate change
• Grantee: João Paulo Ribeiro de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral