Plant Reproductive Biology and Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam Science Park, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam 14476, Germany.
Plant Cell Physiol. 2024 Nov 13;65(10):1581-1600. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcae050.
Since the discovery of brassinolide in the pollen of rapeseed, brassinosteroids (BRs) have consistently been associated with reproductive traits. However, compared to what is known for how BRs shape vegetative development, the understanding of how these hormones regulate reproductive traits is comparatively still lacking. Nevertheless, there is now considerable evidence that BRs regulate almost all aspects of reproduction, from ovule and pollen formation to seed and fruit development. Here, we review the current body of knowledge on how BRs regulate reproductive processes in plants and what is known about how these pathways are transduced at the molecular level. We also discuss how the manipulation of BR biosynthesis and signaling can be a promising avenue for improving crop traits that rely on efficient reproduction. We thus propose that BRs hold an untapped potential for plant breeding, which could contribute to attaining food security in the coming years.
自从油菜花粉中发现油菜素内酯以来，植物甾醇（BRs）一直与生殖特征相关。然而，与 BRs 如何塑造营养生长发育相比，人们对这些激素如何调节生殖特征的理解还相对缺乏。尽管如此，现在有相当多的证据表明 BRs 调节生殖的几乎所有方面，从胚珠和花粉形成到种子和果实发育。在这里，我们综述了 BRs 如何调节植物生殖过程的现有知识，以及这些途径在分子水平上如何转导的相关知识。我们还讨论了如何操纵 BR 生物合成和信号转导可以成为提高依赖高效繁殖的作物性状的有前途的途径。因此，我们提出 BRs 在植物育种中具有未开发的潜力，这可能有助于在未来几年实现粮食安全。
