Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China.
Research & Development Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.
J Pineal Res. 2024 Aug;76(5):e13004. doi: 10.1111/jpi.13004.
Both seed germination and subsequent seedling establishment are key checkpoints during the life cycle of seed plants, yet flooding stress markedly inhibits both processes, leading to economic losses from agricultural production. Here, we report that melatonin (MT) seed priming treatment enhances the performance of seeds from several crops, including soybean, wheat, maize, and alfalfa, under flooding stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed that MT priming promotes seed germination and seedling establishment associated with changes in abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) biosynthesis and signaling pathways. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis confirmed that MT priming increases the expression levels of GA biosynthesis genes, ABA catabolism genes, and ROS biosynthesis genes while decreasing the expression of positive ABA regulatory genes. Further, measurements of ABA and GA concentrations are consistent with these trends. Following MT priming, quantification of ROS metabolism-related enzyme activities and the concentrations of HO and superoxide anions (O ) after MT priming were consistent with the results of transcriptome analysis and qRT-PCR. Finally, exogenous application of GA, fluridone (an ABA biosynthesis inhibitor), or HO partially rescued the poor germination of non-primed seeds under flooding stress. Collectively, this study uncovers the application and molecular mechanisms underlying MT priming in modulating crop seed vigor under flooding stress.
种子萌发和随后的幼苗建立是种子植物生命周期中的关键检查点，但洪水胁迫显著抑制这两个过程，导致农业生产的经济损失。在这里，我们报告褪黑素 (MT) 种子引发处理增强了几种作物种子的性能，包括大豆、小麦、玉米和紫花苜蓿，在洪水胁迫下。转录组分析表明，MT 引发促进与脱落酸 (ABA)、赤霉素 (GA) 和活性氧 (ROS) 生物合成和信号转导途径变化相关的种子萌发和幼苗建立。实时定量 RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) 分析证实，MT 引发增加了 GA 生物合成基因、ABA 分解代谢基因和 ROS 生物合成基因的表达水平，同时降低了正 ABA 调节基因的表达。此外，ABA 和 GA 浓度的测定与这些趋势一致。继 MT 引发后，对 MT 引发后 ROS 代谢相关酶活性和 HO 和超氧阴离子 (O ) 浓度的定量与转录组分析和 qRT-PCR 的结果一致。最后，外源 GA、氟啶酮（ABA 生物合成抑制剂）或 HO 的应用部分挽救了非引发种子在洪水胁迫下的不良萌发。总之，这项研究揭示了 MT 引发在调节作物种子活力应对洪水胁迫中的应用和分子机制。
