KAR1-induced dormancy release in Avena fatua caryopses involves reduction of caryopsis sensitivity to ABA and ABA/GAs ratio in coleorhiza and radicle

MAIN CONCLUSION

The dormancy release by KAR1 is associated with a reduction of coleorhiza and radicle sensitivity to ABA as well as with reduction the ABA/GAs ratio in the coleorhiza, by a decrease content of ABA, and in the radicle, by a decrease the ABA and an increase of the GAs contents. Both, karrikin 1 (KAR1) and gibberellin A3 (GA3), release dormancy in Avena fatua caryopses, resulting in the emergence of coleorhiza (CE) and radicle (RE). Moreover, KAR1 and GA3 stimulate CE and RE in the presence of abscisic acid (ABA), the stimulation being more effective in CE. The stimulatory effects of KAR1 and GA3 involve also the CE and RE rates. A similar effect was observed at KAR1 concentrations much lower than those of GA3. KAR1 increased the levels of bioactive GA5 and GA6 in embryos and the levels of GA1, GA5, GA3, GA6 and GA4 in radicles. The stimulatory effect of KAR1 on germination, associated with increased levels of gibberellins (GAs) and reduced levels of ABA in embryos, was counteracted by paclobutrazol (PAC), commonly regarded as a GAs biosynthesis inhibitor. Consequently, KAR1 decreased the ABA/GAs ratio, whereas PAC, used alone or in combination with KAR1, increased it. The ABA/GAs ratio was reduced by KAR1 in both coleorhiza and radicle, the effect being stronger in the latter. We present the first evidence that KAR1-induced dormancy release requires a decreased ABA/GAs ratio in coleorhiza and radicle. It is concluded that the dormancy-releasing effect of KAR1 in A. fatua caryopses includes (i) a reduction of the coleorhiza and radicle sensitivity to ABA, and (2) a reduction of the ABA/GAs ratio (i) in the coleorhiza, by decreasing the ABA content, and (ii) in the radicle, by decreasing the ABA and increasing the content GAs, particularly GA1. The results may suggest different mechanisms of dormancy release by KAR1 in monocot and dicot seeds.

Plant-Derived Smoke and Karrikin 1 in Seed Priming and Seed Biotechnology

Plant-derived smoke and smoke water (SW) can stimulate seed germination in numerous plants from fire-prone and fire-free areas, including cultivated plants and agricultural weeds. Smoke contains thousands of compounds; only several stimulants and inhibitors have been isolated from smoke. Among the six karrikins present in smoke, karrikin 1 (KAR₁) seems to be key for the stimulating effect of smoke. The discovery and activity of highly diluted SW and KAR₁ at extremely low concentrations (even at ca. 10^-9 M) inducing seed germination of a wide array of horticultural and agricultural plants have created tremendous opportunities for the use of these factors in pre-sowing seed treatment through smoke- or KAR₁-priming. This review presents examples of effects exerted by the two types of priming on seed germination and seedling emergence, growth, and development, as well as on the content of some compounds and enzyme activity. Seed biotechnology may involve both SW and KAR₁. Some examples demonstrate that SW and/or KAR₁ increased the efficiency of somatic embryogenesis, somatic embryo germination and conversion to plantlets. It is also possible to stimulate in vitro seed germination by SW, which allows to use in orchid propagation.

NO-mediated dormancy release of Avena fatua caryopses is associated with decrease in abscisic acid sensitivity, content and ABA/GAs ratios

MAIN CONCLUSION

NO releases caryopsis dormancy in Avena fatua, the effect being dependent on the level of dormancy. The NO effect involves also the reduction of caryopsis sensitivity to ABA and to a decrease in the ABA to GA_s ratio due to a decrease in ABA levels and the lack of effect on GA_s levels before germination is completed. Nitric oxide (NO) from various donors (i.e. SNP, GSNO and acidified KNO₂), applied to dry caryopses or during initial germination, released primary dormancy in caryopses. Dormancy in caryopses was gradually lost during dry storage (after-ripening) at 25 °C, enabling germination at 20 °C in the dark. The after-ripening effect is associated with a decrease in NO required for germination. In addition, NO decreased the sensitivity of dormant caryopses to exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) and decreased the embryos' ABA content before germination was completed. However, NO did not affect the content of bioactive gibberellins (GA_s) from non-13-hydroxylation (GA₄, GA₇) and 13-hydroxylation (GA₁, GA₃, GA_6.) pathways. Paclobutrazol (PAC), commonly regarded as a GA_s biosynthesis inhibitor, counteracted the dormancy-releasing effect of NO and did not affect the GA_s level; however, it increased the ABA content in embryos before germination was completed. Ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate and tiron, scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduced the stimulatory effect of NO on caryopsis germination. This work provides new insight on the participation of NO in releasing A. fatua caryopses dormancy and on the relationship of NO with endogenous ABA and GA_s.

Avena fatua caryopsis dormancy release is associated with changes in KAR1 and ABA sensitivity as well as with ABA reduction in coleorhiza and radicle

The dormancy release in Avena fatua caryopses was associated with a reduction in the ABA content in embryos, coleorhiza and radicle. The coleorhiza proved more sensitive to KAR₁ and less sensitive to ABA than the radicle. The inability of dormant caryopses and ABA-treated non-dormant caryopses to complete germination is related to inhibition and delayed of cell-cycle activation, respectively. As freshly harvested Avena fatua caryopses are dormant at 20 °C, they cannot complete germination; the radicle is not able to emerge. Both karrikin 1 (KAR₁) and dry after-ripening release dormancy, enabling the emergence of, first, the coleorhiza and later the radicle. The after-ripening removes caryopse sensitivity to KAR₁ and decreases the sensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA). The coleorhiza was found to be more sensitive to KAR₁, and less sensitive to ABA, than radicles. Effects of KAR₁ and after-ripening were associated with a reduction of the embryo's ABA content during caryopsis germination. KAR₁ was found to decrease the ABA content in the coleorhiza and radicles. Germination of after-ripened caryopses was associated with the progress of cell-cycle activation before coleorhiza emergence. Inhibition of the germination completion due to dormancy or treating the non-dormant caryopses with ABA was associated with a total and partial inhibition of cell-cycle activation, respectively.

Avena fatua caryopsis dormancy release is associated with changes in KAR1 and ABA sensitivity as well as with ABA reduction in coleorhiza and radicle

The dormancy release in Avena fatua caryopses was associated with a reduction in the ABA content in embryos, coleorhiza and radicle. The coleorhiza proved more sensitive to KAR₁ and less sensitive to ABA than the radicle. The inability of dormant caryopses and ABA-treated non-dormant caryopses to complete germination is related to inhibition and delayed of cell-cycle activation, respectively. As freshly harvested Avena fatua caryopses are dormant at 20 °C, they cannot complete germination; the radicle is not able to emerge. Both karrikin 1 (KAR₁) and dry after-ripening release dormancy, enabling the emergence of, first, the coleorhiza and later the radicle. The after-ripening removes caryopse sensitivity to KAR₁ and decreases the sensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA). The coleorhiza was found to be more sensitive to KAR₁, and less sensitive to ABA, than radicles. Effects of KAR₁ and after-ripening were associated with a reduction of the embryo's ABA content during caryopsis germination. KAR₁ was found to decrease the ABA content in the coleorhiza and radicles. Germination of after-ripened caryopses was associated with the progress of cell-cycle activation before coleorhiza emergence. Inhibition of the germination completion due to dormancy or treating the non-dormant caryopses with ABA was associated with a total and partial inhibition of cell-cycle activation, respectively.

Involvement of ethylene biosynthesis and perception during germination of dormant Avena fatua L. caryopses induced by KAR1 or GA3

Germination of primary dormant wild oat caused by KAR₁ or GA₃ is associated with ACC accumulation and increased ethylene production shortly before radicle protrusion as a result of the non-transcriptional and transcriptional activation of ACS and ACO enzymes, respectively. Response to both compounds involves the modulation of ethylene sensitivity through ethylene receptor genes. Harvested Avena fatua caryopses are primary dormant and, therefore, germinated poorly at 20 °C. Karrikin 1 (KAR₁), which action probably requires endogenous gibberellins (GAs), and gibberellin A₃ (GA₃) was found to induce dormant caryopses to germinate. The stimulatory effects were accompanied by the activation of the ethylene biosynthesis pathway and depended on undisturbed ethylene perception. KAR₁ and GA₃ promoted 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) accumulation during coleorhizae emergence and ethylene production shortly prior to the radicle protrusion, which resulted from the enhanced activity of two ethylene biosynthesis enzymes, ACC synthase (ACS) and ACC oxidase (ACO). The inhibitor of ACS adversely affected beneficial impacts of both KAR₁ and GA₃ on A. fatua caryopses germination, while the inhibitor of ACO more efficiently impeded the GA₃ effect. The inhibitors of ethylene action markedly lowered germination in response to KAR₁ and GA₃. Gene expression studies preceded by the identification of several genes related to ethylene biosynthesis (AfACS6, AfACO1, and AfACO5) and perception (AfERS1b, AfERS1c, AfERS2, AfETR2, AfETR3, and AfETR4) provided further evidence for the engagement of ethylene in KAR₁ and GA₃ induced germination of A. fatua caryopses. Both AfACO1 and AfACO5 were upregulated, whereas AfACS6 remained unaffected by the treatment. This suggests the existence of different regulatory mechanisms of enzymatic activity, transcriptional for ACO and non-transcriptional for ACS. During imbibition in water, AfERS1b was stronger expressed than other receptor genes. In the presence of KAR₁ or GA₃, the expression of AfETR3 was substantially induced. Differential expression of ethylene receptor genes implies the modulation of caryopses sensitivity adjusted to ethylene availability and suggests the functional diversification of individual receptors.

Application of flow cytometry with a fluorescent dye to measurement of intracellular nitric oxide in plant cells

A simple and rapid method involving flow cytometry and NO-specific probe (DAF-FM DA) proved useful for detection and determination of intracellular NO production in Medicago truncatula suspension cells and leaves as well as in cells of Avena fatua, Amaranthus retroflexus embryos and leaves. The measurement of nitric oxide (NO) in plant material is important for examining the regulatory roles of endogenous NO in various physiological processes. The possibility of detecting and determining intracellular NO production by flow cytometry (FCM) with 4-amino-5-methylamino-2',7'-difluorofluorescein (DAF-FM DA), an NO-specific probe in Medicago truncatula cells in suspension and leaves as well as in cells of embryos and leaves of Avena fatua L. or Amaranthus retroflexus L. was explored. To detect and measure NO production by cell suspension or embryos and leaves, the recommended DAF-FM DA concentration is 5 or 10 µM, respectively, applied for 30 min. Exogenous NO increased the intensity of the fluorescent signal in embryos and leaves of both plants, while carboxy-PTIO (cPTIO), an NO scavenger, decreased it. Thus, these results demonstrate that NO can be detected and an increase and a decrease of its intracellular level can be estimated. Wounding was observed to increase the fluorescence signal, indicating an increase in the intracellular NO level. In addition, the levels of exogenous and endogenous ascorbic acid were demonstrated to have no effect on the NO-related fluorescence signal, indicating the signal's specificity only in relation with NO. The applicability of the proposed method for detection and determination of NO was confirmed (1) by in situ NO imaging in cell suspensions and (2) by determining the NO concentration in embryos and leaves using the Griess reagent. In view of the data obtained, FCM is recommended as a rapid and simple method with which to detect and determine intracellular NO production in plant cells.

Reference gene selection for molecular studies of dormancy in wild oat (Avena fatua L.) caryopses by RT-qPCR method

Molecular studies of primary and secondary dormancy in Avena fatua L., a serious weed of cereal and other crops, are intended to reveal the species-specific details of underlying molecular mechanisms which in turn may be useable in weed management. Among others, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) data of comparative gene expression analysis may give some insight into the involvement of particular wild oat genes in dormancy release, maintenance or induction by unfavorable conditions. To assure obtaining biologically significant results using this method, the expression stability of selected candidate reference genes in different data subsets was evaluated using four statistical algorithms i.e. geNorm, NormFinder, Best Keeper and ΔCt method. Although some discrepancies in their ranking outputs were noticed, evidently two ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme homologs, AfUBC1 and AfUBC2, as well as one homolog of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase AfGAPDH1 and TATA-binding protein AfTBP2 appeared as more stably expressed than AfEF1a (translation elongation factor 1α), AfGAPDH2 or the least stable α-tubulin homolog AfTUA1 in caryopses and seedlings of A. fatua. Gene expression analysis of a dormancy-related wild oat transcription factor VIVIPAROUS1 (AfVP1) allowed for a validation of candidate reference genes performance. Based on the obtained results it can be recommended that the normalization factor calculated as a geometric mean of Cq values of AfUBC1, AfUBC2 and AfGAPDH1 would be optimal for RT-qPCR results normalization in the experiments comprising A. fatua caryopses of different dormancy status.

Synthesis of tricyclic butenolides and comparison their effects with known smoke-butenolide, KAR1

Plant-derived smoke - butenolide, called at present karrikin 1 (KAR₁) is known as an important inductor of seed germination and seedling growth. In this study, tricyclic butenolides were synthesized and their effects on germination of dormant and non-dormant Avena fatua caryopses were compared, as were also their effects versus those of KAR₁ on seedling growth. KAR₁ was found to be most effective and to completely remove dormancy. Butenolides, rac-8 and (S)-8a, showed a low stimulatory effect on germination of dormant caryopses, visible only when applied at very high concentrations. These compounds used at concentrations 100 times those of KAR₁ similarly increased the speed of germination and vigor of non-dormant caryopses. Likewise, growth of coleoptiles and their fresh weight were increased by KAR₁ as well as by rac-8 and (S)-8a to a similar value. KAR₁ and rac-8 were more effective than (S)-8a in increasing root growth. The results shown indicate that the presence of an aromatic ring in the absence of methyl group at C3 induced a much lower, or a similar, effect on germination of dormant and non-dormant Avena fatua caryopses and seedling growth compared to KAR₁, but only when used at much higher concentrations. The simultaneous presence of a methyl group at C3 and an aromatic ring in the compound rac-7 exerted only a slight effect on the root growth.

Gibberellin-like effects of KAR1 on dormancy release of Avena fatua caryopses include participation of non-enzymatic antioxidants and cell cycle activation in embryos

The induction of dormancy release and germination of Avena fatua caryopses by KAR 1 involves ABA degradation to phaseic acid. Both, KAR 1 and GA 3 , control the AsA-GSH cycle, DNA replication and accumulation of β-tubulin in embryos before caryopses germination. Avena fatua caryopses cannot germinate in darkness at 20 °C because of dormancy, but karrikinolide-1 (KAR1), a compound in plant-derived smoke, and gibberellic acid (GA3) induced an almost complete germination. The radicle protrusion through the coleorhiza was preceded by increased water uptake, rupture of coat, increased embryo size and coleorhiza length as well as coleorhiza protrusion through covering structures. The stimulatory effect of KAR1 was correlated with the reduced content of abscisic acid (ABA) and an increase in phaseic acid (PA) in embryos from caryopses before coleorhiza protrusion. Two non-enzymatic antioxidants, ascorbate (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), did not affect the germination of dormant caryopses, but in the presence of KAR1 or GA3 they only slightly delayed the germination. The stimulatory effect of KAR1 or GA3 on the final germination percentage was markedly antagonized by lycorine, an AsA biosynthesis inhibitor. KAR1 and GA3 applied during caryopses imbibition resulted in increases of AsA, dehydroascorbate (DHA) and GSH, but reduced the embryos' oxidized glutathione (GSSG) content. Furthermore, both KAR1 and GA3 induced an additional ascorbate peroxidase (APX) isoenzyme and increased the glutathione reductase (GR) activity. Both compounds stimulated β-tubulin accumulation in radicle+coleorhiza (RC) and plumule+coleoptile (PC), and enhanced the transition from G1 to S and also from S to G2 phases. The comparison of the effects produced by KAR1 and GA3  shows a similar action; thus the KAR1 effect may not be specific. The study provides new data regarding the mechanism with which KAR1, a representative of a novel class of plant growth regulators, regulates dormancy and germination of caryopses.

Germination induction of dormant Avena fatua caryopses by KAR(1) and GA(3) involving the control of reactive oxygen species (H2O2 and O2(·-)) and enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and catalase) both in the embryo and the aleurone layers

Avena fatua L. caryopses did not germinate at 20 °C in darkness because they were dormant. However, they were able to germinate in the presence of karrikinolide (KAR1), a key bioactive compound present in smoke, and also in the presence of gibberellin A3 (GA3), a commonly known stimulator of seed germination. The aim of this study was to collect information on a possible relationship between the above regulators and abscisic acid (ABA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS scavenging antioxidants in the regulation of dormant caryopses germination. KAR1 and GA3 caused complete germination of dormant A. fatua caryopses. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), compounds generating the superoxide (O2(·-)), i.e. menadione (MN), methylviologen (MV) and an inhibitor of catalase activity, aminotriazole (AT), induced germination of dormant caryopses. KAR1, GA3, H2O2 and AT decreased ABA content in embryos. Furthermore, KAR1, GA3, H2O2, MN, MV and AT increased α-amylase activity in caryopses. The effect of KAR1 and GA3 on ROS (H2O2, O2(·-)) and activities of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were determined in caryopses, embryos and aleurone layers. SOD was represented by four isoforms and catalase by one. In situ localization of ROS showed that the effect of KAR1 and GA3 was associated with the localization of hydrogen peroxide mainly on the coleorhiza. However, the superoxide was mainly localized on the surface of the scutellum. Superoxide was also detected in the protruding radicle. Germination induction of dormant caryopses by KAR1 and GA3 was related to an increasing content of H2O2, O2(·-)and activities of SOD and CAT in embryos, thus ROS homeostasis was probably required for the germination of dormant caryopses. The above regulators increased the content of ROS in aleurone layers and decreased the activities of SOD and CAT, probably leading to the programmed cell death. The presented data provide new insights into the germination induction of A. fatua dormant caryopses by KAR1 and also by GA3. In A. fatua, KAR1 or GA3 is included in the induction germination of dormant caryopses through regulation level of ABA in embryos and ROS-antioxidant status both in embryos and aleurone layers.

Wound-induced expression of DEFECTIVE IN ANTHER DEHISCENCE1 and DAD1-like lipase genes is mediated by both CORONATINE INSENSITIVE1-dependent and independent pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana

Endogenous JA production is not necessary for wound-induced expression of JA-biosynthetic lipase genes such as DAD1 in Arabidopsis. However, the JA-Ile receptor COI1 is often required for their JA-independent induction. Wounding is a serious event in plants that may result from insect feeding and increase the risk of pathogen infection. Wounded plants produce high amounts of jasmonic acid (JA), which triggers the expression of insect and pathogen resistance genes. We focused on the transcriptional regulation of DEFECTIVE IN ANTHER DEHISCENCE1 and six of its homologs including DONGLE (DGL) in Arabidopsis, which encode lipases involved in JA biosynthesis. Plants constitutively expressing DAD1 accumulated a higher amount of JA than control plants after wounding, indicating that the expression of these lipase genes contributes to determining JA levels. We found that the expression of DAD1, DGL, and other DAD1-LIKE LIPASE (DALL) genes is induced upon wounding. Some DALLs were also expressed in unwounded leaves. Further experiments using JA-biosynthetic and JA-response mutants revealed that the wound induction of these genes is regulated by several distinct pathways. DAD1 and most of its homologs other than DALL4 were fully induced without relying on endogenous JA-Ile production and were only partly affected by JA deficiency, indicating that positive feedback by JA is not necessary for induction of these genes. However, DAD1 and DGL required CORONATINE INSENSITIVE1 (COI1) for their expression, suggesting that a molecule other than JA might act as a regulator of COI1. Wound induction of DALL1, DALL2, and DALL3 did not require COI1. This differential regulation of DAD1 and its homologs might explain their functions at different time points after wounding.