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ABA and GA4 dynamic modulates secondary dormancy and germination in Syngonanthus verticillatus seeds

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Main conclusion

ABA and GA metabolism during incubation rather than hormone contents in dry seeds is the key to understanding secondary dormancy and germination of Syngonanthus verticillatus seeds.

Abstract

The mechanism of seed dormancy cycle, although very important for preventing germination during unfavorable periods for seedling establishment, is poorly understood in tropical species. Here, we used a perennial tropical species of the Brazilian campo rupestre, Syngonanthus verticillatus (Eriocaulaceae), to investigate the involvement of ABA and GA in modulating secondary dormancy of seeds buried in situ over time and the dynamic of these hormones during the incubation of dormant and non-dormant seeds. Hormone analyses were carried out with freshly harvested seeds and on buried seeds exhumed after 3, 6 and 9 months. Dynamics of ABA and GAs in dormant and non-dormant seeds during incubation (0, 12, 24 and 36 h) under favorable conditions for germination (at 20 °C in the presence of light) were also investigated. In addition, the effects of GA4 and fluridone were evaluated for overcoming secondary dormancy. Our results showed that changes in the contents of both ABA and GA4 occurred after burial, suggesting they may be related to the modulation of secondary dormancy/germination of S. verticillatus seeds. The application of fluridone was more effective than GA4 at overcoming secondary dormancy. We conclude that during incubation, de novo ABA synthesis and its consequent maintenance at high contents regulate the inhibition of germination in dormant seeds, while GA4 synthesis and ABA catabolism modulate the germination of non-dormant seeds. ABA and GA metabolism during incubation of both dormant and non-dormant seeds rather than hormone contents of dry seeds in the field is thought to be the key to understanding secondary dormancy and germination.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) for financial support for the project, the Scientific and Technical Services of the University of Barcelona for technical assistance in hormone analyses, Maren Müller for help with hormone analyses and Jochen Dreixler (Joe) for help in preparing Fig. 5. We also thank Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brazil) and FAPEMIG for providing a scholarship for L.C.B.; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Brazil) and FAPEMIG for providing a scholarship for D.M.D.H; CAPES for providing a scholarship for B.M.R.S. Q.S.G. received a research productivity scholarship from CNPq.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Fisiologia Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Caixa Postal 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31.270-901, Brazil

    Leilane C. Barreto, Daniela M. D. Herken, Brenda M. R. Silva & Queila S. Garcia

  2. Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Sergi Munné-Bosch

  3. Institut de Recerca de La Biodiversitat (IrBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Sergi Munné-Bosch

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  1. Leilane C. Barreto
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  2. Daniela M. D. Herken
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  3. Brenda M. R. Silva
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  4. Sergi Munné-Bosch
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  5. Queila S. Garcia
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Correspondence to Queila S. Garcia.

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Barreto, L.C., Herken, D.M.D., Silva, B.M.R. et al. ABA and GA4 dynamic modulates secondary dormancy and germination in Syngonanthus verticillatus seeds. Planta 251, 86 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-020-03378-2

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