SeedBiology.de
Title
The Seed Biology Place - The Seed Biology Place
Description
In members of the Solanaceae the endosperm appears to be a mechanical hindrance to seed germination (coat-enhanced seed dormancy). The endospermic hole of the germinated tobacco seed seems to be formed by "dissolution" rather than by "pushing" action. Class I ß-1,3-glucanase (ßGlu I) is induced just prior to endosperm rupture (after testa rupture) and is localized exclusively in the micropylar region of the endosperm where the radicle will penetrate. Transgenic seeds over-expressing ßGlu I in the seed covering layers directly demonstrate that ßGlu I promote radicle protrusion to facilitate germination by contributing to endosperm rupture of tobacco. After-ripening promotes testa rupture and releases dormancy. ßGlu I over-expression can replace the after-ripening effect on testa rupture, in reciprocal crosses only if the mother plant is an over-expresser. ßGlu is an enzyme that is involved in dormancy release and seed germination.
ßGlu I induction is tightly linked with altered endosperm rupture in response to physiological factors known to affect the incidence and timing of seed germination.
Main research areas: Our group has long research experience in basic and applied seed biology. The role of the seed covering layers for germination, water uptake, seed storage, after-ripening and dormancy release is an important research focus of our lab. We are interested in the molecular mechanisms of endosperm weakening and in the release of "coat-imposed" dormancy. The different covering layers are determinants of seed quality and exhibit the biodiversity of seed structures. We have expertise in various methods of seed and seedling technology, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology. Our basic and applied seed research projects focus on environmental factors (light, temperature, water) and on plant hormones as endogenous regulators (gibberellins, abscisic acid, ethylene, auxin, cytokinins, brassinosteroids). The utilization of plant hormones and inhibitors of their biosynthesis and action in seed treatment technologies affects seed germination and seedling emergence.
Languages
English
Address
- Am Thurmacker 20
- D-44319 Dortmund GERMANY
Contact
- Dr. Gerhard Luebner
Additional Information
Related Domains
External Links
- Alexa: SeedBiology.de
- Aba
- Abscisic Acid
- After Ripening
- Biology
- Botany
- Brassinolide
- Brassinosteroid
- Cell Wall Hydrolases
- Coat Enhanced Dormancy
- Coat Imposed Dormancy
- Dormancy
- Dormancy Release
- Dormant
- Endosperm
- Endosperm Limited Germination
- Endosperm Rupture
- Endosperm Softening
- Endosperm Weakening
- Ethylene
- Ga
- Germination
- Germination Specific
- Gibberellin
- Glucanase
- Imbibition
- Micropylar Endosperm
- Nicotiana
- Non Dormant
- Nondormant
- Pea Seed
- Photodormant
- Phytochrome
- Pisum
- Plant Physiology
- Primary Dormancy
- Radicle Emergence
- Radicle Protrusion
- Ss
- Science
- Seed
- Seed Coat
- Seed Afterripening
- Seed Biology
- Seed Biotechnology
- Seed Dormancy
- Seed Germination
- Seed Physiology
- Seed Storage
- Seed Technology
- Seeds
- Signaling
- Signalling
- Testa
- Testa Rupture
- Tobacco Seed
- Tobacco Seeds
- Tomato Seed
- Transcriptional Regulation
- 1,3
- ABA
- After-ripening
- Coat-enhanced Dormancy
- Coat-imposed Dormancy
- Endosperm-limited Germination
- GA
- Germination-specific
- Non-dormant
- SS
- Seed-coat