Abstract
Light-dependent seed germination guarantees seedling proximity to the soil surface, enabling quick photosynthetic energy supply. While seedling hypocotyl length is mainly used in phytochrome physiological assays to determine the functional impact of photoreceptor point mutations, different intracellular localizations, or the function of signal transduction components, phytochrome-controlled seed germination offers a different, very sensitive tool to test the phytochrome photoreceptor network. Photon fluences as low as 1 nmol m−2 are sufficient to elicit the phytochrome A (phyA)-dependent very low fluence response (VLFR), whereas higher fluences (> 10 μmol m−2) are needed to elicit the phyB-controlled and phyB-photoreversible low fluence response (LFR). Taking advantage of the different sensitivities of both phytochromes to different light qualities and quantities, a screening protocol is presented to score germination under different light conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kaiserli E, Jenkins GI (2007) UV-B promotes rapid nuclear translocation of the Arabidopsis UV-B specific signaling component UVR8 and activates its function in the nucleus. Plant Cell 19:2662–2673
Rizzini L, Favory JJ, Cloix C, Faggionato D, O’Hara A, Kaiserli E, Baumeister R, Schäfer E, Nagy F, Jenkins GI, Ulm R (2011) Perception of UV-B by the Arabidopsis UVR8 protein. Science 332:103–106
Lin C, Shalitin D (2003) Cryptochrome structure and signal transduction. Annu Rev Plant Biol 54:469–496
Liu H, Liu B, Zhao C, Pepper M, Lin C (2011) The action mechanisms of plant cryptochromes. Trends Plant Sci 16:684–691
Briggs WR, Huala E (1999) Blue-light photoreceptors in higher plants. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 15:33–62
Christie JM, Blackwood L, Petersen J, Sullivan S (2015) Plant flavoprotein photoreceptors. Plant Cell Physiol 56:401–413
Quail PH (2002) Phytochrome photosensory signalling networks. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 3:85–93
Flint LH, McAlister ED (1935) Wave lengths of radiation in the visible spectrum inhibiting the germination of light-sensitive lettuce seed. Smithson Misc Collect 94:1–11
Borthwick HA, Hendricks SB, Parker MW, Toole EH, Toole VK (1952) A reversible photoreaction controlling seed germination. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 38:662–666
Lagarias JC, Lagarias DM (1989) Self-assembly of synthetic phytochrome holoprotein in vitro. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 86:5778–5780
Litts JC, Kelly JM, Lagarias JC (1983) Structure-function studies on phytochrome. Preliminary characterization of highly purified phytochrome from Avena sativa enriched in the 124-kilodalton species. J Biol Chem 258:11025–11031
Rockwell NC, Su YS, Lagarias JC (2006) Phytochrome structure and signaling mechanisms. Annu Rev Plant Biol 57:837–858
Smith H (2000) Phytochromes and light signal perception by plants – an emerging synthesis. Nature 407:585–591
Sharrock RA, Quail PH (1989) Novel phytochrome sequences in Arabidopsis thaliana: structure, evolution, and differential expression of a plant regulatory photoreceptor family. Genes Dev 3:1745–1757
Clough RC, Vierstra RD (1997) Phytochrome degradation. Plant Cell Environ 20:713–721
Sharrock RA, Clack T (2002) Patterns of expression and normalized levels of the five Arabidopsis phytochromes. Plant Physiol 130:442–456
Helizon H, Rösler-Dalton J, Gasch P, von Horsten S, Essen L-O, Zeidler M (2018) Arabidopsis phytochrome a nuclear translocation is mediated by a far-red elongated hypocotyl 1–importin complex. Plant J 96:1255–1268
Rösler J, Jaedicke K, Zeidler M (2010) Cytoplasmic phytochrome action. Plant Cell Physiol 51:1248–1254
Rösler J, Klein I, Zeidler M (2007) Arabidopsis fhl/fhy1 double mutant reveals a distinct cytoplasmic action of phytochrome A. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104:10737–10742
Chen M, Chory J (2011) Phytochrome signaling mechanisms and the control of plant development. Trends Cell Biol 21:664–671
Shinomura T, Nagatani A, Hanzawa H, Kubota M, Watanabe M, Furuya M (1996) Action spectra for phytochrome A- and B-specific photoinduction of seed germination in Arabidopsis thaliana. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 93:8129–8133
Shinomura T, Uchida K, Furuya M (2000) Elementary processes of photoperception by phytochrome A for high-irradiance response of hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol 122:147–156
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by DFG grant ZE485/2-3 to MZ.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Zeidler, M. (2022). Analysis of Phytochrome-Dependent Seed Germination in Arabidopsis. In: Duque, P., Szakonyi, D. (eds) Environmental Responses in Plants. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2494. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2297-1_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2297-1_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-2296-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-2297-1
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols