Abstract
The germination of seeds of tomato [Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill.] cv. Moneymaker has been compared with that of seeds of the gibberellin-deficient dwarf-mutant line ga-1, induced in the same genetic background. Germination of tomato seeds was absolutely dependent on the presence of either endogenous or exogenous gibberellins (GAs). Gibberellin A4+7 was 1000-fold more active than commercial gibberellic acid in inducing germination of the ga-1 seeds. Red light, a preincubation at 2°C, and ethylene did not stimulate germination of ga-1 seeds in the absence of GA4+7; however, fusicoccin did stimulate germination independently. Removal of the endosperm and testa layers opposite the radicle tip caused germination of ga-1 seeds in water. The seedlings and plants that develop from the detipped ga-1 seeds exhibited the extreme dwarfy phenotype that is normal to this genotype. Measurements of the mechanical resistance of the surrounding layers showed that the major action of GAs was directed to the weakening of the endosperm cells around the radicle tip. In wild-type seeds this weakening occurred in water before radicle protrusion. In ga-1 seeds a similar event was dependent on GA4+7, while fusicoccin also had some activity. Simultaneous incubation of de-embryonated endosperms and isolated axes showed that wild-type embryos contain and endosperm-weakening factor that is absent in ga-1 axes and is probably a GA. Thus, an endogenous GA facilitates germination in tomato seeds by weakening the mechanical restraint of the endosperm cells to permit radicle protrusion.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Abbreviations
- GA(s):
-
gibberellin(s)
- GA3 :
-
gibberellic acid
References
Ashford, A.E., Gubler, F. (1984) Mobilization of polysaccharide reserves from endosperm. In: Seed physiology, vol. 2: Germination and reserve mobilization, pp. 117–162, Murray, D.R., ed. Academic Press, North Ryde, Australia
Bewley, J.D., Leung, D.W.M., Ouelette, F.B. (1983) The cooperative role of endo-β-mannanase, β-mannosidase and α-galactosidase in the mobilization of endosperm cell wall hemicellulose of germinated lettuce seed. Rec. Adv. Phytochem. 17, 137–152
Douglas, J.D., Paleg, L.G. (1974) Plant growth retardants as inhibitors of sterol biosynthesis in tobacco seedlings. Plant Physiol. 54, 238–245
Durley, R.C., Bewley, J.D., Railton, I.D., Pharis, R.P. (1976) Effects of light, abscisic acid, and 6N-benzyladenine on the metabolism of [3H]gibberellin A4 in seeds and seedlings of lettuce, cv. Grand Rapids. Plant Physiol. 57, 699–703
Durley, R.C., Pharis, R.P. (1973) Interconversion of gibberellin A4 to gibberellin A1 and A34 by dwarf rice, cultivar Tangibozu. Planta 109, 357–361
Gafni, Y., Shechter, I. (1981) Inhibition of kaurene synthetase from castor bean seedlings and the germination of tomato, wheat and castor bean seeds by di-ethylene-glycol disulfide. Plant Sci. Lett. 23, 223–231
Georghiou, K., Psaras, G., Mitrakos, K. (1983) Lettuce endosperm structural changes during germination under different light, temperature, and hydration conditions. Bot. Gaz. 144, 207–211
Halmer, P., Bewley, J.D. (1979) Mannanase production by the lettuce endosperm. Control by the embryo. Planta 144, 330–340
Hepher, A., Roberts, J.A. (1985) The control of seed germination in Trollius ledebouri. A model of seed dormancy. Planta 166, 321–328
Hopp, H.E., Favret, G.C., Favret, E.A. (1981) Control of barley development using dwarf mutants. In: Induced mutations — a tool in plant research. SM 251, 243, Kitto, H.P., ed. Int. Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna
Jacobsen, J.V., Pressmann, E., Pyliotis, N.A. (1976) Giberellin-induced separation of cells in isolated endosperm of celery seed. Planta 129, 113–122
Jacobsen, J.V., Pressmann, E. (1979) A structural study of germinaton in celery (Apium graveolens L.) seed with emphasis on endosperm breakdown. Planta 144, 241–248
Kamienska, A., Durley, R.C., Pharis, R.P. (1976) Endogenous gibberellins of pine pollen. III. Conversion of 1,2-[3H]GA4 to gibberellins A1 and A34 in germinating pollen of Pinus attenuata Lemm. Plant Physiol. 58, 68–70
Karssen, C.M., Laçka, E. (1986) A levision of the hormone balance theory of seed dormancy: Studies on gibberellin and/or abscisic acid-deficient mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana. In: Plant growth substances 1985, pp. 315–323, Bopp, M., ed. Springer, Berlin
Koornneef, M., van der Veen, J.H., Spruit, C.J.P., Karssen, C.M. (1981) Isolation and use of mutants with an altered germination behaviour in Arabidopsis thaliana and tomato. In: Induced mutations a tool in plant research, SM 251, pp. 227–232, Kitto, H.P., ed. Int. Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna
Koorneef, M., Cone, J.W., Karssen, C.M., Kendrick, R.E., Van der Veen, J.H., Zeevaart, J.A.D. (1985) Plant hormone and photoreceptor mutants in Arabidopsis and tomato. In: UCLA Symp. Molec. Cell. Biol., N.S., vol. 35: Plant genetics, pp. 1–12, Freeling, M., ed. Alan R. Liss, New York
Koornneef, M., Van der Veen, J.H. (1980) Induction and analysis of gibberrellin-sensitive mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Theor. Appl. Genet. 58, 257–263
Lona, F. (1956) L'acido gibberellico determina la germinationne dei semi di Lactuca scariola in fase di scoto-imbizione. Ateneo Parmense 27, 641–644
Marré, E. (1979) Fusicoccin: a tool in plant physiology. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 30, 273–288
Murakami, Y. (1972) Dwarfing genes in rice and their relation to gibberellin biosynthesis. In: Plant growth substances 1970, pp. 166–174, Carr, D.J., ed. Academic Press, London
Nelson, J.M., Sharples, G.C. (1980) Stimulation of tomato, by growth regulators. J. Seed Technol. 5, 62–68
Nester, J.E., Zeevaart, J.A.D. (1986) Flower development in a gibberellin deficient mutant of tomato. (Abstr.) Plant Physiol. 80, Suppl., 3
Nitsche, K., Grossmann, K., Sauerbrey, E., Jung, J. (1985) Influence of the growth retardant tetcyclacis on cell division and cell elongation in plants and cell cultures of sunflowers, soybean and maize. J. Plant Physiol. 118, 209–218
Phinney, B.O. (1985) Gibberellin A1, dwarfism and shoot elongation in higher plants. Biol. Plant. 27, 172–179
Phinney, B.O., Spray, C. (1982) Chemical genetics and gibberellin pathway in Zea mays L. In: Plant growth substances 1982, pp. 101–110, Wareing, P.F., ed. Academic Press, London
Pinfield, N.J., Davies, H.V. (1978) Hormonal changes during after-ripening of Acer platanoides L. seeds. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 90, 171–181
Taylor, J.S., Wareing, P.F. (1979) The effect of stratification on the endogenous levels of gibberellins and cytokinins in seeds of douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana Dougl.). Plant Cell Environ. 2, 165–171
Thomas, T.H., Sambrooks, D.F. (1985) Possible control of gibberellin induced release of temperature-dependent primary dormancy in seeds of celery (Apium graveolens) by transmembrane ion fluxes. Plant Growth Regulation 3, 191–199
Watkins, J.T., Cantliffe, D.J. (1983) Mechanical resistance of the seed coat and endosperm during germination of Capsicum annuum at low temperature. Plant Physiol. 72, 146–150
Zeevaart, J.A.D. (1984) Environmental control of plant development and its relation to hormones. In: Plant Research 1983 (18th Annual Report D.O.E. Plant Research Laboratory), pp. 155–169. Michigan State University, East Lansing
Zeevaart, J.A.D. (1985) Environmental control of plant development and its relation to hormones. In: Plant Research 1984 (19th Annual Report D.O.E. Plant Research Laboratory), pp. 138–146. Michigan State University, East Lansing
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Groot, S.P.C., Karssen, C.M. Gibberellins regulate seed germination in tomato by endosperm weakening: a study with gibberellin-deficient mutants. Planta 171, 525–531 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392302
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392302