The decision to germinate is regulated by divergent molecular networks in spores and seeds

TY - JOUR

T1 - The decision to germinate is regulated by divergent molecular networks in spores and seeds

AU - Vesty, Eleanor F

AU - Saidi, Younousse

AU - Moody, Laura A

AU - Holloway, Daniel

AU - Whitbread, Amy

AU - Needs, Sarah

AU - Choudhary, Anushree

AU - Burns, Bethany

AU - McLeod, Daniel

AU - Bradshaw, Susan J

AU - Bae, Hansol

AU - King, Brian Christopher

AU - Bassel, George W

AU - Simonsen, Henrik Toft

AU - Coates, Juliet C

N1 - © 2016 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2016 New Phytologist Trust.

PY - 2016/8/1

Y1 - 2016/8/1

N2 - Dispersal is a key step in land plant life cycles, usually via formation of spores or seeds. Regulation of spore- or seed-germination allows control over the timing of transition from one generation to the next, enabling plant dispersal. A combination of environmental and genetic factors determines when seed germination occurs. Endogenous hormones mediate this decision in response to the environment. Less is known about how spore germination is controlled in earlier-evolving nonseed plants. Here, we present an in-depth analysis of the environmental and hormonal regulation of spore germination in the model bryophyte Physcomitrella patens (Aphanoregma patens). Our data suggest that the environmental signals regulating germination are conserved, but also that downstream hormone integration pathways mediating these responses in seeds were acquired after the evolution of the bryophyte lineage. Moreover, the role of abscisic acid and diterpenes (gibberellins) in germination assumed much greater importance as land plant evolution progressed. We conclude that the endogenous hormone signalling networks mediating germination in response to the environment may have evolved independently in spores and seeds. This paves the way for future research about how the mechanisms of plant dispersal on land evolved.

AB - Dispersal is a key step in land plant life cycles, usually via formation of spores or seeds. Regulation of spore- or seed-germination allows control over the timing of transition from one generation to the next, enabling plant dispersal. A combination of environmental and genetic factors determines when seed germination occurs. Endogenous hormones mediate this decision in response to the environment. Less is known about how spore germination is controlled in earlier-evolving nonseed plants. Here, we present an in-depth analysis of the environmental and hormonal regulation of spore germination in the model bryophyte Physcomitrella patens (Aphanoregma patens). Our data suggest that the environmental signals regulating germination are conserved, but also that downstream hormone integration pathways mediating these responses in seeds were acquired after the evolution of the bryophyte lineage. Moreover, the role of abscisic acid and diterpenes (gibberellins) in germination assumed much greater importance as land plant evolution progressed. We conclude that the endogenous hormone signalling networks mediating germination in response to the environment may have evolved independently in spores and seeds. This paves the way for future research about how the mechanisms of plant dispersal on land evolved.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1111/nph.14018

DO - 10.1111/nph.14018

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27257104

SN - 0028-646X

VL - 211

SP - 952

EP - 966

JO - New Phytologist

JF - New Phytologist

IS - 3

ER -