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The role of the oxylipin OPDA in the seasonal sensitivity of seed dormancy

Reference	BBS/E/J/000CA585
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Steven Penfield
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	18,719
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2014
End date	28/02/2015
Duration	5 months

Abstract

This project aims to understand the role of the mother plant in using environmental signals to control offspring behaviour. We have found that the mother plant can sense the temperature of the environment and use the information to control the germination frequency of her offspring seed. Intriguingly, we found that the mother uses not just current temperature information but also past temperature information to control progeny germination. We also have preliminary evidence that these temperature signalling are carried by the same genes that also control flowering time. We aim to understand the role of ‘flowering time’ control genes in the maternal temperature-control of seed germination and to elucidate the mechanism through which they affect seed germination rates. For this we will test two competing hypotheses: firstly that they control the levels of plant hormones that are known to play important roles in germination regulation, and secondly that they affect the development of maternal tissues of the seed, particularly the seed coat, in such a way that modifies germination behaviour.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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