RNA-Seq Study Reveals AP2-Domain-Containing Signalling Regulators Involved in Initial Imbibition of Seed Germination in Rice
He Yongqi,
Zhao Jia,
Feng Defeng,
Huang Zhibo,
Liang Jiaming,
Zheng Yufei,
Cheng Jinping,
Ying Jifeng,
Wang Zhoufei
Affiliations
He Yongqi
Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding/State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Zhao Jia
Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding/State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Feng Defeng
Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding/State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Huang Zhibo
Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding/State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Liang Jiaming
Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding/State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Zheng Yufei
Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding/State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Cheng Jinping
Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Ying Jifeng
State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, China; Corresponding author.
Wang Zhoufei
Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding/State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Corresponding author.
A number of internal signals are required for seed germination. However, the precise signalling responses in the initial imbibition of seed germination are not yet fully understood in rice. In this study, the RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) approach was conducted in 8 h imbibed seeds to understand the signalling responses in the initial imbibition of rice seed germination. A total of 563 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with at least 4-fold change were identified in 8 h imbibed seeds compared to dry seeds. MapMan analysis revealed that the majority of signalling response-related DEGs were hormone- and transcription factor-related genes, in which the largest number of DEGs belong to the AP2-domain-containing regulators, and their expressions were significantly induced in the initial imbibition of seed germination in rice. Moreover, at least five AP2-domain-containing transcription factor OsDREBs were identified in the initial imbibition of rice seed germination, and the expressions of 251 DEGs were putatively regulated by OsDREBs through the dehydration-responsive element (DRE) cis-element assay. It suggested that the OsDREBs might play important roles in the regulation of initial seed imbibition in rice. The identified genes provide a valuable resource to study the signalling regulation of seed germination in the future.
