Trehalose 6‐phosphate promotes seed filling by activating auxin biosynthesis

• DOI: 10.1111/nph.16956
• Publication Date: 2020-09-28T09:07:53Z
• Authors: Tobias Meitzel; Ruslana Radchuk; Erin L. McAdam; Ina Thormählen; Regina Feil; Eberhard Munz; Alexander Hilo; Peter Geigenberger; John J. Ross; John E. Lunn; Ljudmilla Borisjuk
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 2. Zero hunger; Sucrose; 03 medical and health sciences; Indoleacetic Acids; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Seeds; Trehalose; Sugar Phosphates; Plants, Genetically Modified; Phosphates

Plants undergo several developmental transitions during their life cycle. One of these, the differentiation young embryo from a meristem-like structure into highly specialized storage organ, is believed to be controlled by local connections between sugars and hormonal response systems. However, we know little about regulatory networks underpinning sugar-hormone interactions in developing seeds. By modulating trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) content growing embryos garden pea (Pisum sativum), investigate here role this signaling sugar seed-filling process. Seeds deficient T6P are compromised size starch production, resembling wrinkled seeds studied Gregor Mendel. We show also that exerts these effects stimulating biosynthesis pivotal plant hormone, auxin. found promotes expression auxin gene TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASE RELATED2 (TAR2), resulting effect on concentrations required mediate T6P-induced activation processes. Our results suggest acts downstream facilitate seed filling, thereby providing salient example how metabolic signal governs control an integral phase transition crop plant.