Summary To analyse carbohydrate metabolism and its role during early seed development of barley we characterised genes encoding two cell wall‐bound invertases (HvCWINV1 HvCWINV2) putative hexose transporter‐like ( HvSTP1 HvSTP2 ). No typical vacuolar invertase gene could be identified. Instead, a sucrose:fructan 6‐fructosyltransferase HvSF6FT1 ), an enzyme with soluble acid activity, was isolated characterised. Furthermore, activities sugar levels were measured. ‐mRNA activity are highest in...

After fertilization, filial grain organs are surrounded by the maternal nucellus embedded within integuments and pericarp. Rapid early endosperm growth must be coordinated with tissue development. Parameters of development were analysed during formation. In pericarp, cell proliferation is accomplished around time followed elongation predominantly in longitudinal directions. The rapid expansion coincides cellularization. Distribution TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP...

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),...

Abstract The classic role of SUCROSE NONFERMENTING-1 (Snf1)-like kinases in eukaryotes is to adapt metabolism environmental conditions such as nutrition, energy, and stress. During pea (Pisum sativum) seed maturation, developmental programs growing embryos are adjusted changing physiological metabolic conditions. To understand regulation the switch from cell proliferation differentiation, NONFERMENTING-1-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE (SnRK1) was antisense repressed seeds. Transgenic seeds show...

Seed development passes through developmental phases such as cell division, differentiation and maturation: each have specific metabolic demands. The ubiquitous sucrose non-fermenting-like kinase (SnRK1) coordinates adjusts physiological demands with growth. In protoplast assays deprivation hormone supplementation, auxin abscisic acid (ABA), stimulate SnRK1-promoter activity. This indicates regulation by nutrients: hormonal crosstalk under conditions of nutrient demand proliferation....

The application of nitrogen to legumes regulates seed metabolism and composition. We recently showed that the seed-specific overexpression amino acid permease VfAAP1 increases supply, levels N protein in seeds. Two consecutive field trials using Pisum sativum AAP1 lines confirmed globulin seed; however, compensatory changes sucrose/starch individual weight were also observed. present a comprehensive analysis seeds combinatorial transcript metabolite profiling monitor effects supply on...

Based on the topographical analysis of photosynthesis and oil storage, we propose in a companion paper that photosynthetic oxygen release plays key role local energy state, storage metabolism flux toward lipid biosynthesis developing soybean seeds. To test this hypothesis, combined ATP gradients across tissues, microsensor quantifications internal O2 levels, assays balance, metabolite profiles isotope-labelling studies. Seeds show marked degree starvation vivo (minimum levels 0.1 kPa,...

Abstract Cereal seed development depends on the intimate interaction of filial and maternal tissues, ensuring nourishment new generation. The gene jekyll, which was identified in barley (Hordeum vulgare), is preferentially expressed nurse tissues. JEKYLL shares partial similarity with scorpion Cn4 toxin toxic when ectopically Escherichia coli tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). In barley, jekyll upregulated cells destined for autolysis. generates a gradient expression nucellar projection, mediates...

An ambitious aim in plant breeding and biotechnology is to increase the protein content of crop seeds used for food feed. Using an approach manipulate assimilate partitioning, we succeeded elevating legume up 50%. Transgenic bean plants were generated which express a Corynebacterium glutamicum phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) seed-specific manner. The bacterial enzyme was not feedback inhibited by malate. showed higher [14C]-CO2 uptake about threefold increased incorporation labelled...

Although essential for normal seed development in the legumes, metabolic role of endosperm remains uncertain. We designed noninvasive nuclear magnetic resonance tools vivo study key metabolites transient liquid intact pea (Pisum sativum) seeds. The steady-state levels sucrose, glutamine, and alanine could be monitored their distribution within embryo sac visualized. Seed structure was digitalized as a three-dimensional model, providing volume information distinct organs. method, combined...

Sucrose transport and partitioning are crucial for seed filling. While many plasma-membrane-localised sucrose transporters (SUT1 family members) have been analysed in seeds, the functions of vacuolar SUT2 members still obscure. In barley grains, expression HvSUT1 HvSUT2 overlap temporally spatially, suggesting concerted to regulate homeostasis. Using HvSUT2-RNAi plants, we found that grains were also deficient seemingly sucrose-limited during mid-to-late grain Transgenic endosperms...

The barley Risø16 mutation leads to inactivation of cytosolic ADP-Glc pyrophosphorylase, and results in decreased endospermal starch levels. Here we show that this is accompanied by a decrease storage protein accumulation seed size, which indicates alteration single enzymatic step can change the network metabolism as whole. We used comprehensive transcript, metabolite hormonal profiling compare grain development wild-type endosperm. Despite increased sugar availability mutant endosperm,...

Programmed cell death is essential part of development and homeostasis any multicellular organism. We have analyzed programmed in developing barley caryopsis at histological, biochemical molecular level. Caspase-1, -3, -4, -6 -8-like activities increased with aging pericarp coinciding abundance TUNEL positive nuclei expression HvVPE4 HvPhS2 genes the tissue. TUNEL-positive were also detected nucellus nucellar projection as well embryo surrounding region during early development. Quantitative...

Summary The glucose‐6‐phosphate/phosphate translocator (GPT) acts as an importer of carbon into the plastid. Despite potential importance GPT for storage in crop seeds, its regulatory role biosynthetic pathways that are active during seed development is poorly understood. We have isolated GPT1 from Vicia narbonensis and studied using a transgenic approach based on seed‐specific legumin promoter LeB4. highly expressed vegetative sink tissues, flowers young seeds. In embryo, localized...

Previously, the OEP16.1 channel pore in outer envelope membrane of mature pea (Pisum sativum) chloroplasts vitro has been characterized to be selective for amino acids. Isolation OEP16.2, a second OEP16 isoform from pea, current study allowed localization and gene expression followed throughout seed development germination Arabidopsis thaliana P. sativum. Thereby it can shown on transcript protein level that isoforms OEP16.2 both plant species are alternating: whereas is prominent early...

Summary The angiosperm embryo and endosperm are limited in space because they grow inside maternal seed tissues. elimination of cell layers the coat by programmed death ( PCD ) could provide nutrition to filial organs. Using barley Hordeum vulgare L.) as a model, we elucidated role vacuolar processing enzyme 4 VPE 4) cereals using an RNA i approach targeting enzymatic properties recombinant protein. A comparative characterization transgenic versus wild‐type plants included transcriptional...

Seed maturation responds to endogenous and exogenous signals like nutrient status, energy hormones. We recently showed that phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) overexpression in Vicia narbonensis seeds alters seed metabolism channels carbon into organic acids, resulting greater storage capacity increased protein content. Thus, these lines represent models with altered sink strength improved status. Here we analyse developmental metabolic parameters, C/N partitioning seeds. Transgenic...

The SE7 somaclonal line of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) achieved increased grain yield in field trials that apparently resulted from a higher number inflorescences and seeds per plant, compared with the wild type. Levels endogenous cytokinins, especially those highly physiologically active iso-pentenyl adenine, were during early inflorescence development plants. Transcript levels cytokinin-degrading enzymes but not cytokinin-synthesizing enzyme also decreased young leaves, seedlings,...

Over-expressing an amino acid permease in Vicia narbonensis seeds increases sink strength for N that is evident from the higher seed protein content and weight. Here, effect of increased line AAP-12 on growth, development, whole plant carbon nitrogen uptake partitioning analysed. plants have a prolonged growth period. Accumulation dry matter leaves, stems, pods are whereas remobilization to delayed, indicating switch reserve allocation delayed. Measuring 15N-ammonia applied via roots...

The biology of the seed is complicated by extensive non-homogeneity (spatial gradients) in gene expression, metabolic conversions and storage product accumulation. detailed understanding mechanisms underlying growth therefore requires development means to obtain tissue-specific analyses. This approach also represents an important priority context biotechnology.We provide a guideline procedures towards quantitative analysis laser micro-dissected (LM) tissues oilseed rape (Brassica napus)....

Transfer cells are characterized by intricate ingrowth walls, comprising an uniform wall upon which ingrowths deposited. The forms a scaffold to support amplified plasma membrane surface area enriched in transporters that collectively confers transfer with enhanced capacity for transport at bottlenecks apo-/symplasmic exchange of nutrients. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating polarized construction and transporter profile poorly understood.An RNAseq study inducible...

Heterotrophic plastids of seeds perform many biosynthetic reactions. Understanding their function in crop plants is crucial for seed production. Physiological functions depend on the uptake precursors by a range different metabolite translocators. The 2-oxoglutarate/malate translocator gene (PsOMT), which highly expressed during pea (Pisum sativum) embryo maturation, has an important role storage. PsOMT have been studied antisense repression maturing embryos, and were found to reduce mRNA...

The transition of pea embryos from pre-storage to maturation is partially controlled by abscisic acid (ABA). Immunomodulation in specifically reduces free ABA levels during stages. Such seeds are, therefore, suitable models for studying deficiency global transcript and metabolite analysis. Compared with the wild type, anti-ABA are smaller, contain fewer globulins show lower dry matter accumulation delayed differentiation. Free sugars decreased, indicating uptake and/or elevated mobilisation....