A genetic locus and gene expression patterns associated with the priming effect on lettuce seed germination at elevated temperatures

Seeds of most cultivated varieties of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) fail to germinate at warm temperatures (i.e., above 25–30°C). Seed priming (controlled hydration followed by drying) alleviates this thermoinhibition by increasing the maximum germination temperature. We conducted a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of seed germination responses to priming using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between L. sativa cv. Salinas and L. serriola accession UC96US23. Priming significantly increased the maximum germination temperature of the RIL population, and a single major QTL was responsible for 47% of the phenotypic variation due to priming. This QTL collocated with Htg6.1, a major QTL from UC96US23 associated with high temperature germination capacity. Seeds of three near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying an Htg6.1 introgression from UC96US23 in a Salinas genetic background exhibited synergistic increases in maximum germination temperature in response to priming. LsNCED4, a gene encoding a key enzyme (9-cis-epoxycarotinoid dioxygenase) in the abscisic acid biosynthetic pathway, maps precisely with Htg6.1. Expression of LsNCED4 after imbibition for 24 h at high temperature was greater in non-primed seeds of Salinas, of a second cultivar (Titan) and of NILs containing Htg6.1 compared to primed seeds of the same genotypes. In contrast, expression of genes encoding regulated enzymes in the gibberellin and ethylene biosynthetic pathways (LsGA3ox1 and LsACS1, respectively) was enhanced by priming and suppressed by imbibition at elevated temperatures. Developmental and temperature regulation of hormonal biosynthetic pathways is associated with seed priming effects on germination temperature sensitivity

A gene encoding an abscisic acid biosynthetic enzyme (LsNCED4) collocates with the high temperature germination locus Htg6.1 in lettuce (Lactuca sp.)

Thermoinhibition, or failure of seeds to germinate when imbibed at warm temperatures, can be a significant problem in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) production. The reliability of stand establishment would be improved by increasing the ability of lettuce seeds to germinate at high temperatures. Genes encoding germination- or dormancy-related proteins were mapped in a recombinant inbred line population derived from a cross between L. sativa cv. Salinas and L. serriola accession UC96US23. This revealed several candidate genes that are located in the genomic regions containing quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with temperature and light requirements for germination. In particular, LsNCED4, a temperature-regulated gene in the biosynthetic pathway for abscisic acid (ABA), a germination inhibitor, mapped to the center of a previously detected QTL for high temperature germination (Htg6.1) from UC96US23. Three sets of sister BC3S2 near-isogenic lines (NILs) that were homozygous for the UC96US23 allele of LsNCED4 at Htg6.1 were developed by backcrossing to cv. Salinas and marker-assisted selection followed by selfing. The maximum temperature for germination of NIL seed lots with the UC96US23 allele at LsNCED4 was increased by 2–3°C when compared with sister NIL seed lots lacking the introgression. In addition, the expression of LsNCED4 was two- to threefold lower in the former NIL lines as compared to expression in the latter. Together, these data strongly implicate LsNCED4 as the candidate gene responsible for the Htg6.1 phenotype and indicate that decreased ABA biosynthesis at high imbibition temperatures is a major factor responsible for the increased germination thermotolerance of UC96US23 seeds

Germinação de sementes de cenoura osmoticamente condicionadas e peletizadas com diversos ingredientes Germination of carrot seed primed and pelleted with several ingredients

A semente de cenoura caracteriza-se por ser relativamente pequena, o que dificulta o processo de distribuição, tornando a mecanização por semeadeiras convencionais uma prática difícil. A técnica da peletização tem sido utilizada visando a melhoria da distribuição de sementes e o estabelecimento de plântulas no campo. As sementes peletizadas geralmente apresentam menor velocidade de germinação quando comparadas com as sementes nuas do mesmo lote. O condicionamento osmótico tem sido utilizado para aumentar a velocidade de germinação de sementes. Neste estudo foram avaliados materiais cimentantes para a peletização de sementes e verificadas as relações existentes entre o condicionamento osmótico e a germinação das sementes peletizadas de cenoura cv. Alvorada. A peletização foi feita utilizando-se, como material de enchimento, a mistura de microcelulose e areia fina em volumes iguais e, para enchimento foram avaliados cinco materiais cimentantes: bentonita, methocel, opadry, rhoximat e goma arábica. Sementes peletizadas receberam ou não o acabamento com iriodin. Uma testemunha (sementes nuas) foi incluída no ensaio. Em outro estudo, sementes foram osmoticamente condicionadas em solução aerada de polietileno glicol e peletizadas imediatamente após o condicionamento osmótico ou após a secagem. Os produtos rhoximat e opadry apresentaram as melhores características como material cimentante, formando uma fina camada de revestimento, que resultou na formação de péletes com superfície lisa, uniforme e ótima aparência externa. Em geral, péletes apresentaram uma ligeira redução na porcentagem e na velocidade de germinação, em comparação às sementes não peletizadas, com diferenças maiores para os péletes que receberam o acabamento com iriodin. O condicionamento osmótico aumentou a velocidade de germinação das sementes peletizadas de cenoura.<br>Carrot seeds are small and the distribution in the field by seeders is generally very difficult. Seed pelleting has been used to improve sowing and consequently the stand establishment. Pelleted seeds generally present lower germination rate than raw seeds from the same seed lot. Seed priming has been used to increase germination rate of several species. Various binder materials for seed pelleting were evaluated and the relation between the osmoconditioning and germination of pellet seeds verified, using 'Alvorada' carrot cultivar. The pellet was obtained through a mixture of equal parts of microcelulose and sand as filling materials; five binder materials were also evaluated: bentonite, methocel, opadry, rhoximat and arabic gum. Part of the pelleted seeds received an external coat treatment (iriodin). Raw seeds were included as control. In another study, seeds were primed in an aerated solution of polyethylene glycol, dried and then pelleted. Rhoximat and opadry showed better characteristics as binder materials presenting pellets with smooth surface, uniform and excellent external appearance. In general, seed pellets showed a slight decrease of the germination rate and total germination compared to raw seeds, with greather differences for pellets finished with iriodin. Priming enhanced the germination rate of pelleted carrot seeds

Nitrogen levels in the cultivation of strawberries in soilless culture Doses de nitrogênio no cultivo fora do solo do morangueiro

In soilless grown strawberry crops, the nitrogen concentration of the nutrient solution affects plant growth and fruit yield and quality. The present research was conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen concentration in the nutrient solution on plant growth and development and fruit yield and quality of this crop. Treatments consisted of five nutrient solutions at nitrogen concentrations of 6.5 (T1), 8.0 (T2), 9.5 (T3), 11.0 (T4) and 12.5 (T5) mmol L-1, in an entirely randomised experimental design with four replications. Ripe fruit yield was determined during the harvest period from June 6th to November 27th, 2009. Number of leaves, shoot and root dry mass and crown diameter were determined at the later date. Number of leaves, shoot and root dry mass and crown diameter decreased by effect of increasing N concentrations in the nutrient solution. Fruit yield and fruit size fitted a polynomial model, with maximum values at 8.9 mmol N L-1. The N concentration used for the strawberry crop in soilless growing systems can be reduced to 8.9 mmol L-1 without any reduction in fruit yield.<br>No cultivo sem solo do morangueiro, a concentração de nitrogênio da solução nutritiva afeta o crescimento da planta, a produtividade e a qualidade das frutas. O objetivo do trabalho foi determinar o efeito da concentração de nitrogênio da solução nutritiva no crescimento e desenvolvimento da planta e produção de frutas do morangueiro. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por cinco concentrações de N na solução nutritiva: 6,5 (T1), 8,0 (T2), 9,5 (T3), 11,0 (T4) e 12,5 (T5) mmol L-1, em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. Foi determinada a produção de frutas no período entre 6 de junho e 27 de novembro de 2009, o número de folhas e a massa seca da parte aérea, coroas e raízes na última data. O número de folhas, a massa seca da parte aérea e das raízes e o diâmetro da coroa diminuíram com o aumento da concentração de N na solução nutritiva. A produção e o tamanho das frutas apresentaram resposta polinomial, com ponto de máxima na concentração de 8.9 mmol L-1. Concluiu-se que a concentração de N atualmente empregada na produção dessa cultura em sistemas fora do solo pode ser reduzida para 8.9 mmol L-1, sem redução na produtividade de frutas