Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower and Plant Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #308214
Title: Dormancy induction and release in buds and seeds

Author
item Chao, Wun
item Dogramaci, Munevver
item Horvath, David
item Foley, Michael
item Anderson, James

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2014
Publication Date: 4/14/2015
Citation: Chao, W.S., Dogramaci, M., Horvath, D.P., Foley, M.E., Anderson, J.V. 2015. Dormancy induction and release in buds and seeds. In: Anderson, J.V., editor. Advances in Plant Dormancy. Cham, Switzerland. Springer International Publishing AG. pp.235-256.

Interpretive Summary: Dormancy is an important mechanism for survival in both buds and seeds during the life cycle of plants. The physiology and molecular mechanisms of dormancy are complex. There is no consistent hypothesis to account for induction, maintenance and breaking of dormancy for buds and seeds across all species. However, dormancy researches have generated vast information on how plants respond to and interact with environmental signals and have identified many factors including light (photoperiod), temperature (cold), hormones, circadian clock, epigenetic regulation, and dormancy genes that control dormancy induction and release at the molecular level. This review focuses on the main similarities in gene expression and molecular mechanisms involved in bud and seed dormancy and release. We also use leafy spurge, a model herbaceous perennial, as an example to describe commonalities in gene expression and molecular mechanisms during bud and seed dormancy and release.

Technical Abstract: Dormancy is a complex trait in both buds and seeds, which is an important mechanism for survival during the life cycle of plants. Over the years, a vast wealth of information has been generated on how environmental and developmental signals impact dormancy in buds and seeds. At the molecular level, these studies have identified many factors including light (photoperiod), temperature (cold), hormones, circadian clock, epigenetic regulation, and dormancy-associated genes that control induction and release of dormancy in buds and seeds. Due to intrinsic differences between buds and seeds across a multitude of plant species, it should not be surprising that similar and dissimilar signals may control different phases of dormancy. This review focuses on the main similarities in gene expression and molecular mechanisms involved in bud and seed dormancy and release. A model perennial weed, leafy spurge, is presented as an example to compare commonalities in gene expression and molecular mechanisms during bud and seed dormancy and release. The study indicated that the physiological state of dormant imbibed, but growth competent, seeds (21d C) are more analogous to paradormant buds than that of ecodormant buds. In addition, common molecular mechanisms associated with dormancy transitions in buds and seeds involved processes associated with abscisic acid- and auxin-signaling and transport, cell cycle, and AP2/ERF transcription factors or their up-stream regulators.