A single seed treatment mediated through reactive oxygen species increases germination, growth performance, and abiotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis and rice. Issue 12 (1st December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kamal, Md Mostafa; Erazo, Carlos; Tanino, Karen K.; Kawamura, Yukio; Kasuga, Jun; Laarveld, Bernard; Olkowski, Andrew; Uemura, Matsuo
• Is Part Of: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry. Volume 84:Issue 12(2020)
• Page Start: 2597
• Page End: 2608
• Publication Date: 2020-12-01
• Subjects: Seed germination -- abiotic stress -- hydroxyl radical -- seed treatment -- seedling growth; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; 660.6
• DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2020.1808444
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0916-8451

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Hydroxyl radical (OH) is considered to be the most damaging among reactive oxygen species. Although a few studies have reported on its effects on growth and stress adaptation of plants, no detailed studies have been performed using OH in germination and early seedling growth under abiotic stresses. Here we report a single seed treatment with OH on germination and seedling growth of Arabidopsis and rice under non-stressed (ambient) and various abiotic-stressed conditions (chilling, high temperature, heat, and salinity). The treatment resulted in faster seed germination and early seedling growth under non-stressed conditions, and, interestingly, these effects were more prominent under abiotic stresses. In addition, Arabidopsis seedlings from treated seeds showed faster root growth and developed more lateral roots. These results show a positive and potential practical use for OH in model and crop plants for direct seeding in the field, as well as improvement of tolerance against emerging stresses. Abbreviations: AUC: area under curve; MGT: mean germination time; t50: time to reach 50% germination; U7525 : time for uniform germination from 25% to 75%; ROS: reactive oxygen species; GSI: germination speed index; SI: stress index; DI: dormancy index Graphical abstract: A single treatment of Arabidopsis and rice seeds with hydroxy radical ( OH) improves germination and seedling growth under both ambient and stress conditions.