Endogenous jasmonates in dry and imbibed sunflower seeds from plants grown at different soil moisture contents

• Published in: Seed science research 2007-06, Vol.17 (2), p.91-98
• Main Authors: Vigliocco, Ana, Alemano, Sergio, Miersch, Otto, Alvarez, Daniel, Abdala, Guillermina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: chemical constituents of plants; Drought; Environmental conditions; germination; Helianthus annuus; imbibition; irrigated conditions; jasmonates; jasmonic acid; metabolites; Moisture content; seed germination; Seeds; Soil moisture; soil water content; sunflower; water content; water stress
• ISSN: 0960-2585; 1475-2735
• DOI: 10.1017/S0960258507708371

In this study, we characterized two sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) lines with differential sensitivity to drought, the sensitive line B59 and the tolerant line B71. Using both lines, we compared the content of endogenous jasmonates (JAs) in dry and imbibed seeds from plants grown under irrigation and drought. Jasmonic acid (JA), 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA), 11-hydroxyjasmonate (11-OH-JA) and 12-hydroxyjasmonate (12-OH-JA) were detected in dry and imbibed sunflower seeds. Seeds from plants grown under drought had a lower content of total JAs and exhibited higher germination percentages than seeds from irrigated plants, demonstrating that environmental conditions have a strong influence on the progeny. OPDA and 12-OH-JA were the main compounds found in dry seeds of both lines. Imbibed seeds showed an enhanced amount of total JAs with respect to dry seeds produced by plants grown in both soil moisture conditions. Imbibition triggered a dramatic OPDA increase in the embryo, suggesting a role of this compound in germination. We conclude that JAs patterns vary during sunflower germination and that the environmental conditions experienced by the mother plant modify the hormonal content of the seed progeny.