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The effects of ethylene on the HCl-extractability of trace elements during soybean seed germination
Liu, Chunming; Zhao, Yixin; Liu, Jianfeng; Gen, Wanting & Cheng, Yunqing
Abstract
Background:
Ethylene is capable of promoting seed germination in some plant species. Mobilization of metals
such as Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn in mature seeds takes place when seeds are germinating. However, whether
ethylene is involved in the regulation of soybean seed germination and metal element mobilization during
early seed germination stage remains unknown. In the present study, seeds were treated with ethylene
synthesis inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic
acid (ACC), and double distilled H2O (ddH20) treatment was used as control. Ethylene emission, ACC synthase
(ACS) expression, ACS enzyme activity and Ca, Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe content in hypocotyls were qualified to
analyze the relationship between ethylene and mobilization of these elements.
Results:
The results showed that ACS expression, ACS enzyme activity and ethylene emission peaked at 1 and 7 d
after sowing. AVG inhibited ethylene production, promoted the hypocotyls length, ACS expression and its
activity, concentrations of total and HCl-extractable Zn, and HCl-extractable Fe in hypocotyls, while ACC
caused opposite effects. AVG and ACC treatment had no significantly effects on total and HCl-extractable Ca,
Cu and HCl-extractable Mn. Total Mn concentration was promoted by AVG at 1, 3, and 5 d significantly, while
ACC treatment tended to have no significantly effects on Mn concentration.
Conclusion:
These findings suggested that ethylene is at least partly involved in the regulation of soybean seed
germination. Remobilization of Zn and Fe may be negatively regulated by ethylene.
Keywords
ACC synthase; Bioavailability; Ethylene; Metallic elements; Seed germination; Soybean
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