Gene Expression During Maize Seed Germination

Abstract

Two experimental approaches have been used to study changes in gene expression during maize germination: the germination of osmoprimed seeds and the stimulation of germination by cytokimns. Both have in common that DNA replication and the cell cycle take place several hours earlier than it would happen during germination of non-treated seeds. Moreover, in the case of cytokinin-stimulated seeds, the hormonal stimulatory effect disappears if embryo axes are also treated with RNA synthesis inhibitors, indicating that transcription is necessary. We have been studying the changes in gene expression that occur when osmoprimed seeds are put to germinate or when seeds are treated with cytokinins. The methodology used is Differential Display. Although we have not been able to find many differences, several messages seem to appear as a result of accelerating germination by either of the two treatments. The corresponding cDNAs to the messages have been partially sequenced and the sequence compared in data banks.