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Lipids in rye seedlings in relation to vernalization
1Department of Plant Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Plant Physiology
|September 1, 1973
Summary
Extended chilling of winter rye (Secale cereale) significantly reduced its time to heading, matching spring varieties. Lipid analysis revealed changes in phospholipids and fatty acids during this cold treatment.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Agricultural Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Winter rye (Secale cereale) requires vernalization (cold exposure) to transition from vegetative growth to flowering.
- Understanding the physiological and biochemical changes during vernalization is crucial for optimizing crop management and breeding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of extended chilling duration on the phenology of winter rye.
- To analyze the changes in lipid composition, specifically phospholipids and fatty acids, in winter rye embryos during chilling treatment.
Main Methods:
- Winter rye (Secale cereale var. Sangaste) and a spring variety (Prolific) were subjected to chilling for 1 to 8 weeks.
- Embryo tissues were analyzed for total phospholipid content, individual phospholipid proportions, and fatty acid profiles.
- Changes in lipid composition were correlated with the time to heading.
Main Results:
- Increasing chilling time from 1 to 8 weeks reduced the time to heading in winter rye, making it comparable to spring rye.
- Total phospholipid content decreased in both varieties during chilling, with higher initial levels in Sangaste.
- Phosphatidylcholine decreased while phosphatidic acid increased; linolenic acid accumulated at the expense of linoleic acid in both phospholipids and glycolipids.
Conclusions:
- Extended chilling effectively promotes flowering in winter rye, reducing vernalization requirements.
- Vernalization significantly alters lipid metabolism in rye embryos, impacting phospholipid and fatty acid profiles.
- The observed lipid changes are consistent across different rye varieties and lipid classes, suggesting a conserved response to cold treatment.
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