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Updated: May 7, 2026

Preparation of Intact Tissue for Microscopic Analysis of the Endosperm Cell Layer in Developing and Mature Arabidopsis Seeds
Published on: May 16, 2025
Nitric oxide implication in the control of seed dormancy and germination
Erwann Arc1, Marc Galland, Béatrice Godin
1INRA, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (UMR1318 Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - AgroParisTech), Laboratory of Excellence "Saclay Plant Sciences", Versailles France ; AgroParisTech, UFR de Physiologie végétale Paris, France ; University of Innsbruck, Institute of Botany Innsbruck, Austria.
Abstract:
Germination ability is regulated by a combination of environmental and endogenous signals with both synergistic and antagonistic effects. Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent dormancy-releasing agent in many species, including Arabidopsis, and has been suggested to behave as an endogenous regulator of this physiological blockage. Distinct reports have also highlighted a positive impact of NO on seed germination under sub-optimal conditions. However, its molecular mode of action in the context of seed biology remains poorly documented. This review aims to focus on the implications of this radical in the control of seed dormancy and germination. The consequences of NO chemistry on the investigations on both its signaling and its targets in seeds are discussed. NO-dependent protein post-translational modifications are proposed as a key mechanism underlying NO signaling during early seed germination.
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