Gene expression patterns in wheat coleorhiza under cold- and biological stratification

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Molecular Biology
• Mycology

Background:

• Seed germination is crucial for crop establishment.
• Plant hormones like gibberellins (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) regulate germination.
• Fungal endophytes can influence plant growth and development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of cold and biological stratification on wheat seed germination.
• To determine the expression levels of GA and ABA genes in wheat coleorhiza during germination.
• To investigate the role of spatial distance between seeds and fungal endophytes in biological stratification.

Main Methods:

• Wheat seeds were subjected to cold and biological stratification.
• Gene expression analysis of GA3ox2 and TaNCED in wheat coleorhiza was performed.
• Germination rate and efficacy were measured under different stratification conditions.

Main Results:

• Both cold and biological stratification significantly improved wheat seed germination.
• Direct contact with fungal endophytes resulted in the highest germination rate and efficacy.
• GA3ox2 gene showed consistent high expression, while TaNCED expression was higher under cold stratification.

Conclusions:

• Coleorhiza plays a vital role in wheat seed germination.
• Spatial distance between symbiotic partners is critical for mycovitality.
• Stratification methods and fungal endophyte proximity modulate hormonal gene expression influencing germination.