Hormone metabolism and action in developing pea fruit

• Main Author: Nadeau, Courtney
• Other Authors: Ozga, Jocelyn (Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Sciences)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Pisum sativum; Gibberellins; Abscisic acid; Auxin receptors; Seed; Pericarp; Development
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10048/593

The developmental programs of maturing seed and fruit in pea (Pisum sativum L.) are tightly controlled by the interactions of several phytohormones, including gibberellins (GAs), auxins, and abscisic acid (ABA). To more fully understand these hormone networks and their roles in controlling development, transcription profiles of GA metabolism genes and metabolite profiles of key GAs, auxins, and ABA were determined in developing seeds, and histological studies were employed to correlate physiology and hormone metabolism. Data suggest that bioactive GA stimulates several aspects of seed growth, and ABA appears to promote bioactive GA1 synthesis in rapidly growing seed coats, and inhibit GA biosynthesis in the embryo axes of maturing embryos. Two putative auxin receptor genes were cloned, and their transcription profiles examined in developing seed and pericarp tissues. Pericarp PsAFB6A transcription was responsive to auxin and seed signals, indicating a potential role for the modulation of auxin sensitivity in fruit development.