Chinese scholars have discovered the "switch" of cotton seed germination

Professor Zhang Tianzhen from the Agricultural College of Zhejiang University found a small molecule “switch” in cotton seeds that can directly sense the ambient temperature and regulate seed germination. The researchers said that the discovery of the seed temperature response mechanism will further guide people in the precise breeding of low temperature, drought, saline and alkali. Related papers were published in the Journal of the National Academy of Sciences.

Under normal circumstances, cotton seeds begin to germinate 24 hours after the water is absorbed. In one experiment, the researchers found that the time of germination of a group of cotton seeds was reduced by half, and it was germinated 12 hours after water absorption. A small molecule heat shock protein "HSP24.7" is particularly high in cotton seeds that are germinated in advance.

"This small molecule heat shock protein is like a temperature sensor of a plant. When the protein content is increased, the mitochondria in the seed produce more active oxygen, which also promotes the degradation of the endosperm membrane wrapped outside the germ, so the cotton seed Even at low temperatures, it will germinate rapidly. In the absence of this protein, even if the environment is warm and sturdy, the seeds will still 'hibernate' as in low temperature.” Zhang Tianzhen said that through further experiments, they found that this mechanism is in dicots. Generally applicable.

Zhang Tianzhen said that seed germination is the first step in the plant life cycle. If the cotton in the field can be “unified pace” rather than rhythm, it can achieve simultaneous harvesting efficiently. This is the goal of precision crop breeding. One.