title: At3g08030 transcript: a molecular marker of seed ageing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prolonged storage generally reduces seed viability and vigour, although the rate of deterioration varies among species and environmental conditions. Here, we suggest a possible ageing molecular marker: At3g08030 mRNA. At3g08030 is a member of the DUF642 highly conserved family of cell-wall-associated proteins that is specific for spermatophytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  At3g08030 expression was performed by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR analysis in seed samples differing in their rate of germination and final germination following a matrix priming and/or controlled deterioration (rapid ageing) treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The At3g08030 gene transcript was present during the entire Arabidopsis thaliana plant life cycle and in seeds, during maturation, the ripening period and after germination. Matrix priming treatment increased the rate of germination of control seeds and seeds aged by controlled deterioration. Priming treatments also increased At3g08030 expression. To determine whether the orthologues of this gene are also age markers in other plant species, At3g08030 was cloned in two wild species, Ceiba aesculifolia and Wigandia urens. As in A. thaliana, the At3g08030 transcript was not present in aged seeds of the tested species but was present in recently shed seeds. A reduction in germination performance of the aged seeds under salt stress was determined by germination assays.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At3g08030 mRNA detection in a dry seed lot has potential for use as a molecular marker for germination performance in a variety of plant species.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-275, Ciudad Universitaria 04510, México, DF México. agamboa@ecologia.unam.mx
authors.forename: Luz Elena
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Garza-Caligaris
authors.forename: Aida Odette
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Avendaño-Vázquez
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alvarado-López
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zúñiga-Sánchez
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orozco-Segovia
authors.forename: Rigoberto V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Pérez-Ruíz
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamboa-Debuen
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D035164:Ceiba / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005819:Genetic Markers; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D029522:Hydrophyllaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D036226:Seedlings / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C580763:At3g08030 protein, Arabidopsis; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D012965:Sodium Chloride