Reproductive failure in Arabidopsis thaliana under transient carbohydrate limitation: flowers and very young siliques are jettisoned and the meristem is maintained to allow successful resumption of reproductive growth.
The impact of transient carbon depletion on reproductive growth in Arabidopsis was investigated by transferring long-photoperiod-grown plants to continuous darkness and returning them to a light-dark cycle. After 2 days of darkness, carbon reserves were depleted in reproductive sinks, and RNA in situ hybridization of marker transcripts showed that carbon starvation responses had been initiated in the meristem, anthers and ovules. Dark treatments of 2 or more days resulted in a bare-segment phenotype on the floral stem, with 23-27 aborted siliques. These resulted from impaired growth of immature siliques and abortion of mature and immature flowers. Depolarization of PIN1 protein and increased DII-VENUS expression pointed to rapid collapse of auxin gradients in the meristem and inhibition of primordia initiation. After transfer back to a light-dark cycle, flowers appeared and formed viable siliques and seeds. A similar phenotype was seen after transfer to sub-compensation point irradiance or CO2 . It also appeared in a milder form after a moderate decrease in irradiance and developed spontaneously in short photoperiods. We conclude that Arabidopsis inhibits primordia initiation and aborts flowers and very young siliques in C-limited conditions. This curtails demand, safeguarding meristem function and allowing renewal of reproductive growth when carbon becomes available again.
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
Martin A
MA
Lauxmann
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
Maria G
MG
Annunziata
Laboratoire de Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, CNRS, INRA, ENS Lyon, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Lyon, 69364, France.
Géraldine
G
Brunoud
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
Vanessa
V
Wahl
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
Andrzej
A
Koczut
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
Asdrubal
A
Burgos
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
Justyna J
JJ
Olas
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
Eugenia
E
Maximova
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
Christin
C
Abel
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
Armin
A
Schlereth
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
Aleksandra M
AM
Soja
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.|Metanomics GmbH, Tegeler Weg 33, Berlin, 10589, Germany.
Oliver E
OE
Bläsing
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
John E
JE
Lunn
Laboratoire de Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, CNRS, INRA, ENS Lyon, UCBL, Université de Lyon, Lyon, 69364, France.
Teva
T
Vernoux
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
Mark
M
Stitt
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000172:deficiency*; D002244:Carbon / Q000494:pharmacology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D035264:Flowers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018519:Meristem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D055442:Metabolome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D010641:Phenotype; D017440:Photoperiod; D011058:Pollen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D002241:Carbohydrates; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D008055:Lipids; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C116363:PIN1 protein, Arabidopsis; D014280:Triglycerides; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D013395:Sucrose; D002244:Carbon; D013213:Starch
abortion; carbon starvation; seed; starch