I. Grilli et al., BREAKING OF DORMANCY DURING AFTER-RIPENING OF TRITICUM-DURUM DESF - RNA, POLY(A)(-METABOLISM IN IMBIBED EMBRYOS()RNA AND PROTEIN), Phyton, 34(1), 1994, pp. 119-130
Triticum durum DESF. caryopses have a relative dormancy which is relea
sed during a period of after- ripening. Their embryos were studied dur
ing seed storage under laboratory conditions at intervals of two month
s, from harvest to loss of dormancy (six months). The metabolism of to
tal RNA, poly(A)(+)RNA and proteins was studied on dry, early (40 min)
, and late imbibed embryos (5 h, 25 h) with or without cordycepin, a p
olyadenylation inhibitor. Results showed that the macromolecules studi
ed were synthesized in both non after-ripened (dormant) and after-ripe
ned (non dormant) embryos. However, after 2-4 months of storage, no sy
nthesis was evident. The results suggest the occurrence, 2-4 months af
ter harvest, of a transition phase from a metabolism typical of seed m
aturation to a metabolism typical of germination. During after-ripenin
g and imbibition, the embryos showed a degradation of some stored mRNA
.