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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
Author(s) -
Lauxmann Martin A.,
Annunziata Maria G.,
Brunoud Géraldine,
Wahl Vanessa,
Koczut Andrzej,
Burgos Asdrubal,
Olas Justyna J.,
Maximova Eugenia,
Abel Christin,
Schlereth Armin,
Soja Aleksandra M.,
Bläsing Oliver E.,
Lunn John E.,
Vernoux Teva,
Stitt Mark
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.12634
Subject(s) - silique , biology , primordium , meristem , botany , arabidopsis thaliana , photoperiodism , arabidopsis , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , mutant , gene , shoot
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 CO 2 . 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.