S(w)eed Awakening: Elucidating the sugar signalling network underpinning seed germination

• Applicant: Tobias Meitzel
• Subject Area: Plant Physiology ; Plant Cell and Developmental Biology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 515848449

In the life cycle of plants, seed germination represents one of the most important developmental steps. The decision on whether a seed remains dormant or not depends on a combination of environmental stimuli as well as genetic and metabolic factors. As with all growth processes, the transition phase to seedling growth is also dependent on the availability of nutrients and energy-rich compounds. Surprisingly, there have been few conclusive studies on how the formation of these metabolites from the stored substances in the seed is regulated and whether these initial remobilisation processes are essential for successful germination. This project will clarify the importance of the degradation of readily available sugars, such as sucrose, for the energy status of the germinating seed. Furthermore, it will also provide new insights into whether and how the important signal sugar trehalose-6-phosphate reflects these metabolic changes and is linked to the hormonal network of seed germination. I also hope that the planned experiments will support my hypothesis that seed dormancy is significantly determined by metabolic status. Already known dormancy factors (e.g. light, temperature, hormones) could either favour metabolic activation (promoting germination) or prevent it (inhibiting germination).

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: France
• Host: Professor Dr. Yves Gibon