Seed germination in a tomato male-sterile mutant is resistant to osmotic, salt and low-temperature stresses

• Published in: Theoretical and applied genetics Vol. 102; no. 2-3; pp. 215 - 221
• Main Authors: FELLNER, M, SAWHNEY, V. K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.02.2001; Berlin Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Abscisic acid; Adaptation to environment and cultivation conditions; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Experiments; flurodine; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Light; Lycopersicon esculentum; mannitol; osmoticum; Polyethylene glycol; Seeds; Temperature; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Canada; United States > US; Pyridone derivatives; Salt resistance; Germination; Pesticides; Tomato; Herbicide; Vegetable crop; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Lycopersicon esculentum; Abscisic acid; Male sterility; Spermatophyta; Solanaceae; Osmotic pressure; Low temperature
• ISSN: 0040-5752; 1432-2242
• DOI: 10.1007/s001220051638

Seed germination in a male-sterile 7B-1 mutant in tomato is reletively more resistant to the inhibitory effects of a high osmoticum induced by mannitol and polyethylene glycol, to various salts, including NaCl, Na^sub 2^SO^sub 4^, KCl and K^sub 2^SO^sub 4^, and to low-temperature stress, compared to the wild-type (WT) seeds. The inhibitory effects of various stresses could be partly or completely overcome by fluridone (FLU), an inhibitor of abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. However, lower concentration of fluridone was required for the 7B-1 mutant than for WT seeds, and the mutant seeds were more sensitive to the inhibitory effects of exogenous ABA. The data suggest that 7B-1 seed has a pre-existing level of elevated ABA which imparts resistance to the various stresses. The ability to regulate male sterility in the 7B-1 mutant by photoperiod, as previously reported by Sawhney (1997), and its resistance to abiotic stresses, as reported here, makes this a useful system for tomato breeding and in hybrid programs.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]