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LEAFY COTYLEDON1 expression in the endosperm enables embryo maturation in Arabidopsis

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  • Jingpu Song

    (London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada
    Western University)

  • Xin Xie

    (London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Western University)

  • Chen Chen

    (London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Western University
    Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement Center, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jie Shu

    (London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Western University
    Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement Center, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Raj K. Thapa

    (London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Western University)

  • Vi Nguyen

    (London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

  • Shaomin Bian

    (London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Jilin University)

  • Susanne E. Kohalmi

    (Western University)

  • Frédéric Marsolais

    (London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Western University)

  • Jitao Zou

    (Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada)

  • Yuhai Cui

    (London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Western University)

Abstract

The endosperm provides nutrients and growth regulators to the embryo during seed development. LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1) has long been known to be essential for embryo maturation. LEC1 is expressed in both the embryo and the endosperm; however, the functional relevance of the endosperm-expressed LEC1 for seed development is unclear. Here, we provide genetic and transgenic evidence demonstrating that endosperm-expressed LEC1 is necessary and sufficient for embryo maturation. We show that endosperm-synthesized LEC1 is capable of orchestrating full seed maturation in the absence of embryo-expressed LEC1. Inversely, without LEC1 expression in the endosperm, embryo development arrests even in the presence of functional LEC1 alleles in the embryo. We further reveal that LEC1 expression in the endosperm begins at the zygote stage and the LEC1 protein is then trafficked to the embryo to activate processes of seed maturation. Our findings thus establish a key role for endosperm in regulating embryo development.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingpu Song & Xin Xie & Chen Chen & Jie Shu & Raj K. Thapa & Vi Nguyen & Shaomin Bian & Susanne E. Kohalmi & Frédéric Marsolais & Jitao Zou & Yuhai Cui, 2021. "LEAFY COTYLEDON1 expression in the endosperm enables embryo maturation in Arabidopsis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-24234-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24234-1
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