Study Pinpoints Key Gene in Seed Germination Control of Tomatoes

China Agricultural University researchers reported a key gene, SlWRKY37, which plays a vital role in tomato seed dormancy and germination. Their findings are published in the Social Science Research Network (SSRN).

Seed germination, the process involved in transforming seeds into a new plant, is important for the survival and propagation of plants. Thus, the researchers explored the role of SlWRKY37 in this process. They used CRISPR-Cas9 to develop tomato lines with reduced and increased SlWRKY37 activity.

Results showed that tomato plants without SlWRKY37 activity (knockout) had faster seed germination, while those with overexpressed SlWRKY37 exhibited delays in germination compared to the control. Furthermore, gene expression analysis revealed that SlWRKY37 impacts over 2,000 genes, including those that are involved in seed dormancy, abscisic acid control, and protein modification processes.

Further investigation showed that SlABI5-like7 and SlLEA2 genes function as direct targets of SlWRKY37, potentially acting as downstream regulators in seed dormancy control.

Read the research article in SSRN.