Optimal response to drought is critical for plant survival and will affect biodiversity and crop performance during climate change. Mitotically heritable epigenetic and dynamic chromatin state changes have been implicated in the plant response to the drought stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA). The Arabidopsis SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling ATPase BRAHMA (BRM) modulates response to ABA by preventing premature activation of stress response pathways during germination. Here, we show that the core ABA signalosome formed by ABA receptors, PP2Cs and SnRK2s physically interact with BRM to regulate BRM activity and post-translationally modify BRM by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation. Genetic evidence suggests that BRM acts downstream of SnRK2.2/2.3 kinases and biochemical studies identified evolutionary conserved SnRK2 phosphorylation sites in the C-terminal region of BRM. Our data suggest that SnRK2-dependent phosphorylation of BRM leads to its inhibition, and PP2CA-mediated dephosphorylation of BRM restores the ability of BRM to repress ABA response. ABA plays a key role to regulate germination and post-germination growth and the AP2-type ABI4 and bZIP-type ABI5 transcription factors (TFs) are required for ABA-mediated inhibition of post-germination growth when the embryo encounters water stress. The growth arrest induced by ABI4 and ABI5 involves ABA signaling and in the case of ABI5, it has been demonstrated that ABA inhibits the activity of BRM to induce ABI5 transcription. Loss of BRM activity leads to destabilization of a nucleosome involved in repression of ABI5 transcription. Therefore reduction of BRM activity in the brm-3 allele leads to enhanced expression of ABI5 in 2-d-old seedlings and enhanced sensitivity to ABA. Novel genetic evidence obtained in this work indicates that ABI4 is one of the redundant TFs regulated by BRM that mediate ABA response during germination and early seedling growth. Thus, the association of BRM with the ABI4 locus together with the observed derepression of ABI4 expression in brm-3 suggests that BRM directly regulates ABI4 expression. Finally, this work provides a direct link between the ABA signalosome and the chromatin-remodeling ATPase BRM, which enables ABA-dependent modulation of BRM activity as a possible mechanism to enhance plant drought tolerance. Additionally, we identified and characterized the promoter of PP2CA as a stress-inducible promoter and we have used it to drive the expression of ABA receptors from Arabidopsis and Solanum lycopersicum. This technology appears to be promising for the expression of ABA receptors in an inducible manner and to generate drought tolerant plants. / La respuesta óptima a la sequía es crítica para la supervivencia de las plantas y afectará a la biodiversidad y al rendimiento de los cultivos durante el cambio climático. Las modificaciones epigenéticas y los cambios dinámicos del estado de la cromatina han sido implicados en la respuesta de la planta al ácido abscísico (ABA), la conocida como la hormona del estrés hídrico. La ATPasa remodeladora de cromatina de tipo SWI/SNF de Arabidopsis, BRAHMA (BRM), modula la respuesta al ABA mediante la prevención de la activación prematura de las vías de respuesta al estrés durante la germinación. Aquí, mostramos que el núcleo del señalosoma de ABA formado por los receptores de ABA, las PP2Cs y las SnRK2s interaccionan físicamente con BRM para regular su actividad y modificarla post-traduccionalmente por mecanismos de fosforilación/desfosforilación. La evidencia genética sugiere que BRM actúa aguas abajo de las quinasas SnRK2.2/2.3 y los estudios bioquímicos identificaron la presencia en la región C-terminal de BRM de sitios de fosforilación de las SnRK2 que estaban conservados evolutivamente. Nuestros datos sugieren que la fosforilación de BRM que depende de las SnRK2 conduce a su inhibición, y que la desfosforilación de BRM mediada por PP2CA restaura la capacidad de BRM para reprimir la respuesta a ABA. El ABA juega un papel clave en la regulación de la germinación y el crecimiento post germinativo y los factores de transcripción de tipo AP2 como ABI4 y de tipo bZIP como ABI5, son necesarios para la inhibición del crecimiento post germinativo mediado por ABA cuando los embriones encuentran estrés hídrico. La detención del crecimiento inducida por ABI4 y ABI5 implica la señalización de ABA y en el caso de ABI5, se ha demostrado que el ABA inhibe la actividad de BRM para inducir la transcripción de ABI5. La pérdida de actividad de BRM conduce a la desestabilización de un nucleosoma implicado en la represión de la transcripción de ABI5. Por lo tanto, la reducción de la actividad de BRM en el alelo brm-3 conduce a una mayor expresión de ABI5 en plántulas de 2 días y una mayor sensibilidad a ABA. La nueva evidencia genética obtenida en este trabajo indica que ABI4 es uno de los factores de transcripción redundantes regulados por BRM que median la respuesta a ABA durante los estadios de germinación y crecimiento temprano de las plántulas. La asociación de BRM con el locus ABI4, junto con la desrepresión de la expresión de ABI4 observada en el mutante brm-3 sugiere que BRM regula directamente la expresión de ABI4. Por último, este trabajo proporciona una relación directa entre el señalosoma de ABA y la ATPasa remodeladora de cromatina BRM, que permite la modulación de la actividad de BRM de modo dependiente de ABA como un posible mecanismo para mejorar la tolerancia a sequía de las plantas. Además, hemos identificado y caracterizado el promotor de PP2CA como un promotor inducible por estrés y lo hemos utilizado para dirigir la expresión de los receptores de ABA de Arabidopsis y Solanum lycopersicum. Esta tecnología parece ser prometedora para la expresión de receptores de ABA de modo inducible y para generar plantas tolerantes a la sequía. / La resposta òptima a la sequera és crítica per a la supervivència de les plantes i afectarà la biodiversitat i al rendiment dels cultius durant el canvi climàtic. Les modificacions epigenètiques i els canvis dinàmics de l'estat de la cromatina han estat implicats en la resposta de la planta a l'àcid abscísic (ABA), la coneguda com hormona de l'estrès hídric. La ATPasa remodeladora de cromatina de tipus SWI/SNF d'Arabidopsis, BRAHMA (BRM), modula la resposta al ABA mitjançant la prevenció de l'activació prematura de les vies de resposta a l'estrès durant la germinació. Ací, mostrem que el nucli del senyalosoma d'ABA format pels receptors d'ABA, les PP2Cs i les SnRK2s interaccionen físicament amb BRM per regular la seva activitat i modificar-la post-traduccionalment per mecanismes de fosforilació/desfosforilació. L'evidència genètica suggereix que BRM actua aigües avall de les quinases SnRK2.2/2.3 i els estudis bioquímics van identificar la presència, a la regió C-terminal de BRM, de llocs de fosforilació de les SnRK2 que estaven conservats evolutivament. Les nostres dades suggereixen que la fosforilació de BRM que depèn de les SnRK2, condueix a la inhibició de BRM, i que la defosforilació de BRM mediada per PP2CA restaura la capacitat de BRM per reprimir la resposta a ABA. El ABA juga un paper clau en la regulació de la germinació i el creixement post-germinació i els factors de transcripció de tipus AP2 com ABI4 i de tipus bZIP com ABI5, són necessaris per a la inhibició del creixement post-germinació mediat per ABA quan els embrions pateixen estrès hídric. La detenció del creixement induïda per ABI4 i ABI5 implica la senyalització d'ABA i en el cas d'ABI5, s'ha demostrat que l'ABA inhibeix l'activitat de BRM per induir la transcripció d'ABI5. La pèrdua d'activitat de BRM condueix a la desestabilització d'un nucleosoma implicat en la repressió de la transcripció d'ABI5. Per tant, la reducció de l'activitat de BRM a l'al·lel brm-3 condueix a una major expressió d'ABI5 en plàntules de 2 dies i una major sensibilitat a l'ABA. La nova evidència genètica obtinguda en aquest treball indica que ABI4 és un dels factors de transcripció redundants que són regulats per BRM que medien la resposta a l'ABA durant els estadis de germinació i creixement primerenc de les plàntules. Per tant, l'associació de BRM amb el locus ABI4, juntament amb la desrepressió de l'expressió de ABI4 observada al mutant brm-3 suggereix que BRM regula directament l'expressió d'ABI4. Finalment, aquest treball proporciona una relació directa entre el senyalosoma d'ABA i l'ATPasa remodeladora de cromatina BRM, que permet la modulació de l'activitat de BRM de manera dependent d'ABA com un possible mecanisme per millorar la tolerància a sequera de les plantes. A més, hem identificat i caracteritzat el promotor de PP2CA com un promotor induïble per estrès i l'hem utilitzat per dirigir l'expressió dels receptors d'ABA d'Arabidopsis i Solanum lycopersicum. Aquesta tecnologia sembla ser prometedora per a l'expressió de receptors d'ABA de manera induïble i per generar plantes tolerants a la sequera. / Peirats Llobet, M. (2017). Fundamental and applied research in ABA signaling: Regulation by ABA of the chromatin remodeling ATPase BRAHMA and biotechnological use of the PP2CA promoter [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/82694 / TESIS / Premios Extraordinarios de tesis doctorales

No description available.

Searches for sequence similarity against a previously isolated and known ABA regulated partial geranium cDNA on GenBank and TIGR databases gave results indicating sequence similarities to both firefly luciferase and 4-coumarate:CoA Ligase (4-CL). To determine whether or not this geranium cDNA, and a root mRNA from Arabidopsis that hybridized with the geranium cDNA, is 4-CL, specific Arabidopsis 4-CL primers were used for expression analysis by RT-PCR of Arabidopsis 4-CL mRNA from Arabidopsis root tissue. The expression pattern of the Arabidopsis 4-CL mRNA was identical with the expression pattern of the mRNA that hybridized with the geranium cDNA. This matching expression pattern gives very strong evidence that our geranium cDNA is 4-CL like and that Arabidopsis 4-CL is downregulated during water stress by ABA. This is significant in that it has not previously been reported. Northern analysis and PCR product sequence analysis further confirmed this expression data.

No description available.

Les mouvements stomatiques sont dus à des changements importants du volume des cellules de garde. Un rôle des canaux hydriques membranaires (aquaporines) dans ces processus a été proposé mais n'a jamais été démontré. Des analyses transcriptomiques indiquent que plusieurs aquaporines de la membrane plasmique (PIPs), dont AtPIP1;2 et AtPIP2;1, sont exprimées dans la cellule de garde. Dans ce travail, nous avons étudié la fonction de ces deux aquaporines dans les mouvements stomatiques. Les stomates des mutants d'insertion pip1;2 et pip2;1 montrent une ouverture normale à la lumière et aux faibles concentrations en CO2, une fermeture normale en réponse à l'obscurité et aux fortes concentrations en CO2, mais sont quasiment insensibles à la fermeture induite par l'ABA. Le rôle d'AtPIP1;2 et d'AtPIP2;1 dans le transport d'eau a été testé en mesurant la perméabilité hydrique de protoplastes (Pf) à l'obscurité, à la lumière ou à la lumière et en présence d'ABA. Le Pf des protoplastes de cellules de garde de pip2;1 est réduit de façon significative, spécifiquement en présence d'ABA. Comme la production extracellulaire de peroxyde d'hydrogène (H2O2) est essentielle pour la signalisation intracellulaire de l'ABA, nous avons également étudié la possibilité qu'AtPIP1;2 et AtPIP2;1 facilitent la diffusion de l'H2O2 à l'intérieur des cellules de garde en réponse à l'ABA. La cinétique d'accumulation d'espèces réactives de l'oxygène est abolie dans les cellules de garde chez pip2;1, mais pas chez pip1;2. Par ailleurs, dans d'autres types d'approches, nous avons étudié la régulation de ces deux aquaporines après production en levure Pichia pastoris et reconstitution fonctionnelle en protéoliposomes. Une analyse structure fonction a été réalisée avec succès pour AtPIP2;1. Elle montre que le résidu His199 est impliqué dans l'inhibition de l'activité de cette isoforme par les protons et les cations divalents. A l'inverse, le résidu Arg124 rend AtPIP2;1 complètement insensible au calcium, mais n'altère pas sa sensibilité aux protons. La surexpression de formes dérégulées d'AtPIP1;2 et d'AtPIP2;1 dans, respectivement, les mutants pip1;2 et pip2;1, indique que les régulations de l'activité intrinsèque de ces isoformes sont importantes pour leurs fonctions stomatiques. L'ensemble des résultats suggère qu'AtPIP1;2 et AtPIP2;1 ont des fonctions majeures et distinctes dans le transport d'eau et d'H2O2 lors de la fermeture stomatique induite par l'ABA chez Arabidopsis thaliana. / Stomatal movements are mediated by drastic changes in guard cell volume. A role in these processes for water channel proteins named aquaporins has been proposed but not demonstrated. Transcriptome analyses have indicated that several plasma membrane aquaporins (PIPs) including AtPIP1;2 and AtPIP2;1 are expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana guard cells. In the present work, we investigated the function of these two aquaporins in stomatal movements. The stomata of pip1;2 and pip2;1 knock-out mutants showed a normal opening response to light and low CO2, a normal closing response to darkness and high CO2, but were almost insensitive to abscisic acid (ABA)-induced stomatal closure. A direct role of AtPIP1;2 and AtPIP2;1 in water transport was investigated by measurement of guard cell protoplast water permeability (Pf) under darkness, light and light with ABA. The Pf of pip2;1 guard cell protoplasts was significantly reduced, specifically in the presence of ABA. As extracellular hydrogen peroxyde (H2O2) production is essential for intracellular ABA signalling, we also investigated the possibility that AtPIP1;2 and AtPIP2;1 facilitate the diffusion of H2O2 through the guard cell plasma membrane. Time-dependent accumulation of reactive oxygen species in response to ABA was abolished in pip2;1 but not pip1;2 guard cells. In another type of approach, the regulation of the two aquaporins was investigated after production in the yeast Pichia pastoris and functional reconstitution in proteoliposomes. Structure-function analysis was achieved in the case of AtPIP2;1, showing that cytoplasmic residue His199 is involved in both divalent-cation- and proton-mediated gating. In contrast, mutation of Arg124 rendered AtPIP2;1 largely insensitive to calcium while remaining fully sensitive to protons. Over-expression of deregulated forms of AtPIP1;2 and AtPIP2;1 in pip1;2 and pip2;1, respectively, indicated that the gating regulation of these proteins may play an important role in their guard cells functions. Altogether, our results suggest that AtPIP2;1, and to a lesser extent AtPIP1;2, play important and distinct roles in water and H2O2 fluxes during ABA-induced stomatal closure in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Ca2+ is a nutrient for plant development, and its deficiency causes poor cellular development in tomato fruits, resulting in a physiological disorder known as blossom-end rot (BER). Studies on this physiological disorder are not recent and mainly focused on Ca2+ deficiency in tissues and on the interaction between plant and the environment. However, new research has been based on hormonal interaction and oxidative mechanisms in fruits. Hormones such as gibberellins, abscisic acid, and brassinosteroids have been implicated in both activation and inhibition of BER symptoms. The application of abscisic acid and epibrasinolide decreased fruit susceitibility to BER. Abscisic acid reduces leaf transpiration, inhibiting xylem sap and calcium flow into the leaves and increasing into the fruit. Epibrassinolide increased fruit antioxidant responses, decreasing hydrogen peroxide and increasing ascorbic acid content, as well as increasing ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities. In addition, the selection of varieties more tolerant to BER and the identification of factors that make new varieties resistant are important tools in the selection of new varieties. In this study, many varieties were evaluated in order to understand the relationship between fruit shape and growing environment on BER incidence in the fruit. According to the results, elongated fruit varieties showed higher susceptibility to BER. / O Ca2+ é um nutriente para o desenvolvimento de plantas, e sua deficiência causa mal desenvolvimento celular em frutos de tomate, resultando em desordem fisiológica conhecida como podridão apical ou blossom-end rot (BER). Estudos sobre esta desordem fisiológica não são recentes e são focados principalmente na deficiência de Ca2+ nos tecidos e na interação entre planta e meio ambiente. No entanto, novas pesquisas têm se baseado na interação hormonal e nos mecanismos oxidativos como reguladores desta disordem fisiológica nos frutos. Hormônios como giberelinas, ácido abscísico e brassinosteróides têm sido implicados tanto na ativação quanto na inibição dos sintomas de BER. A aplicação de ácido abscísico e epibrassinolideo diminuiu a incidência de BER, reduzindo a concentração de Ca2+ nas folhas e aumentando-as nos frutos. A aplicação de ácido abscísico provocou diminuição na transpiração, o que explica a mudança no fluxo de seiva e cálcio no xilema que conduz da folha para fruto. O epibrassinolideo, por outro lado, aumentou a resposta antioxidante, diminuindo as concentrações de peróxido de hidrogênio e aumentando as de ácido ascórbico, ascorbato peroxidase, catalase e superóxido dismutase nos frutos. A seleção de genótipos mais tolerantes ao aparecimento de BER e a identificação de fatores que os tornam resistentes, são ferramentas importantes no processo de seleção de novas variedades. Neste trabalho, foram estudados muitos genótipos para compreender a relação entre a forma do fruto e o ambiente de crescimento sobre a incidência de BER. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, genótipos alongados são mais susceptíveis a podridão apical.

A banana é um fruto consumido no mundo todo e, ao contrário do que acontece na maioria dos países nos quais predomina o grupo Cavendish, uma grande variedade de cultivares são consumidas nas diferentes regiões do Brasil. No entanto, as informações bioquímicas e fisiológicas a respeito das cultivares consumidas no país são ainda restritas e, apesar de serem muito diferentes entre si, são tratadas da mesma maneira na pré e pós-colheita, o que muitas vezes compromete a qualidade do fruto. Diante disso, dois pontos são fundamentais para a obtenção de frutos de melhor qualidade: a definição do ponto de colheita e o tratamento dos frutos com etileno após a colheita. Hoje a colheita é feita em função do diâmetro dos frutos e o tratamento com etileno é o mesmo para todas as cultivares. Porém, frutos com o mesmo diâmetro nem sempre estão no mesmo estágio de maturidade fisiológica e, usualmente, o tratamento pós-colheita feito com etileno, visando o amadurecimento mais rápido e uniforme dos frutos, não segue nenhuma orientação técnica. A consequência da falta de critérios definidos para a colheita e para a aplicação de etileno resulta em bananas com baixa qualidade e com vida-de-prateleira curta. A produção de banana é dificultada pelos problemas fitossanitários que ocorrem nas plantações, incluindo doenças como as Sigatokas Negra e Amarela e o Mal-do-Panamá. Tendo em vista a ameaça que as doenças da bananeira representam e os prejuízos que podem causar, a introdução de cultivares resistentes é a melhor forma para reduzir a pressão desses patógenos sobre a cultura. Por ser resistente às Sigatokas e ao Mal de Panamá este trabalho visou conhecer melhor a cultivar Thap Maeo (Musa acuminata AAB cv. Thap Maeo) que tem como defeito principal uma vida-de-prateleira muito curta. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: (1) estabelecer o ponto de colheita das bananas da cultivar Thap Maeo utilizando a metodologia da soma de temperatura a que a planta está exposta durante o desenvolvimento dos frutos; (2) estabelecer, a partir da caracterização físico-química dos frutos, o teor ideal de etileno exógeno para promover o amadurecimento uniforme dos frutos e, (3) estudar o balanço hormonal no amadurecimento dos frutos. Em uma primeira etapa foi implantado um experimento de campo para determinar a Temperatura Base e a Idade Fisiológica Máxima para esta cultivar. Estes parâmetros são necessários para o cálculo da idade fisiológica e na determinação do ponto de colheita. Com o término desta etapa, foram realizadas colheitas de frutos em diferentes épocas do ano para confirmar a metodologia usada. Foi possível estabelecer uma metodologia para estimar o ponto de colheita dos frutos de acordo com a estação do ano em que estes se desenvolveram. Para estabelecer o teor ideal de etileno exógeno aplicado na pós-colheita, os frutos foram testados com diferentes concentrações de etileno (0 a 1000 ppm) em dose única. Os resultados indicam que mesmo as menores concentrações de etileno aplicadas promovem o amadurecimento uniforme dos frutos, sem diferenças aparentes entre os tratamentos. Além disso, as análises do perfil de compostos voláteis da polpa indicam que a maior diferença entre o aroma dos tratamentos é entre frutos tratados e não tratados. Os frutos que não foram tratados apresentaram maior quantidade de compostos identificados. Em todas as colheitas realizadas, o período entre o início do amadurecimento e o amadurecimento completo dos frutos foi consideravelmente curto se comparado a bananas do subgrupo Nanica. Para melhor compreender estes resultados, além do etileno, foram quantificados os teores livres dos hormônios ácido indol-3-acético (AIA) e ácido abcísico (ABA). Em comparação com estudos anteriores, com cultivares do subgrupo Nanica, a cultivar Thap Maeo produz mais etileno e ABA durante o amadurecimento, além de apresentar menores teores de AIA quando verde. Estas diferenças hormonais podem explicar o curto período de amadurecimento desta cultivar. / Banana is an important staple food. Unlike the world Market, which has only the Cavendish Bananas as export bananas, Brazilian market has many Bananas varieties. However, biochemical and physiological information about these varieties are still scarce and different bananas cultivars are treated the same way in pre or post-harvest, which often affects the quality of the fruit. In this context, two issues are important to reach best fruit quality: definition of harvest time and the exogenous ethylene treatment. Now a day the harvest time is defined by the diameter of the fruits and the ethylene treatment is equal for all cultivars. However, fruits with the same diameter not always are in the same development grade and the post-harvest ethylene treatment, aiming a faster and uniform ripening, does not follow any technical recommendation. The consequences for the lack of criteria in the harvest and for the ethylene treatment might be a low quality and shelf life banana. Banana production is hampered by plant health problems occurring in the production fields, including the diseases such as the Sigatokas and the Panama Wilt. Given the threat of the banana diseases, and the damage they can cause, the introduction of resistant cultivars is the best way to reduce the pressure of these pathogens on this crop. Being resistant to Sigatokas and Panama diseases, this work aimed to know better the cultivar Thap Maeo (Musa acuminata AAB cv. Thap Maeo) whose main defect is a short shelf life. The objectives of this work were: (1) to establish the harvest time of Thap Maeo bananas using the thermal sum techniques, (2) using the physico-chemical characterization of the fruit, establish the ideal concentration of exogenous ethylene to promote uniform ripening of fruits and (3) study the hormonal balance in the fruit ripening. The first step was a field experiment to determine the base temperature and the maximum physiological age. These parameters are used to calculate the thermal sum. The next step was to harvest fruits from different times of the year to confirm the methodology. It was established a methodology to estimate the harvest time according to the season in which the fruit has developed. Five ethylene concentration were tested (0-1000 ppm). Results showed that even the low ethylene concentration applied could promote the uniform ripening of the fruits with no apparent differences between the treatments. Furthermore, the analysis of volatile compounds in the pulp indicate that the major difference between the aroma of treatments is between treated and untreated fruits. The fruits that were not treated showed a higher amount of identified compounds. For all harvested fruits, the period between the ripening start and full ripening of the fruit was short when compared to the Nanica bananas. Levels of the hormones indole-3-acetic acid and abscisic acid, in addition to ethylene, were quantified to better understand these results. Compared to previous studies, with cultivars of Nanica subgroup, the cultivar Thap Maeo produce more ethylene and ABA during ripening, and have lower IAA level in the green stage. These hormonal differences may explain the short maturity period of this cultivar.

N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) with C12-C18 acyl chain are ubiquitous in seed plants and play a role in mediating abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent or -independent responses to stress. In moss Physcomitrella patens, using selective lipidomics approach, we recently identified the occurrence of anandamide or N-arachidonylethanolamide (NAE 20:4) and its precursors that were previously not reported in plants. Occurrence of anandamide in moss provides us with a unique opportunity to address if early land plants retained NAE-mediated signaling mechanism that is akin to animals but not to vascular plants. It is hypothesized that a distinctive NAE profile and metabolic pathway occurs in P. patens. To this extent, putative genes that might be responsible for anandamide metabolic pathway were identified and their expression levels were determined for three developmental stages of moss. The NAE metabolite levels and transcript levels for putative genes were higher in protonema stage and anandamide showed higher growth inhibitory effects, chlorophyll reduction, and putative gene induction than NAE 12:0, compared to ABA, when applied exogenously.

Arid and semi-arid rangelands are important ecosystems that are consistently degraded through disturbances such as wildfires. After such disturbances, the invasion and dominance of annual grasses, like cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), can lead to an overall loss of ecosystem productivity and an increase in fire frequency. To reduce weed dominance, native and introduced perennials species are typically be seeded in the fall. High mortality is seen from these seeded plant communities due to germinated seed being exposed to freezing, drought, fungal pathogens, and other biotic and abiotic stressors during winter months. We utilized wet-thermal accumulation models to first further validate the theory that germination from seeded plant populations occurs during periods of high environmental stress, and then to establish the practicality of abscisic acid seed coatings as a technology that could circumvent winter germination and mortality. In Chapter 1, we developed an excel workbook called Auto-Germ using Visual Basic for Applications, which allows users to estimate field germination timing based on wet-thermal accumulation models and field data. We then used Auto-Germ to model seed germination timing for 10 different species, across 6 years, and 10 Artemisia-steppe sites in the Great Basin of North America. We estimated that for the majority of the species analyzed, a mid to late-winter planting was required on average for the majority of the population to germinate in the spring. This planting time would be logistically difficult for many land managers, due to freezing and/or saturated soil conditions. In Chapter 2, we utilized wet-thermal accumulation models to evaluate the use of abscisic acid (ABA) to delay germination of Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve (perennial native bunchgrass) across 4 years and 6 Artemisia-steppe sites. Germination models estimated that ABA seed treatments typically would delay germination of fall sown seed to late winter or early spring when conditions may be more favorable for plant establishment. Based on these results, we recommend both the use of wetthermal accumulation models as a tool in educating researchers and land managers in knowing when seeding practices should occur, and the further study of ABA seed coatings as a technology that may improve plant establishment of fall sown seeds.

ABA insensitive mutants (abi1 - abi5) have been isolated in germination screens that use high concentrations of exogenous ABA, and this method is believed to be saturated. To overcome this problem, a sensitized screen that used much lower concentration of exogenous ABA was performed to isolate new ABA insensitive mutants. Some of the isolated mutants had defects in light or retrograde signalling. One particular mutant (18-11) developed long hypocotyls under normal light condition. Based on its response to blue, red and far-red light conditions, this mutant is likely a novel hy mutant. Genetic analysis revealed that while ABA insensitivity in this mutant is recessive, the long hypocotyl phenotype is dominant. Positional cloning is currently being carried out to identify the gene. Findings from this study supports that ABA signalling interacts with light signalling networks.