Red LED light improves pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seed germination through the modulation of aquaporins, hormone homeostasis and metabolites remobilization
- Chokri Zaghdoud
- Irene Ollio
- Cristóbal Javier Solano
- Jesús Ochoa
- Juan Suardiaz
- Juan A. Fernández
- María del Carmen Martínez Ballesta
Publisher: Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna
Year of publication: 2024
Type: Conference paper
Abstract
Red LED light (R LED) is an efficient tool to improve seed germination andplant growth under controlled environments since it is most readily absorbed byphotoreceptors phytochromes with regards to other wavelengths of the spectrum. Inthis work, the effect of R LED (GH CSSRM5.24 OSLON ® Square model) on the radicleemergence and growth (Phase III of germination) of pepper seeds was evaluated.Thus, the impact of R LED on water transport through different intrinsic membraneproteins, aquaporin (AQPs) isoforms was determined. Also, the remobilization ofdistinct metabolites such as amino acids, sugars, organic acids and hormones wasanalyzed. R LED induced a higher germination speed index regulated by an increasedwater uptake. PIP2;3 and PIP2;5 aquaporins isoforms were the highly expressed andcould contribute to a faster and more effective hydration of embryo tissues leading toa reduction of the germination time. By contrast, TIP1;7, TIP1;8, TIP3;1 and TIP3;2gene expressions were reduced in R LED treated seeds pointing out a lower needof protein remobilization. NIP4;5 and XIP1;1 are also involved in radicle growthbut their role needs to be elucidated. Also, R LED induced changes in amino acidsand organic acids as well as sugars. Therefore, an advanced metabolome orientedto higher energetic metabolism was observed, conditioning better seed germinationperformance together with a rapid water flux.