Reinduction of Desiccation Tolerance in Germinated Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) Seeds

Abstract

Reinduction of desiccation tolerance in orthodox germinated seeds is one of the most applied tools to understand the mechanisms linked to this process. This work is aimed at analyzing the changes in soluble carbohydrates and genes linked to desiccation tolerance in germinated millet seeds after the reinduction of desiccation tolerance. The characterization of tolerance to desiccation was performed, and after that, the soaking time in which this characteristic was lost was selected, which was 18 h. Seeds soaked at this time were submitted to desiccation tolerance reinduction treatments, and after that, seed survival and oligosaccharide accumulation were analyzed. Gene expression was also studied using the real-time PCR technique. The mild air-drying treatment at 50% UR (MADT-50% UR) resulted in greater accumulation of raffinose, stachyose, and fructose and a greater similarity to the desiccation tolerance pattern in the species. There was no direct similarity between the tested gene pattern and the overall expression of heat-resistant proteins with the reinduction of desiccation tolerance in the species. Under the conditions of this work, a greater similarity of the oligosaccharide pattern was observed with the re-establishment of desiccation tolerance in millet seeds.