Into the Seed: Auxin Controls Seed Development and Grain Yield

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2020 Mar 4

PMID 32121296

Citations 29

Authors

Jinshan Cao

Guoji Li

Dejie Qu

Xia Li

Youning Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Seed development, which involves mainly the embryo, endosperm and integuments, is regulated by different signaling pathways, leading to various changes in seed size or seed weight. Therefore, uncovering the genetic and molecular mechanisms of seed development has great potential for improving crop yields. The phytohormone auxin is a key regulator required for modulating different cellular processes involved in seed development. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the role of auxin biosynthesis, transport, signaling, conjugation, and catabolism during seed development. More importantly, we not only summarize the research progress on the genetic and molecular regulation of seed development mediated by auxin but also discuss the potential of manipulating auxin metabolism and its signaling pathway for improving crop seed weight.

Citing Articles

Effects of seed size on soybean performance: germination, growth, stress resistance, photosynthesis, and yield.

Wang X, Sun J, Yi Z, Dong S BMC Plant Biol. 2025; 25(1):219.

PMID: 39966748 PMC: 11834689. DOI: 10.1186/s12870-025-06224-3.

Transcriptional Analysis of Tissues in Tartary Buckwheat Seedlings Under IAA Stimulation.

Gao Y, Lai J, Feng C, Li L, Zu Q, Li J Genes (Basel). 2025; 16(1).

PMID: 39858577 PMC: 11764492. DOI: 10.3390/genes16010030.

Single-nucleus RNA and ATAC sequencing analyses provide molecular insights into early pod development of peanut fruit.

Cui Y, Su Y, Bian J, Han X, Guo H, Yang Z Plant Commun. 2024; 5(8):100979.

PMID: 38794796 PMC: 11369777. DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100979.

Omics-driven advances in the understanding of regulatory landscape of peanut seed development.

Wang Z, Lei Y, Liao B Front Plant Sci. 2024; 15:1393438.

PMID: 38766472 PMC: 11099219. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1393438.

Natural Allelic Variations of Controlling Seed Size in Chieh-qua ( Cogn. var. How).

Gao Y, Peng J, Qiao Y, Wang G Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(8).

PMID: 38673826 PMC: 11050567. DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084236.

References

Fang W, Wang Z, Cui R, Li J, Li Y . Maternal control of seed size by EOD3/CYP78A6 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant J. 2012; 70(6):929-39. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2012.04907.x. View

Carraro N, Forestan C, Canova S, Traas J, Varotto S . ZmPIN1a and ZmPIN1b encode two novel putative candidates for polar auxin transport and plant architecture determination of maize. Plant Physiol. 2006; 142(1):254-64. PMC: 1557596. DOI: 10.1104/pp.106.080119. View

Sailer C, Schmid B, Grossniklaus U . Apomixis Allows the Transgenerational Fixation of Phenotypes in Hybrid Plants. Curr Biol. 2016; 26(3):331-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.12.045. View

Won C, Shen X, Mashiguchi K, Zheng Z, Dai X, Cheng Y . Conversion of tryptophan to indole-3-acetic acid by TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASES OF ARABIDOPSIS and YUCCAs in Arabidopsis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011; 108(45):18518-23. PMC: 3215067. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1108436108. View

Aya K, Hobo T, Sato-Izawa K, Ueguchi-Tanaka M, Kitano H, Matsuoka M . A novel AP2-type transcription factor, SMALL ORGAN SIZE1, controls organ size downstream of an auxin signaling pathway. Plant Cell Physiol. 2014; 55(5):897-912. DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcu023. View

Zhao J, Bai W, Zeng Q, Song S, Zhang M, Li X . Moderately enhancing cytokinin level by down-regulation of expression in cotton concurrently increases fiber and seed yield. Mol Breed. 2015; 35(2):60. PMC: 4309883. DOI: 10.1007/s11032-015-0232-6. View

Schruff M, Spielman M, Tiwari S, Adams S, Fenby N, Scott R . The AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 2 gene of Arabidopsis links auxin signalling, cell division, and the size of seeds and other organs. Development. 2005; 133(2):251-61. DOI: 10.1242/dev.02194. View

Ljung K . Auxin metabolism and homeostasis during plant development. Development. 2013; 140(5):943-50. DOI: 10.1242/dev.086363. View

Yao X, Chen J, Zhou J, Yu H, Ge C, Zhang M . An Essential Role for miRNA167 in Maternal Control of Embryonic and Seed Development. Plant Physiol. 2019; 180(1):453-464. PMC: 6501067. DOI: 10.1104/pp.19.00127. View

10.

Kang X, Ni M . Arabidopsis SHORT HYPOCOTYL UNDER BLUE1 contains SPX and EXS domains and acts in cryptochrome signaling. Plant Cell. 2006; 18(4):921-34. PMC: 1425848. DOI: 10.1105/tpc.105.037879. View

11.

Cheng Y, Dai X, Zhao Y . Auxin synthesized by the YUCCA flavin monooxygenases is essential for embryogenesis and leaf formation in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell. 2007; 19(8):2430-9. PMC: 2002601. DOI: 10.1105/tpc.107.053009. View

12.

Robert H, Park C, Gutierrez C, Wojcikowska B, Pencik A, Novak O . Maternal auxin supply contributes to early embryo patterning in Arabidopsis. Nat Plants. 2018; 4(8):548-553. PMC: 6076996. DOI: 10.1038/s41477-018-0204-z. View

13.

King S, Lunn J, Furbank R . Carbohydrate Content and Enzyme Metabolism in Developing Canola Siliques. Plant Physiol. 1997; 114(1):153-160. PMC: 158289. DOI: 10.1104/pp.114.1.153. View

14.

Riefler M, Novak O, Strnad M, Schmulling T . Arabidopsis cytokinin receptor mutants reveal functions in shoot growth, leaf senescence, seed size, germination, root development, and cytokinin metabolism. Plant Cell. 2005; 18(1):40-54. PMC: 1323483. DOI: 10.1105/tpc.105.037796. View

15.

Locascio A, Roig-Villanova I, Bernardi J, Varotto S . Current perspectives on the hormonal control of seed development in Arabidopsis and maize: a focus on auxin. Front Plant Sci. 2014; 5:412. PMC: 4142864. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00412. View

16.

Adamski N, Anastasiou E, Eriksson S, ONeill C, Lenhard M . Local maternal control of seed size by KLUH/CYP78A5-dependent growth signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009; 106(47):20115-20. PMC: 2785301. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0907024106. View

17.

Figueiredo D, Batista R, Roszak P, Kohler C . Auxin production couples endosperm development to fertilization. Nat Plants. 2016; 1:15184. DOI: 10.1038/nplants.2015.184. View

18.

Tivendale N, Davidson S, Davies N, Smith J, Dalmais M, Bendahmane A . Biosynthesis of the halogenated auxin, 4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid. Plant Physiol. 2012; 159(3):1055-63. PMC: 3387693. DOI: 10.1104/pp.112.198457. View

19.

Wu M, Tian Q, Reed J . Arabidopsis microRNA167 controls patterns of ARF6 and ARF8 expression, and regulates both female and male reproduction. Development. 2006; 133(21):4211-8. DOI: 10.1242/dev.02602. View

20.

Luo M, Dennis E, Berger F, Peacock W, Chaudhury A . MINISEED3 (MINI3), a WRKY family gene, and HAIKU2 (IKU2), a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) KINASE gene, are regulators of seed size in Arabidopsis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005; 102(48):17531-6. PMC: 1297679. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0508418102. View