Hormonal and Storage Metabolic Regulation of Germination in <i>Toona sinensis</i>
<i>Toona sinensis</i> (A. Juss.) Roem, classified under the <i>Toona</i> genus of the Meliaceae family, is a fast-growing, woody species endemic to China, valued as both a vegetable crop and medicinal plant. Its seeds achieve rapid germination through a cascade of interconnec...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Linyue Liu Zhiyuan Wang Yu Wu Yongbao Shen |
| author_facet | Linyue Liu Zhiyuan Wang Yu Wu Yongbao Shen |
| author_sort | Linyue Liu |
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| description | <i>Toona sinensis</i> (A. Juss.) Roem, classified under the <i>Toona</i> genus of the Meliaceae family, is a fast-growing, woody species endemic to China, valued as both a vegetable crop and medicinal plant. Its seeds achieve rapid germination through a cascade of interconnected physiological, metabolic, and hormonal adaptations. Initially, physiological hydration is driven and accelerated by only two distinct phases of water imbibition. This hydration surge triggers storage reserve mobilization, with soluble sugars, proteins, and lipids undergoing rapid degradation during imbibition, while starch catabolism proceeds gradually—a pattern mirrored by progressive increases in enzymatic activities (amylase, protease, and acid phosphodiesterase (ACP)) that correlate with reserve reallocation. Concurrently, a metabolic shift from glycolysis to the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) optimizes energy utilization, supporting germination acceleration. These biochemical changes are orchestrated by hormonal coordination: elevated gibberellin A<sub>3</sub> (GA<sub>3</sub>), zeatin riboside (ZR), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels, coupled with rising GA<sub>3</sub>/ABA, IAA/ABA, and ZR/ABA ratios, temporally aligned with germination progression. Finally, structural evidence confirms successful germination completion, as cotyledon lipid droplet breakdown and starch granule synthesis directly correlate with embryonic elongation. Together, these mechanisms underscore <i>T. sinensis</i>’ adaptive strategy, integrating physiological plasticity, metabolic flexibility, and endocrine precision to ensure efficient germination. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fc6000753a17474e827ca73bfd80b51b |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj-art-fc6000753a17474e827ca73bfd80b51b2025-06-25T13:55:40ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-06-0111668510.3390/horticulturae11060685Hormonal and Storage Metabolic Regulation of Germination in <i>Toona sinensis</i>Linyue Liu0Zhiyuan Wang1Yu Wu2Yongbao Shen3College of Forestry and Grassland, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCollege of Forestry and Grassland, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCoastal Protection Forest Experimental Station, Jiangsu Academy of Forestry, Nanjing 211153, ChinaCollege of Forestry and Grassland, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing 210037, China<i>Toona sinensis</i> (A. Juss.) Roem, classified under the <i>Toona</i> genus of the Meliaceae family, is a fast-growing, woody species endemic to China, valued as both a vegetable crop and medicinal plant. Its seeds achieve rapid germination through a cascade of interconnected physiological, metabolic, and hormonal adaptations. Initially, physiological hydration is driven and accelerated by only two distinct phases of water imbibition. This hydration surge triggers storage reserve mobilization, with soluble sugars, proteins, and lipids undergoing rapid degradation during imbibition, while starch catabolism proceeds gradually—a pattern mirrored by progressive increases in enzymatic activities (amylase, protease, and acid phosphodiesterase (ACP)) that correlate with reserve reallocation. Concurrently, a metabolic shift from glycolysis to the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) optimizes energy utilization, supporting germination acceleration. These biochemical changes are orchestrated by hormonal coordination: elevated gibberellin A<sub>3</sub> (GA<sub>3</sub>), zeatin riboside (ZR), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels, coupled with rising GA<sub>3</sub>/ABA, IAA/ABA, and ZR/ABA ratios, temporally aligned with germination progression. Finally, structural evidence confirms successful germination completion, as cotyledon lipid droplet breakdown and starch granule synthesis directly correlate with embryonic elongation. Together, these mechanisms underscore <i>T. sinensis</i>’ adaptive strategy, integrating physiological plasticity, metabolic flexibility, and endocrine precision to ensure efficient germination.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/6/685<i>Toona sinensis</i> seedearly seed germinationmetabolismphysiological and biochemical analysis |
| spellingShingle | Linyue Liu Zhiyuan Wang Yu Wu Yongbao Shen Hormonal and Storage Metabolic Regulation of Germination in <i>Toona sinensis</i> Horticulturae <i>Toona sinensis</i> seed early seed germination metabolism physiological and biochemical analysis |
| title | Hormonal and Storage Metabolic Regulation of Germination in <i>Toona sinensis</i> |
| title_full | Hormonal and Storage Metabolic Regulation of Germination in <i>Toona sinensis</i> |
| title_fullStr | Hormonal and Storage Metabolic Regulation of Germination in <i>Toona sinensis</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hormonal and Storage Metabolic Regulation of Germination in <i>Toona sinensis</i> |
| title_short | Hormonal and Storage Metabolic Regulation of Germination in <i>Toona sinensis</i> |
| title_sort | hormonal and storage metabolic regulation of germination in i toona sinensis i |
| topic | <i>Toona sinensis</i> seed early seed germination metabolism physiological and biochemical analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/6/685 |
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