Regulation of Seed Germination and Abiotic Stresses by Gibberellins and Abscisic Acid

Abstract

Overall growth and development of a plant is regulated by complex interactions among various hormones, which is critical at different developmental stages. Some of the key aspects of plant growth include seed development, germination and plant survival under unfavorable conditions. Two of the key phytohormones regulating the associated physiological processes are gibberellins (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA). GAs participate in numerous developmental processes, including, seed development and seed germination, seedling growth, root proliferation, determination of leaf size and shape, flower induction and development, pollination and fruit expansion. Despite the association with abiotic stresses, ABA is essential for normal plant growth and development. It plays a critical role in different abiotic stresses by regulating various downstream ABA-dependent stress responses. Plants maintain a balance between GA and ABA levels constantly throughout the developmental processes at different tissues and organs, including under unfavorable environmental or physiological conditions. Here, we will review the literature on how GA and ABA control different stages of plant development, with focus on seed germination and selected abiotic stresses. The possible crosstalk of ABA and GA in specific events of the above processes will also be discussed, with emphasis on downstream stress signaling components, kinases and transcription factors (TFs). The importance of several key ABA and GA signaling intermediates will be illustrated. The knowledge gained from such studies will also help to establish a solid foundation to develop future crop improvement strategies.

Introduction

Overall growth and different developmental stages of plants are under strict regulation by several classes of plant hormones. Hormone molecules are present at low concentrations in plants, and they function either at the sites of synthesis or after they are transported to different tissues (Santner et al., 2009; Li et al., 2016). In the last two decades, there has been rapid progress in the understanding of the biosynthetic pathways, transport, signaling and mode of action of various plant hormones. Studies related to hormone signaling have established the fact that besides acting on their own, various plant hormones interact in a highly intricate manner (Stamm et al., 2012; Kohli et al., 2013; Kumar, 2013a,b; Stamm and Kumar, 2013; Verma et al., 2015, 2016; Ravindran et al., 2017). These findings clearly indicate that plants maintain the availability and level of hormones in different parts of the plant body at different developmental stages in an intricate and balanced manner.

A convenient step for us to study plant growth may begin with seed germination. Successful germination depends on the ability of the plant embryo to gain its metabolic activity (Rajjou et al., 2012). Several molecular cues have been revealed by different genetic and proteomic investigations of various Arabidopsis mutants, showing distinct germination-related phenotypes (Achard et al., 2006, 2009; Magome et al., 2008). Germination has been found to be under strict regulation of plant hormones, including gibberellic acid (GA), abscisic acid (ABA), auxin and ethylene (Han and Yang, 2015). Germination is also significantly affected by several environmental factors, such as various abiotic stresses (Rajjou et al., 2012; Han and Yang, 2015). These factors mainly affect the metabolism and different signaling pathways of GA and ABA (Holdsworth et al., 2008).

The constantly changing external factors that most affect plant growth and development are abiotic stresses. Highly variable abiotic stresses affecting plant growth are salinity, drought, and cold. The above-mentioned stresses significantly affect yield (average yield reduction >50%) of crop plants (Mahajan and Tuteja, 2005). Plants exhibit a range of tolerance levels toward these stresses that are ultimately regulated by complex signaling pathways. Abiotic stresses trigger ABA biosynthesis, which mediates stress adaptive responses by activating several specific signaling cascades and regulating different physiological and growth-related processes.

In the past decade, several genetic, molecular and proteomic studies related to germination and abiotic stresses have been carried out. In this review, we discuss the roles of GA and ABA independently and with the possible crosstalk of these two phytohormones with respect to seed germination and abiotic stresses in various plant species, including crop plants.

ABA and abiotic stress

Plants are capable of maintaining their internal environment fairly stable within the desired range. Two important factors that are crucial for the maintenance of such homeostasis are internal water level and osmotic state, which are mainly regulated by ABA (Zhang et al., 1987; Zhu, 2002). ABA acts as a molecular signal in response to various abiotic stresses, which alter the two important physiological functions mentioned above. These abiotic stress responsive signals are the basis of the various physiological as well as growth-related processes of plants, culminating in their unique ranges of tolerance toward these stresses (Finkelstein et al., 2002; Lee and Luan, 2012; Vu et al., 2015).

ABA metabolism and abiotic stress

ABA which is reported in both primitive and higher organisms seems to have different biosynthesis pathways. In primitive organisms ABA biosynthesis is not well characterized, however, in plant-associated fungi, ABA is reported to be synthesized by the direct cytosolic pathway. In contrast, great progress has been made in identifying and characterizing the genes involved in ABA metabolism in land plants (Hauser et al., 2011). ABA biosynthesis in plants follows the organelle-specific indirect pathway. The pathway involves the key precursor compound zeaxanthin, which is synthesized by the β-carotene pathway involving pyruvate. Further, zeaxanthin is converted to xanthoxin by the enzymatic reaction catalyzed by ZEP enzyme (zeaxanthin epoxide) and 9-cis-epoxy carotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) enzyme (Hauser et al., 2011; Chan, 2012; Ruiz-Sola and Rodriguez-Concepcion, 2012). Subsequently, xanthoxin is transferred from the plastid to cytosol and converted to its aldehyde intermediate and then to ABA by short-chain-dehydrogenase reductase (SDR/ABA2 in Arabidopsis) and abscisic aldehyde oxidase (AAO), respectively (Cheng et al., 2002; González-Guzmán et al., 2014). Abiotic stresses and ABA treatment are reported to alter the transcript levels of key ABA biosynthesis genes, which in turn modulate the level of ABA in plants. Upon ABA treatment, expression levels of the genes encoding ZEP (ZEP/ABA1/LOS6) and AAO3 (AAO3/ABA3/LOS5) were upregulated in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, transcript levels of NCED3, ABA3/LOS5, and AAO3 were induced by abiotic stresses (Xiong et al., 2002; Chan, 2012). Additionally, in crop plants improved tolerance toward various abiotic stresses has been reported by introducing or inducing expression of genes encoding key enzymes of ABA biosynthesis (Table 1). Among the NCED genes, NCED3 expression level increased upon water stress, which is also reflected in the water-stress response of nced3 mutants (Table 1).

The expression of ABA biosynthesis genes is reported to show a direct impact on seed germination along with abiotic stresses. The identification and characterization of NCED genes revealed that the tissue-specific expression of these genes and the resultant modulation of endogenous ABA level at different developmental stages are responsible for the regulation of specific processes, such as seed maturation and seed germination, besides response to abiotic stresses (Lefebvre et al., 2006; Martínez-Andújar et al., 2011). Within the seeds, NCED6 was shown to express in the endosperm whereas NCED9 is expressed in both embryo and endosperm during Arabidopsis seed development. The induction of NCED6 inhibits seed germination by increasing the endogenous level of ABA. These and similar findings have clearly established a causal role for ABA in regulating the physiological and developmental processes studied.

It is known that ABA accumulates under specific conditions, such as abiotic stresses. Therefore, the endogenous concentration of biologically active ABA at the site of perception has to be regulated. Apart from biosynthesis, ABA catabolism and transport are the two key essential processes that control ABA-mediated stress regulation. Cytochrome P450 type enzymes (CYP707As) catalyze the deactivation reaction resulting in phaseic acid (PA) and dihydro phaseic acid (DPA) as the main ABA catabolites (Ng et al., 2014; Sah et al., 2016), which do not appear to have any significant biological activity (Sharkey and Raschke, 1980; Kepka et al., 2011). ABA and its catabolites (hydroxylated) can be conjugated to glucose, catalyzed by ABA glucosyl ester (ABA-GE) and become inactivated (Zeevaart and Creelman, 1988; Lim et al., 2005). However, ABA-GE could be converted to ABA upon induction of different abiotic stresses (Ye et al., 2012; Sah et al., 2016). Two β-glucosidases, AtBG1 and AtBG2 localized in the vacuole and endoplasmic reticulum, respectively, hydrolyze ABA-GE (Burla et al., 2013). ABA is a weak acid (pKa ~ 4.7), which can be protonated to become membrane permeable so that it can diffuse passively across the cell membrane (Wilkinson and Davies, 2010; Ng et al., 2014; Sah et al., 2016). Several transporters have been identified in different species of plants, which regulate the accumulation and translocation of active ABA along the plant body involving different organelles (Kang et al., 2010; Kanno et al., 2012; Ye et al., 2012). Also, several genes related to ABA metabolism and transport in different plant species are reported to alter abiotic stress tolerance summarized in Table 1.

ABA signaling genes, abiotic stress, and germination

The identification of ABA receptors in Arabidopsis and other plant species is one of the key findings in ABA signaling. The PYR/PYL/RCAR family of proteins are established as the most plausible ABA receptors. Expression profile study of these receptors revealed their role in ABA signaling as well as in the regulation of abiotic stresses (Park et al., 2009). Triple and quadruple mutants of pyl showed altered ABA sensitivity with respect to seed germination and growth, while overexpression lines conferred tolerance toward abiotic stress (Santiago et al., 2009; Saavedra et al., 2010). Overexpression of RCAR gene resulted in altered ABA-dependent germination and seedling growth (Ma et al., 2009). PYR/PYL/RCAR receptors in the presence of ABA form a complex and deactivate PP2C, which otherwise inactivates the SnRK2s, a central regulator of ABA signaling. Subclass III of SnRK2 in Arabidopsis and rice are shown to be involved in ABA signaling (Kobayashi et al., 2005). Their expressions were induced in the presence of ABA. Furthermore, they are responsible for the activation several ABRE binding factors (ABFs). ABFs belong to basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor family, which is one of the key regulators of ABA responses in plants. In general, they interact with the cis-acting conserved regulatory element, ABREs (ABA-responsive elements) and in turn regulate transcription of several downstream ABA-responsive genes (Choi et al., 2000; Kim et al., 2002; Lopez-Molina et al., 2002). Table 1 summarizes the effect of the genes related to ABA signaling with respect to various abiotic stresses in different plant species.

GA biosynthesis genes, abiotic stress, and seed germination

The discovery of bioactive gibberellic acid (GA) was the result of an investigation of fungal (Gibberella fujikuroi) infection in rice by Teijiro Yabuta and co-workers (Yabuta and Sumiki, 1938). Since then, more than a hundred GAs have been identified from different sources, (from bacteria to plants). However, only a few of them have been shown to have biological activity (Yamaguchi, 2008; Hedden and Thomas, 2012). Gibberellins control different stages of plant development, including seed germination, seedling growth, stem elongation, root extension, leaf size and shape, flower and fruit development, pollination (García-Martínez et al., 1997; Yamaguchi, 2008; Hedden and Thomas, 2012).

In plants three classes of enzymes are required for the biosynthesis of bioactive GAs (GA₁, GA₃, and GA₄) from the precursor compound geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGDP), which is aided by terpene synthases (TPSs), cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s), and 2-oxoglutarate–dependent dioxygenases (2ODDs) (Yamaguchi, 2008; Hedden and Thomas, 2012). Two TPSs, ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase (CPS) and ent-kaurene synthase (KS), which are located in the plastids are responsible for the first few steps of GA biosynthesis (conversion of GGDP to ent-kaurene). Then two P450 enzymes, namely, ent-kaurene oxidase (KO) and ent-kaurenoic acid oxidase (KAO) convert ent-kaurene to GA₁₂. Finally, three active GAs are formed by reactions catalyzed by GA 20-oxidase (GA20ox) and GA 3-oxidase (GA3ox), that belong to 2ODDs (Yamaguchi and Kamiya, 2000; Hedden, 2001; Yamaguchi, 2008; Hedden and Thomas, 2012). In plants, deactivation of the GAs is critical for maintaining the levels of bioactive GAs, which is regulated by GA 2-oxidases (GA2oxs), belonging to 2ODDs (Yamaguchi and Kamiya, 2000; Yamaguchi, 2008). Additionally, 16α,17-epoxidation (Luo et al., 2006; Zhu et al., 2006) and methylation of the C-6 carboxyl group of GAs (Varbanova et al., 2007) are involved in the deactivation of GAs in different plant species.

Several GA biosynthesis genes are expressed in growing tissues during Arabidopsis development (Silverstone et al., 1997) and also in crop plants such as wheat (Aach et al., 1997), rice (Kaneko et al., 2003), and tobacco (Itoh et al., 1999). This suggests that biologically active GAs are synthesized at the site of their action in several cases. However, in rice, it has been shown that GA biosynthesis genes are not expressed in the aleurone layer, but GA signaling event occurs there, which suggests paracrine signaling by GAs (Kaneko et al., 2002, 2003). In addition, in Arabidopsis, GA-dependent gene expressions have been shown in the sites where bioactive GAs are not produced (Yamaguchi et al., 2001). It has also been shown that early and late steps of GA biosynthesis take place in provascular tissue and, cortex and endodermis, respectively (Yamaguchi and Kamiya, 2000; Yamaguchi et al., 2001). This suggests the existence of intercellular movement/transport of GA biosynthesis intermediates. Lack or absence of GA leads to altered GA signaling and germination related phenotype, which has been revealed by different studies done in mutants of GA metabolism (Table 2). The relationship between expressions of GA metabolism-related genes and tolerance toward abiotic stresses have been shown. Mutants in GA biosynthesis genes (GA20ox and GA3ox) showed drought tolerance phenotype and overexpression of GA20ox confers drought sensitivity in Arabidopsis (Colebrook et al., 2014).

Characterization of mutants and genetic studies revealed several GA signaling components (Hedden and Phillips, 2000; Stamm et al., 2012; Davière and Achard, 2013). DELLA proteins, belonging to the GRAS family of transcription factors, are identified as a major repressor of GA signaling. DELLA proteins restrict cell proliferation and expansion by negatively regulating gibberellin signaling and hence inhibit the plant growth (Peng et al., 1997, 1999; Fleet and Sun, 2005). DELLA proteins such as RGL2 complexed with DOF6 transcription factor has also been shown to have positive effect on target genes such as GATA12 in regulating seed germination (Ravindran et al., 2017). DELLAs are degraded by a signal cascade involving GA and its positive regulators (Hedden and Phillips, 2000; Achard and Genschik, 2009; Wang et al., 2009; Figure 1). The GA signaling components are reported to affect various aspects of germination and abiotic stresses as well (Table 2). DELLAs are also reported to confer salt tolerance in Arabidopsis by altering the duration of vegetative growth. Also, two of the DELLA proteins, RGA and GAI have a major role in salt-induced plant growth regulation (Achard et al., 2006).

Figure 1

GA and ABA crosstalk

Hormones regulate plant growth and development either synergistically or antagonistically, involving a series of complex pathways and networks (Liu et al., 2010; Dong et al., 2016; Rowe et al., 2016). In the preceding sections, we described the individual roles of GA and ABA in two important aspects affecting plant development; germination and abiotic stresses. The information summarized in Tables 1, 2 along with the preceding description show that ABA and GA antagonistically mediate plant developmental processes including seed dormancy and germination. Hence, it is essential to maintain an optimal balance between the endogenous levels of ABA and GA for plant development.

In response to different developmental stages and environmental conditions, various changes occur in the metabolism and signal transductions of these two plant hormones which keep a correct balance between GA and ABA and hence plant homeostasis. In the following sections we will summarize how genes, components and network involving crosstalk of GA and ABA participate in the regulatory processes.

In many instances, possible crosstalk events have been shown between ABA and GA with respect to various abiotic stresses and plant growth. Unfavorable conditions lead to high ABA and low GA levels in seeds whereas favorable conditions cause the reverse situation. Seed dormancy is maintained by ABA whose level is found to progressively increase from embryogenesis to embryo maturation (Karssen et al., 1983). ABA restricts embryo growth potential by inhibiting water uptake (imbibition) and hence cell-wall loosening, which is a key step to start germination (Schopfer and Plachy, 1984; Gimeno-Gilles et al., 2009). ABA also leads to induction of Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) genes and growth arrest by activating a basic leucine zipper transcription factor, ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE 5 (ABI5) (Finkelstein and Lynch, 2000). Many LEA genes are reported to confer abiotic stress tolerance in plants (Lopez-Molina and Chua, 2000; Lee et al., 2005). Synergistic repression of germination has been reported through ABRE and RY elements by ABI5 and ABI3 (activated by ABA) (Lopez-Molina et al., 2002; Park et al., 2011). Under favorable conditions (light, temperature and moisture) GA biosynthesis and associated pathways are activated, which results in the release from the inhibitory effect of ABA. Cold stratification and light lead to an increase in bioactive GAs via transcription factors PIF3-like 5 (PIL5), Blue Micropylar End3 (BME3) and SPATULA (SPT) (Liu et al., 2005; Penfield et al., 2005; Oh et al., 2006; Figure 1). Thus, it is clear that various interactions between ABA and GA in seeds help to regulate dormancy and germination.

Several recent studies showed the regulation of GA and ABA in light- and temperature-mediated seed germination and dormancy. PIL5, a light-labile transcription factor, regulates both GA and ABA signaling and thereby inhibits seed germination. It indirectly regulates GA biosynthesis genes and directly regulates GA signaling genes. Thus, PIL5 represses GA biosynthesis genes (GA3ox1 and GA3ox2) and activates a GA catabolic gene (GA2ox2) indirectly (Gabriele et al., 2010). However, it binds to the promoter region of the GA signaling repressor genes, GAI and RGA and regulates their transcription (Oh et al., 2007). On the other hand, PIL5 has the opposite effect on the ABA biosynthesis genes. It activates ABA biosynthesis genes (ABA1, NCED6, and NCED9) and represses an ABA catabolic gene (CYP707A2) (Finkelstein et al., 2008). Furthermore, increased expression of DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 (DOG1) which acts downstream to PIL5, leads to repression of GA biosynthesis and activation of ABI3 and ABI5 (Bentsink et al., 2006; Skubacz and Daszkowska-Golec, 2017). Similarly, a CCCH-Type zinc finger protein, SOMNUS (SOM) is reported to act downstream of PIL5 in order to negatively regulate light-dependent seed germination in Arabidopsis (Kim et al., 2008). Several other CCCH zinc finger proteins (AtTZF4, 5, and 6) negatively regulate GA- and light-mediated seed germination and positively regulate ABA-mediated seed germination. Expression patterns of genes regulating GA and ABA metabolism have been reported to be well coordinated with seasonal seed dormancy in Arabidopsis. Thus, upregulation of GA catabolism and ABA biosynthesis genes was observed during low temperature (winter) which leads to increased dormancy (Footitt et al., 2011). Consistent with that, upregulation of GA biosynthesis ABA catabolism genes have been reported during high temperature (spring and summer) and decreased dormancy (Footitt et al., 2011). The transcription factor SPT controls the germination response to cold and light. It can repress the GA biosynthesis genes (GA3ox1 and GA3ox2) (Penfield et al., 2005) as well as the expression of ABI4 and a DELLA gene RGA, but it promotes expression of ABI5 and RGL3, another DELLA gene (Vaistij et al., 2013).

Various abiotic stresses (external environment) lead to changes in the plant response and therefore alter the balance of endogenous levels of GA and ABA. High temperature induces ABA biosynthesis genes (ZEP, NCED2, NCED5, and NCED9) and hence increases the ABA level whereas it decreases the GA level by repressing GA biosynthesis genes in Arabidopsis seeds (Toh et al., 2008). The transcription factor FUS3 leads to delayed germination at high temperature by activating seed-specific, ABA biosynthetic and ABA signaling genes (Chiu et al., 2012). ABI3, ABI5, and DELLAs form a complex to directly activate SOM expression at high temperature, which results in altered expression of ABA and GA metabolism genes (Lim et al., 2013).

DELLA-dependent salt-induced growth inhibition in the DELLA quadruple-mutant was also shown to be associated with DELLA accumulation and ABA signaling. Also, upon ABA treatment accumulation of GFP-RGA was not observed in the abi1-1 roots, but only seen in the untreated WT control (Peng et al., 1997; Fleet and Sun, 2005; Achard et al., 2006), showing the crosstalk between ABA and GA signaling. Furthermore, quadruple-DELLA mutant was also shown to have ABA insensitive phenotype. In addition, ABA-induced delay in flowering was shown to be DELLA dependent (Achard et al., 2006). PROCERA (a DELLA protein in tomato) promotes stomatal closure in an ABA-dependent manner by increasing ABA sensitivity (Nir et al., 2017). Another study showed that NUCLEAR FACTOR-Y C (NF-YC) homologs (NF-YC3, NF-YC4, and NF-YC9) interact with the DELLA protein RGL2 and target ABI5 (Liu et al., 2016), thus regulating germination by modulating GA- and ABA-responsive genes in Arabidopsis. In addition, NF-YC9 was also reported to regulate ABA signaling via direct interaction with ABI5 (Bi et al., 2017). Therefore, NF-YC family members could integrate GA and ABA antagonistic crosstalk involving DELLA protein and ABA signaling TFs. Global analysis of DELLA targets revealed several downstream targets and responsive genes (Zentella et al., 2007). XERICO which has a key role in mediating various abiotic stresses by modulation of ABA level and expression of ABA-responsive genes is a target of DELLA (Ko et al., 2006; Zentella et al., 2007; Zeng et al., 2015). Other reports have also shown that DELLA contributes toward upregulation of ABA level by increasing the XERICO transcript levels (Zentella et al., 2007; Figure 2). This represents another example of how DELLA proteins can control plant growth and abiotic stress tolerance through specific crosstalk with ABA signaling pathway.

Figure 2

DELLA repressors are mainly degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome system involving recruitment of Skip, Cullin, and F-box E3 ubiquitin ligase to the GA-GID1-DELLA complex by SLEEPY1 (SLY1) (Steber et al., 1998; Hedden, 2001; Murase et al., 2008; Achard and Genschik, 2009; Wang et al., 2009; Figure 1). In addition to ubiquitination, the DELLA signaling components are regulated by SUMOylation (small ubiquitin-related modifier). E3 SUMO ligase AtSIZ1 negatively regulates ABA signaling by SUMOylation of ABI5 in Arabidopsis during germination (Miura et al., 2009; Liu and Hou, 2018). In addition, AtSIZ1 was reported to positively regulate GA signaling by SUMOylating SLY1 (Kim et al., 2015; Liu and Hou, 2018). Therefore, SIZ1 could be another direct link between GA and ABA signaling by regulating ABI5 and SLY1.

Another E3 ligase, ANAPHASE-PROMOTING COMPLEX/CYCLOSOME (APC/C) has a link between GA and ABA signaling in rice via SnRK2-APC/C^{TE(Tiller Enhancer/activator)} module (Lin et al., 2015; Liu and Hou, 2018). Loss-of-function of TE, leads to hyposensitivity to GA and hypersensitivity to ABA. Furthermore, ABA inhibits APC/C^TE activity by phosphorylation of TE through the activation of rice SnRK2s. This event interrupts the association between TE and OsPYL/RCARs (ABA receptor), which results in stabilization of the receptor. Conversely, opposite effect has been shown by GA by inhibiting rice SnRK2 (Lin et al., 2015).

Several TFs other than DELLAs have been reported to act as potential mediators between ABA and GA metabolism and signaling. Two APETALA 2 (AP2)-domain containing transcription factors (ATFs), Arabidopsis ABA-INSENSITIVE 4 (ABI4) and rice OsAP2-39, have key roles in the antagonistic crosstalk between ABA and GA. ABI4 positively regulates primary seed dormancy by downregulating GA biosynthesis and by inhibiting ABA catabolic genes (CYP707A1 and CYP707A2) (Shu et al., 2013). Further, GA represses the expression level of ABA biosynthesis gene, NCED6 and increases expression of the GA-deactivating gene GA2ox7 in an ABI4-dependent manner (Shu et al., 2016). In rice, OsAP2-39 induces ABA level by directly activating ABA biosynthesis gene OsNCED1, whereas it reduces GA level by directly activating GA-inactivating gene OsEUI (Elongated Uppermost Internode) (Shu et al., 2018). Further, enhanced ABA level due to activation of OsNCED1 induces the OsEU1 expression, which ultimately decreases GA accumulation (Yaish et al., 2010; Shu et al., 2018). Another study showed that CHOTTO1, a double-AP2 domain-containing TF regulates seed germination in Arabidopsis through ABA-mediated repression of GA biosynthesis (Yano et al., 2009).

MYB96 TF controls primary seed dormancy by directly activating ABA biosynthesis genes (NCED2, NCED5, NCED6, and NCED9) and indirectly repressing GA biosynthesis genes (GA3ox1 and GA20ox1) (Lee et al., 2015). Another key regulator of seed dormancy Mother of FT and TFL 1 (MFT), controls ABA and GA signaling pathways (Xi et al., 2010). MFT promotes germination by downregulating ABA signal via repression of ABI5 expression. MFT expression is induced by RGL2 and ABI5, but downregulated by ABI3 and MFT (Xi et al., 2010; Skubacz and Daszkowska-Golec, 2017; Figure 2). Another three transcriptional regulators involved in regulating embryonic development are the LEC genes; LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1), B3 domain factors LEC2, and FUSCA3 (FUS3) (Keith et al., 1994; Gazzarrini et al., 2004). Loss-of-function of these genes leads to the alteration of embryonic leaves (cotyledons) to take on the appearance of vegetative leaves (Gazzarrini et al., 2004). One of them, FUS3 is known to positively regulate ABA biosynthesis, and negatively regulate GA biosynthesis (Gazzarrini et al., 2004). Another B3 TF GERMINATION DEFECTIVE 1 (GD1) regulates seed germination by suppressing a LEC2/FUS3-like gene of rice (OsLFL1) and modulating expression of GA metabolic genes (OsGA3ox, OsGA20ox, and OsGA2ox) (Guo et al., 2013).

These examples clearly show the crosstalk between ABA and GA in controlling seed development as well as germination. Such crosstalk has been predicted based on earlier studies. With the limited number of definitive studies on such signal crosstalk, we are just beginning to gain valuable insights regarding the regulation of specific growth and developmental processes.

Conclusions and future perspectives

It is evident from the foregoing review that the signaling interactions among several phytohormones are common in regulating various stages and processes of plant development. Such regulatory crosstalk can occur at multiple stages of biosynthesis or signaling for different hormones. Biosynthesis of bioactive hormones and their transport (passive and/or active) as well as signaling cascades that regulate downstream target genes (of different classes) further add to the complexity of the already elaborate cellular communication network. This has been highlighted here with the examples of ABA and GA metabolism and their regulation. Selected genes that play significant roles in the regulation of seed dormancy and germination and various abiotic stresses were also discussed. It is evident that several positive and negative regulators of ABA and GA have direct or indirect impacts on germination and abiotic stresses. Many transcription factors and signaling components of these two phytohormones help to maintain an intricate balance between endogenous levels of bioactive ABA and GA. Furthermore, studies have identified several ABA and GA crosstalk points showing positive and negative regulation of different molecular modules associated with their metabolism and signaling. There are a few open questions that can help in formulating the future research directions. Despite the fact that there are some studies on ABA transport in different cell types and tissues, there might be many unknown pathways/transporters that are yet to be explored. Moreover, very few reports on the transport mechanism of GA are available. The antagonistic roles of GA and ABA in controlling developmental processes have been established by several pieces of evidence; however, there could be synergistic crosstalk between GA and ABA in some instances whose underlying molecular mechanisms remain undiscovered. Although several target genes of a few TFs have been established (eg. MYB96, ABI4, OsAP2-39) (Yaish et al., 2010; Shu et al., 2013; Lee et al., 2015) identification of direct targets/genes of several TFs and components of GA and ABA signaling modules are worth investigating. The detailed analyses of direct targets involved in GA and ABA metabolism and signaling at different developmental stages will provide us with more insights into GA and ABA crosstalk. Recent studies revealed several new cues associated with GA and ABA signaling. A few epigenetic modifiers have been documented to be involved in GA and ABA signaling cascade (Ryu et al., 2014; Liu et al., 2016; Peirats-Llobet et al., 2016). However, the mechanisms by which these epigenetic regulators mediate crosstalk between GA and ABA need to be investigated. It is known that complexes of TFs regulate downstream target genes (Kepka et al., 2011; Lim et al., 2013; Heyman et al., 2016; Iwata et al., 2017), and therefore, future investigations into new protein complexes associated with GA and ABA signaling will reveal interesting molecular mechanisms of developmental regulation. Although several signaling components controlling various aspects of germination and abiotic stresses have been identified, the nature of the underlying mechanisms of many of the events remain to be clarified. Nevertheless, such specific interaction points that have been identified for these two phytohormones will offer potential genetic intervention strategies to control growth and abiotic stress remediation in future crop breeding programs.

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