ABA importers ABCG17 and ABCG18 redundantly regulate seed size in Arabidopsis

Yuqin Zhang*, Moran Anfang, James H. Rowe, Annalisa Rizza, Zhuorong Li, Ning Su, Hamutal Bar, Laurence Charrier, Markus Geisler, Alexander M. Jones, Eilon Shani*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role in mediating plant responses to the environment and regulating plant development. In this study, we demonstrate that two ABA importers, ABCG17 and ABCG18, control seed size by regulating the ABA levels transported into the embryo. Double knockdown of ABCG17 and ABCG18 resulted in lower ABA accumulation in the embryo, wider siliques, and increased overall seed size. Leaf phloem-specific ABA induction in the aba2-1 background showed that ABA could move from the vasculature to control seed size. ABCG17 and ABCG18 are expressed in leaves, and the reproductive organs septum, and valves but not in the developing seeds, suggesting that ABCG17 and ABCG18 affect seed size maternally. Together, the results shed light on the molecular mechanisms by which ABA is transported to the embryo to determine seed size.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere70096
JournalPlant Journal
Volume121
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2025

Funding

FundersFunder number
Gatsby Charitable Foundation
Chinese Academy of Sciences118900M089
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilBB/P018572/1
Israel Science Foundation2378/19, 1462/24
Human Frontier Science ProgramHFSP‐LIY000540/2020
European Research Council757683‐RobustHormoneTrans, 101118769‐HYDROSENSING
Swiss National Funds310030_197563, 31003A_165877

    Keywords

    • ABA reporter
    • ABCG proteins
    • Abscisic acid
    • Seed size
    • long-distance transport
    • maternal effect
    • plant hormones

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