Research Projects

seed desiccation tolerance is a crucial trait for agriculture, allowing seeds to extend their vigor and viability in a desiccated state. However, the mechanisms governing seed desiccation tolerance in orthodox seeds remain unclear. Orthodox seeds acquire desiccation tolerance during seed maturation through a complex regulatory network that activates genes involved in various mechanisms influencing seed survival in a dry state. The ABA hormone and the network of ABA-responsive master regulators (ABI-TFs) ABI3, ABI4, and ABI5 play key roles in seed maturation. Recent studies have revealed that Jasmonate ZIM domain (JAZ) proteins, a key repressor of the JA hormone signaling pathway, also repress ABA signaling during seed germination by interacting with ABI3 and ABI5. An F-box protein, COI1, is known to target JAZ proteins in a JA-Ile dependent manner, promoting JA signaling. However, recent studies suggest that COI1 is not likely involved in targeting JAZ proteins during seed maturation, raising the possibility of a new F-box protein that targets JAZ proteins. This project proposal aims to address these research gaps by identifying a new F-box protein named AtsKIP31 that interacts with JAZ proteins in a COR/JA-Ile independent manner. AtsKIP31 is highly expressed in seeds, and atskip31 mutant seeds exhibit abnormal seed phenotype, desiccation intolerance, and poor seed vigor and viability upon maturity. The project will employ biochemical and molecular genetic approaches to dissect the function of this module in seed desiccation tolerance and seed vigor.