Biotech Updates

Smoke Brings Seed Germination Stimulants that Activate Light Response

April 23, 2010

Smoke contains a group of seed germination stimulants called karrikins (KAR). Seed germination and seedling development are two of the vital stages of the plant life cycle, which both require significant quality and quantity of light. Thus, Steven M. Smith of the University of Western Australia together with other scientists, conducted a genetic profiling technique called microarray analysis of imbibed Arabidopsis thaliana seeds to identify the effect of KAR on the seeds' behavior to light.

Results showed that KAR stimulate the expression of a group of light-dependent genes in the absence of light. KAR induces cotyledon expansion and hypocotyl elongation of Arabidopsis seeds specially when there is less amount of red light, which usually occurs after forest fire.

PNAS subscribers may view the full research article at http://www.pnas.org/content/107/15/7095.full.