International Research Fellow Awards: Hormonal Control of Seed Germination in Arabidopsis Thaliana

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9704233 Steber The International Research Fellow Awards Program enables U.S. scientists and engineers to conduct three to twenty four months of research abroad. The program's awards provide opportunities for joint research, and the use of unique or complementary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions abroad. This award will support a twelve-month postdoctoral research visit by Dr. Camille M. Steber to work with Dr. Peter D. McCourt at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario. Dr. Steber will investigate the role of the plant hormone gibberellic acid (GA) in the control of seed dormancy and germination. To ensure that plant embryos survive the interval between release from the mother plant and germination, seeds accumulate nutrient reserves and become dormant and desiccation tolerant. There are mechanisms that ensure that seeds germinate only under "dormancy breaking" conditions that provide a beneficial environment for growth of the seedling. In studying the Arabidopsis thaliana, the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) is needed to establish dormancy while the GA is needed to end dormancy and induce seed germination. Little is known about the mechanisms by which GA induces germination. This project will focus on understanding those mechanisms governing GA receptivity in the seed using two genetic approaches: the first will identify GA-insensitive mutations using a screen for suppressors of an ABA-insensitive mutation; the second will identify genes which when overexpressed, suppress the inability of the GA auxotroph gal-3 to germinate in the absence of exogenous GA. Gaining this understanding of GA response will have important applications in the area of agriculture. Dr. McCourt is one of relatively few North American researchers who has investigated the role of both ABA and GA in the control of seed dormancy and germination. His laboratory at the University of Toronto will provide an opportunity for interaction with a wide- range of experts in plant biology including plant physiology, biochemistry, and development. ***