Transcriptional events during early phase of germination of rice embryos

Abstract

Germination transfers a metabolically inert embryo into an active state of growth and development. The presence of conserved mRNAs has been demonstrated in different species of eggs and seeds. In rice embryos, germination was shown to be independent of the synthesis of RNA up to 18-24 h after the start of imbibition, although RNA synthesis was detected as early as 9 h after the start of imbibition. In this report, the sequence of the transcriptional events taking place during the early phase of the germination of rice embryos are presented.