AUTHOR=Baudouin Emmanuel , Poilevey Aurélie , Hewage Nishodi Indiketi , Cochet Françoise , Puyaubert Juliette , Bailly Christophe 

TITLE=The Significance of Hydrogen Sulfide for Arabidopsis Seed Germination

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2016.00930

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2016.00930

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) recently emerged as an important gaseous signaling molecule in plants. In this study, we investigated the possible functions of H<sub>2</sub>S in regulating Arabidopsis seed germination. NaHS treatments delayed seed germination in a dose-dependent manner and were ineffective in releasing seed dormancy. Interestingly, endogenous H<sub>2</sub>S content was enhanced in germinating seeds. This increase was correlated with higher activity of three enzymes (L-cysteine desulfhydrase, D-cysteine desulfhydrase, and β-cyanoalanine synthase) known as sources of H<sub>2</sub>S in plants. The H<sub>2</sub>S scavenger hypotaurine and the D/L cysteine desulfhydrase inhibitor propargylglycine significantly delayed seed germination. We analyzed the germinative capacity of <italic>des1</italic> seeds mutated in Arabidopsis cytosolic L-cysteine desulfhydrase. Although the mutant seeds do not exhibit germination-evoked H<sub>2</sub>S formation, they retained similar germination capacity as the wild-type seeds. In addition, <italic>des1</italic> seeds responded similarly to temperature and were as sensitive to ABA as wild type seeds. Taken together, these data suggest that, although its metabolism is stimulated upon seed imbibition, H<sub>2</sub>S plays, if any, a marginal role in regulating Arabidopsis seed germination under standard conditions.</p>