Rice CENTRORADIALIS 2 regulates seed germination and salt tolerance via ABA-mediated pathway

Key message A FT/TFL1 subfamily gene, rice CENTRORADIALIS 2, also known as RCN1, regulates seed germination and increase salt tolerance via ABA-mediated pathway. The ABA synthesis and metabolism related genes were changed relative expression levels. Abstract Seed germination is a complex biological process that is affected by many factors. Although a number of germination-related genes have been reported, the molecular mechanism of germination regulation has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we reported that the rice OsCEN2 gene can negatively regulate seed germination. The germination speed of OsCEN2 -RNAi seeds was significantly faster while that of OsCEN2 -overexpression (OE) seeds was slower than that of the wild type (WT). The results of qRT-PCR showed that the OsCEN2 expression was increased in the early stage of seed germination. Exogenous application of abscisic acid (ABA) on seeds and seedlings showed that OsCEN2 -OE seeds and seedlings were highly sensitive to ABA during germination and post-germination growth, respectively. The determination of endogenous ABA content in seeds also showed that the ABA content of OsCEN2 -RNAi seeds was lower, while that of OsCEN2 -OE seeds was higher. Moreover, the transgenic plants changed salt tolerance because of the altered ABA level. In addition, differences were also observed in the expression of genes related to ABA synthesis and metabolism in the seeds of OsCEN2 -transgenic lines. This study reveals that OsCEN2 regulates the germination speed by affecting the content of ABA during seed germination and provides a theoretical basis for research on rice direct seeding.