Fine-tuning seed development with metabolism

Seed growth largely depends on the interplay between intricate developmental programmes and the supply of C – as sucrose – from the maternal plant. Sucrose provides both the substrates for energy metabolism and the sugar signals coordinating development with metabolism. The balance between C supply and growth is central for viability and the ability of seeds to establish a new generation. A striking example highlighting the importance of this balance is the acute sensitivity of reproductive growth to environmental stress - this often leads to abortion of developing fruits and seeds with profound implications for crop yield. Our previous work suggests that both the supply and the fate in the seed of maternal C collectively regulate reproductive growth and seed development. I will present our recent findings suggesting that plastidial metabolism offers a direct link between maternal C and central cellular processes, patterning of the embryo and seed viability. I will also discuss our current efforts to dissect the link between seed growth and metabolism and identify the fundamental regulatory processes underlying plant reproduction.

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