Regulation of legume seed size by an endosperm-expressed transcription factor
Résumé
There are numerous reports of transcription factors (TFs) which are implicated in the control of seed size and seed composition. We have identified, using a platform of TF sequences derived from the Medicago truncatula genome sequence, a class of TFs specifically expressed during the seed filling stage. One such TF, DASH, was shown to be confined to the developing endosperm. We investigated the role played by DASH through analysis of mutant alleles. These give rise to seed-lethal or near-lethal phenotypes, with degeneration of the endosperm and arrested embryo development. The relation of this phenotype to seed auxin action was investigated.