Data from: DOG1 expression is predicted by the seed-maturation environment and contributes to geographic variation in germination in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Seasonal germination timing of Arabidopsis thaliana strongly influences overall life history expression and is the target of intense natural selection. This seasonal germination timing depends strongly on the interaction between genetics and seasonal environments both before and after seed dispersal. DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 (DOG1) is the first gene that has been identified to be associated with natural variation in primary dormancy in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we report inter-accession variation in DOG1 expression and document that DOG1 expression is associated with seed-maturation temperature effects on germination; DOG1 expression increased when seeds were matured at low temperature, and this increased expression was associated with increased dormancy of those seeds. Variation in DOG1 expression suggests a geographical structure such that southern accessions, which are more dormant, tend to initiate DOG1 expression earlier during seed maturation and achieved higher expression levels at the end of silique development than did northern accessions. Although elimination of the synthesis of phytohormone ABA results in the elimination of maternal temperature effects on dormancy, DOG1 expression predicted dormancy better than expression of genes involved in ABA metabolism.

拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）的季节性萌发时间对其整体生活史性状表达具有显著调控作用，同时也是高强度自然选择的作用靶标。该季节性萌发时间很大程度上依赖于种子扩散前后，遗传因子与季节性环境之间的互作效应。萌发延迟基因1（DELAY OF GERMINATION 1, DOG1）是首个被鉴定出与拟南芥初生休眠自然变异相关的功能基因。本研究报道了拟南芥不同株系间DOG1表达的变异特征，并证实DOG1表达与种子成熟温度对种子萌发的调控效应显著相关：当种子在低温环境下成熟时，DOG1表达水平显著上调，且该表达上调与对应种子的休眠性增强呈显著正相关。DOG1表达的变异呈现出地理分布格局：休眠性更强的南方株系，在种子成熟过程中更早启动DOG1的表达，且在角果发育末期达到的DOG1表达水平显著高于北方株系。尽管阻断植物激素脱落酸（phytohormone ABA）的合成会消除母体环境温度对种子休眠的调控效应，但DOG1的表达水平对种子休眠性的预测能力优于脱落酸代谢通路相关基因的表达水平。