Transcriptional characterization of Arabidopsis thaliana seeds treated with a red- or far red-light pulse

The goal of this study was to compare the transcriptional profile (RNA-seq) of imbibed Arabidopsis thaliana Columbia-0 ecotype seeds that were treated with a 20 min red or far red pulse. The red-light pulse induces germination. Col-0 seeds were sown in clear plastic boxes, each containing 10 mL of 0.8 % (w/v) agar in demineralized water. To establish a minimum and equal photo-equilibrium, seeds were imbibed for 2 hours in darkness and then irradiated for 20 min with a saturated far-red pulse (FRp, calculated Pfr/P= 0.03, 42 µmol.m-2.s-1) in order to minimize the quantities of Pfr formed during their development in the mother plant. Seeds were then stratified at 5 °C in darkness for 3 days, prior to the 20 minutes with a saturated red pulse (Rp, calculated Pfr/P= 0.87, 0.05 µmol.m-2.s-1) or FRp. Three biological replicates of each condition were collected 12 hours after the corresponding R and FR light pulses.