Key metabolic pathways involved in seed primary physiological dormancy maintenance of Korean pine seed

The metabolic changes that occurred during either cold stratification or after-ripen treatment, and in both dormant seeds and after-ripened seeds either under the dry state or during imbibition have been extensively explored. Much less is known about those present in both dormant seeds and cold stratified seeds during the same period of incubation under favorable germination conditions. Metabolite composition was investigated in both embryo and megagametophyte of primary physiological dormant seeds (PPDS) of Pinus Koreansis collected at 0 week, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks of incubation, and of cold stratified seeds with released primary physiological dormancy (RPPDS) sampled at 0 week and 1 week of incubation, seed coat rupture stage and radicle protrusion stage. Embryo contained higher levels of most metabolites compared to megagametophyte. Strong metabolic changes occurred at 1 week and 4 weeks of incubation in PPDS, with most metabolites were significantly accumulated in 4-weeks-incubated PPDS. A larger metabolic switch was found in RPPDS between 1-week-incubation and seed coat rupture stage. Especially, there was a significant major decrease in the relative levels of most phosphorylated sugars and amino acids. The carbohydrate metabolism, especially pentose phosphate pathway and tricarboxylic acid cycle were more active pathways in the embryos of 4-weeks-incubated PPDS, but the operation rate of most amino acid metabolism was lower compared to 1-week-incubated RPPDS. We suggest that a larger metabolic switch in the embryo of PPDS after 4 weeks of incubation may assist in maintaining primary dormancy. One-sentence summaryA larger metabolic switch in dormant seeds after 4 weeks of incubation under favorable conditions for germination may maintain primary physiological dormancy of Korean pine seeds.