Seed dormancy is an important life history state in which intact viable seeds delay or prevent germination under suitable conditions. Ascorbic acid (AsA) acts as a small molecule antioxidant, and breaking seed dormancy and promoting subsequent growth are among its numerous functions. In this study, a germination test using Pyrus betulifolia seeds treated with exogenous AsA or AsA synthesis inhibitor lycorine (Lyc) and water absorption was conducted. The results indicated that AsA released dormancy and increased germination and 20 mmol L−1 AsA promoted cell division, whereas Lyc reduced germination. Seed germination showed typical three phases of water absorption; and seeds at five key time points were sampled for transcriptome analysis. It revealed that multiple pathways were involved in breaking dormancy and promoting germination through transcriptome data, and 12 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to the metabolism and signal transduction of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GA) were verified by subsequent RT‐qPCR. For metabolites, exogenous AsA increased endogenous AsA and GA3 but reduced ABA and the ABA/GA3 ratio. In addition, three genes regulating ABA synthesis were downregulated by AsA, while five genes mediating ABA degradation were upregulated. Taken together, AsA regulates the pathways associated with ABA and GA synthesis, catalysis, and signal transduction, with subsequent reduction in ABA and increase in GA and further the balance of ABA/GA, ultimately releasing dormancy and promoting germination.

中文翻译：

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抗坏血酸通过综合调控梨树种子中脱落酸和赤霉素来解除休眠并促进发芽

种子休眠是一种重要的生活史状态，其中完整的存活种子在适当的条件下延迟或阻止发芽。抗坏血酸 (AsA) 是一种小分子抗氧化剂，其众多功能包括打破种子休眠和促进后续生长。在本研究中，使用发芽试验梨用外源AsA或AsA合成抑制剂石蒜碱(Lyc)处理种子并进行吸水。结果表明，AsA解除休眠并提高发芽率，20 mmol·L−1AsA 促进细胞分裂，而 Lyc 则减少发芽。种子萌发表现出典型的三个吸水阶段；并在五个关键时间点对种子进行采样进行转录组分析。通过转录组数据揭示多条途径参与打破休眠和促进萌发，并通过后续RT-qPCR验证了与脱落酸（ABA）和赤霉素（GA）代谢和信号转导相关的12个差异表达基因（DEG） 。对于代谢物，外源 AsA 增加内源 AsA 和 GA3但减少了 ABA 和 ABA/GA3比率。此外，AsA 下调了 3 个调节 ABA 合成的基因，而 5 个介导 ABA 降解的基因则上调。综上所述，AsA 调节与 ABA 和 GA 合成、催化和信号转导相关的途径，随后 ABA 减少，GA 增加，进一步平衡 ABA/GA，最终解除休眠并促进发芽。