Combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis provides insights in germination and seedling morphogenesis in aging rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds treated with indole-3-butyrate

Rice is a vital staple and nutritional crop globally. The long-term seed storage can lead to deterioration, vigor loss and reduction in germination, which adversely impact the crop productivity. Potassium indole-3-butyrate (IBAK) enhanced seed vigor and seedling growth by promoting cell division and inducing adventitious root formation in aging seeds. Nevertheless, mechanisms underlying seed vigor maintenance by IBAK remain to be systematically investigated.Phenotypic data analysis showed that IBAK treatment significantly boosted the germination and seedling establishment rates in aging rice seeds. IBAK promoted germination and seedling development in aging seeds by regulating hormonal activities, enhancing starch hydrolysis into sugars, and modulating stress response pathways. Moreover, transcriptomic and metabolic analyses indicated that IBAK seed treatment effectively regulated genes and metabolic pathways related to secondary metabolism and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, mitigating aging damage in rice seeds.Furthermore, our results demonstrated that IBAK seed treatment could enhance rice seed germination and seedling vigor by modulating physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic traits. Current study demonstrated the mechanisms of rice seed aging after long - term storage and how IBAK effectively alleviates aging damage. The findings illustrated the potential strategies for enhancing the utilization of aging seeds in agricultural practices and provided theoretical support and new ideas for practical applications.