A Comparison of Seed and Seedling Phytochrome inAvena sativaL. using Monoclonal Antibodies

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Abstract
Hilton, J.R. and Thomas, B. 1985. A comparison of seed and seedling phytochrome in Avena saliva L.using monoclonal antibodies.—J. exp. Bot. 36: 1937–1946.The kinetics of phytochrome accumulation during imbibition and germination of seeds of Avena saliva L. cv. Saladin has been determined in vivo by spectrophotometry and in extracts by using Enzyme–Linked Immunosorbent Assay (EL1SA). In vivo measurements show two phases of phytochrome increase. The first occurs during the initial 2 h of imbibition and is associated with the hydration of the seed proteins; the second larger increase begins after 16 h, due probably to de novo synthesis. An ELISA using monoclonal antibodies purified from dark grown Avena seedlings detected only the second increase in phytochrome content. Mixing experiments indicate that the inability to detect phytochrome by ELISA during the first 16 h is not due to the presence of inhibitors in the extracts. It is concluded that pre–existent seed phytochrome is antigenically dissimilar to seedling phytochrome. These two pools of phytochrome are stable and unstable respectively with regard to Pfr destruction.