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ICE1 (INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION 1) is essential for the
jasmonate-regulated development of stamen in Arabidopsis thaliana
Abstract
Floral organ development, pollen germination, and pollen tube growth are
crucial for plant sexual reproduction. Phytohormones maintain these
processes by regulating the expression and activity of various
transcription factors. ICE1, a MYC-like bHLH transcription factor, has
been revealed to be involved in cold acclimatization of Arabidopsis.
This study shows that ICE1 regulates multiple aspects of sexual
reproduction, including stamen development, pollen development, and
germination. Loss-of-function mutants of ICE1 exhibit floral
organs with shorter filaments, defective anther dehiscence, and lower
pollen viability compared to the wild type. These abnormalities result
in disrupted fertilization, leading to short siliques, a high rate of
seed abortion, and dark, shriveled mature seeds. JAZ proteins (JAZ1 and
JAZ9) interact with ICE1, inhibiting its transcriptional activity on
jasmonic acid (JA)–responsive genes, including MYB21, MYB24, and
MYB108. This study highlights the essential role of ICE1 as a signaling
agent in the JA-regulated maintenance of sexual reproduction in
Arabidopsis thaliana.