Ribosomal RNA synthesis in imbibing radish (Raphanus sativus) embryo axes : A biochemical and cytological study.

The first hours of seed germination are characterized by an increase in the rate of RNA synthesis. Although this change is most easily accounted for by changes in the ribonucleotide pool sizes, we investigated two other aspects of rRNA synthesis which are likely to contribute to the phenomenon. Using isolated radish embryo axes, we demonstrate that processing of rRNA gene transcripts is much slower during early germination than during the growth of the seedling. We also provide evidence that rRNA gene expression is sequentially reactivated in different tissues, starting in the provascular tissue and apex cells and only later in the cortical cells of the rootlet.