Fig. 2

Abscisic acid (ABA) metabolism was activated during the early stages of quinoa seed germination. A KEGG analysis of DEGs identified between the first two stages verified the important roles of plant hormone signals in transition from dry seeds to imbibed seeds (www.kegg.jp/kegg/kegg1.html). B Detection of abscisic acid (ABA) contents in germinating seeds of different stages. C Heatmap analysis of DEGs involved in biosynthesis and catabolism of ABA. The important components in ABA biosynthetic pathway contain CqZEP/ABA1, CqNCEDs and CqABA2. Catabolism of ABA was mediated by CqCYP707As encoding cytochrome P450 monooxygenase. D qRT-PCR analysis of an ABA biosynthetic gene CqABA1 and an ABA catabolism associated gene CqCYP707A1 in first two stages of quinoa seed germination. Values are means ± SD (n = 3). *** P < 0.001, Student's t-test. E Heatmap analysis of DEGs involved in ABA core signaling transduction during quinoa seed germination. CqPYLs encoding ABA receptors, CqHAIs / CqAHG1 encoding PP2C protein phosphatases, and CqSnRK2s encoding SnRK2 protein kinases