BACKGROUND AND AIMS The importance of thermal thresholds for predicting seed dormancy release and germination timing under the present climate conditions and simulated climate change scenarios was investigated. In particular, Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris was investigated in four Sardinian populations over the full altitudinal range of the species (from approx. 100 to 800 m a.s.l). METHODS...

Seed dormancy and endozoochorous dispersal have important effects on population dynamics, i.e. seed bank formation, spatial and temporal bethedging, avoidance of crowding and decreased sib-competition. Seeds having primary dormancy do not germinate, even if adequate environmental and dispersal conditions are met, until an after-ripening period is completed. This study examined the effects on ge...

Histone acetylation is known to affect the speed of seed germination, but the molecular regulatory basis of this remains ambiguous. Here we report that loss of function of two histone deacetylase-binding factors, SWI-INDEPENDENT3 (SIN3)-LIKE1 (SNL1) and SNL2, results in accelerated radicle protrusion and growth during seed germination. AUXIN RESISTANT 1 (AUX1) is identified as a key factor in t...

Presoaking several varieties of seed, especially lettuce, in various 6(substituted) aminoand thiopurine solutions has been found to increase their rate of germination (3, 5, 6). Recently it was also reported that these purine derivatives are synergistic with gibberellin in inducing these biological responses whereas gibberellin alone was only moderately active in stimulating germination of Earl...

Full understanding of mechanisms that control seed dormancy and germination remains elusive. Whereas it has been proposed that translational control plays a predominant role in germination, other studies suggest the importance of specific gene expression patterns in imbibed seeds. Transgenic plants were developed to permit conditional expression of a gene encoding 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygen...

Seeds maintain a dormant state to withstand adverse conditions and germinate when conditions become favourable to give rise to a new generation of flowering plants. Seed dormancy and germination are tightly controlled by internal and external signals. Although phytochrome photoreceptors are proposed to regulate primary seed dormancy, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here we s...

It is well known that graphene (G) induces nanotoxicity towards living organisms. Here, a novel and biocompatible hydrated graphene ribbon (HGR) unexpectedly promoted aged (two years) seed germination. HGR formed at the normal temperature and pressure (120 days hydration), presented 17.1% oxygen, 0.9% nitrogen groups, disorder-layer structure, with 0.38 nm thickness ribbon morphology. Interesti...

Recurrent problems with peanut seed germination and stand establishment have raised concerns about the potential effects of herbicides on peanut seed quality. Field trials were conducted in south Georgia in 2005 and 2006 to evaluate the effects of imazapic and 2,4-DB on peanut yield, grade, incidence of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), and seed germination. Imazapic at 71 g ai ha, applied at 3...

Some biochemical activities in embryo or seedling of germinating rice (Oryza Sativa L.) seed were studied to explain the effects of suboptimum (20 C), optimum (30 C), and supraoptimum (40 C) temperatures on seed germination and seedling growth. It was observed that 40 C slightly speeded up seed germination but severely inhibited the growth of young seedlings, 30 C delayed germination compared t...

Germination ability is regulated by a combination of environmental and endogenous signals with both synergistic and antagonistic effects. Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent dormancy-releasing agent in many species, including Arabidopsis, and has been suggested to behave as an endogenous regulator of this physiological blockage. Distinct reports have also highlighted a positive impact of NO on seed g...