Studies on Strategy of Diaspore Dispersal and Effectiveness of Seed Germination

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Physiology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 2938

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue plans to review the latest research advances in seed dispersal and germination as one of the first assumptions of plant life cycle or plant population growth. In plant population ecology, diaspora dispersal is understood as the essential process by which plants are transported to new locations to establish offspring population. The establishment of the young population in a new place also requires the successful germination of the plant seeds. In these mechanisms, plant species have evolved different strategies to be successful in heterogeneous landscape habitats.

This special issue is aimed at providing selected contributions on advances in this research, particularly in relation to practice such as nature conservation, invasive plants, plant conservation, plant diversity, reproductive strategies, plant management, etc.

Potential topics with relation to the stimulation of seed germination will include above all:

  • diaspore and seed;
  • diaspore dispersal;
  • seed germination;
  • seedling emergence;
  • dimorphism and polymorphism;
  • maternal effect;
  • offspring generation;
  • plant strategy;
  • population growth, and many others.

Dr. Božena Šerá
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • seed germination
  • factors
  • seed control
  • field emergence of seeds
  • healthy seed

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3313 KiB  
Article
Differential Primary Seed and Fruit Dispersal Mechanisms and Dispersal Biomechanics in Invasive Dehiscent and Indehiscent-Fruited Lepidium Species
by Said Mohammed, Tina Steinbrecher, Gerhard Leubner-Metzger and Klaus Mummenhoff
Plants 2025, 14(3), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030446 - 3 Feb 2025
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Abstract
This study explores primary dispersal, which involves diaspores’ detachment directly from mature plants, and secondary dispersal, which encompasses any further dispersal occurring after the primary dispersal. A comparison of the primary dispersal vectors of the invasive dehiscent fruit producing Lepidium campestre and the [...] Read more.
This study explores primary dispersal, which involves diaspores’ detachment directly from mature plants, and secondary dispersal, which encompasses any further dispersal occurring after the primary dispersal. A comparison of the primary dispersal vectors of the invasive dehiscent fruit producing Lepidium campestre and the indehiscent fruit producing Lepidium draba was conducted. These vectors were examined in relation to the native and introduced distribution ranges of the species, and regarding biomechanical forces required detaching the fruits from mature plants. Our findings reveal that rainfall and animal contact serve as primary dispersal vectors for Lepidium campestre, while animal contact is rarely involved in primary dispersal of Lepidium draba. Primary dispersal is more important for Lepidium campestre than Lepidium draba, which requires significantly greater force for fruit detachment. While previous studies indicate wind and rainfall as major secondary dispersal vectors for Lepidium draba, our results suggest secondary dispersal via mucilage on seeds is more crucial for this species. The strong reliance of Lepidium draba on secondary dispersal, enabling long-distance dispersal, could contribute to its invasion success, linking it to the species’ geographic distribution. Understanding these different dispersal strategies is essential for effective management of invasive species. Full article
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17 pages, 4604 KiB  
Article
Chitosan-GSNO Nanoparticles and Silicon Priming Enhance the Germination and Seedling Growth of Soybean (Glycine max L.)
by Senabulya Steven, Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, Amit Ghimire, Nusrat Jahan Methela, Eun-Hae Kwon, Byung-Wook Yun, In-Jung Lee, Seong-Hoon Kim and Yoonha Kim
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101290 - 7 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1778
Abstract
Soybean, a major legume crop, has seen a decline in its production owing to challenges in seed germination and the development of seedlings. Thus, in this study, we systematically investigated the influence of various chitosan–S-nitrosoglutathione (chitosan-GSNO) nanoparticle (0, 25, 50, and 100 µM) [...] Read more.
Soybean, a major legume crop, has seen a decline in its production owing to challenges in seed germination and the development of seedlings. Thus, in this study, we systematically investigated the influence of various chitosan–S-nitrosoglutathione (chitosan-GSNO) nanoparticle (0, 25, 50, and 100 µM) and Si (0, 0.5, and 1 mM) priming concentrations on soybean seed germination and seedling growth over five different priming durations (range: 1–5 h at each concentration). Significant differences were observed in all parameters, except seedling diameter, with both treatments. Seed germination was significantly enhanced after 3 h of priming in both treatments. The final germination percentage (FGP), peak germination percentage (PGP), vigor index (VI), seedling biomass (SB), hypocotyl length (HL), and radical length (RL) of 100 μM chitosan-GSNO-nanoparticle-primed seeds increased by 20.3%, 41.3%, 78.9%, 25.2%, 15.7%, and 65.9%, respectively, compared with those of the control; however, the mean germination time (MGT) decreased by 18.43%. Si priming at 0.5 mM increased the FGP, PGP, VI, SB, HL, and RL by 13.9%, 55.17%, 39.2%, 6.5%, 22.5%, and 25.1%, respectively, but reduced the MGT by 12.29% compared with the control treatment. Chitosan-GSNO and Si treatment up-regulated the relative expression of gibberellic acid (GA)-related genes (GmGA3ox3 and GmGA2ox1) and down-regulated that of abscisic acid (ABA)-related genes (GmABA2, GmAAO3, and GmNCED5). Chitosan-GSNO and Si application increased bioactive GA4 levels and simultaneously reduced ABA content. Hence, the use of exogenous chitosan-GSNO nanoparticles and Si as priming agents had a beneficial effect on seed germination and seedling growth because of the up-regulation in the expression of GA and down-regulation in the expression of ABA. Additional research is needed to understand the combined impact of Si and chitosan-GSNO nanoparticles, including their effects on the expression levels of other hormones and genes even in the later growth stage of the crop. Full article
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