Seed Germination and Environmental Cues

Dear Colleagues,

It has been at least  350  million years since the first ovule (Elkinsia) appeared on earth, and a strong selection factor for the evolution of seeds has been the control of timing of germination so that it occurs when environmental conditions are favorable for seedling survival and growth. If seeds germination at the beginning of the favorable period for plant growth, seedlings will have the whole period in which to grow and become established. Timing of germination is controlled by two factors: seeds have become nondormant and their germination requirements, e.g. light/dak, mositure, temerpature and other  environmental cues such as ethylene, exudate from host roots or chemicals from fire are present in the habitat. Changes in temperature and soil moisture with the changing seasons can act as environmental cues to promote dormancy-break and the initiation of  germination. Photoblastic seeds, such as those of many weeds, require light to germination. In several forest species, fire can be a cue that breaks the physical dormancy of seeds and germination occurs in an open canopy without competition. Some seeds will germinate after passing through the digestive tract of an animal that can act as a cue to start germination.

There are still mysteries about how/what environmental cues can help seeds detect the right time to germinate. Thus, the purpose and scope of this Special Issue are to encourage the publication of review and/or experimental studies on ecology, physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology related to the effect of environmental cues on the breaking seed dormancy and  promotion of germination.

Dr. Elias Soltani
Prof. Dr. Carol Baskin
Prof. Dr. José Luis González Andújar
Guest Editors

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