Physiology and Biochemistry of Seeds in Relation to Germination

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1. Viability and Longevity.
• 1.1 The Life-Span of Seeds.
• 1.1.1 The Oldest Seeds — from the Pharoah’s Tomb to the Incendiary Bomb.
• 1.1.2 Life-Span of Seeds Buried in Soil.
• 1.2 Viability of Seeds in Storage.
• 1.2.1 Recalcitrant Seeds.
• 1.2.2 Orthodox Seeds.
• 1.2.3 The Basic Viability Equations.
• 1.2.4 Improved Viability Equations.
• 1.3 Microflora and Seed Deterioration.
• 1.4 The Biochemical Basis of Deterioration.
• 1.5 Respiration and the Production of ATP.
• 1.5.1 Non-Viable Seeds and Embryos.
• 1.5.2 Seed Populations with Reduced Viability and/or Vigour.
• 1.6 Protein and RNA Synthesis.
• 1.7 Chromosome Aberrations and DNA Synthesis.
• 1.7.1 Chromosome Damage and Repair.
• 1.8 Metabolism of Dry Seeds.
• 1.9 Changes in Food Reserves.
• 1.10 Free Fatty Acids and Interference with Metabolism.
• 1.11 Membrane Changes and Leakage.
• 1.11.1 Leakage of Metabolites and Integrity of the Bounding Membranes.
• 1.11.2 The Nature and Cause of Membrane Damage.
• Some Works of General Interest.
• References.
• 2. Dormancy.
• 2.1 What is Dormancy?.
• 2.1.1 Categories of Dormancy.
• 2.1.2 Biological Significance of Seed Dormancy.
• 2.1.3 Dormancy in Cultivated Plants.
• 2.1.4 Polymorphism and Heteroblasty.
• 2.2 Dormancy Mechanisms.
• 2.3 Embryo Dormancy.
• 2.3.1 Control Mechanisms in Embryo Dormancy.
• 2.3.2 The Role of the Cotyledons.
• 2.3.3 The Role of Inhibitors.
• 2.3.4 Embryo Immaturity.
• 2.4 Coat-imposed Dormancy.
• 2.4.1 Interference with Water Uptake.
• 2.4.2 Interference with Gaseous Exchange.
• 2.4.3 Inhibitors in the Coat.
• 2.4.4 Prevention of the Escape of Inhibitors.
• 2.4.5 The Coat as a Light Filter.
• 2.4.6 Mechanical Restraint.
• 2.5 Two Case Histories.
• 2.5.1 Sinapis arvensis (Charlock).
• 2.5.2 Xanthium pennsylvanicum (Cocklebur).
• 2.6 Coat-imposed Dormancy — a Retrospective View..
• 2.7 Relationships Between Coat-imposed and Embryo Dormancy.
• 2.8 The Onset of Dormancy.
• 2.8.1 Timing.
• 2.8.2 Control.
• 2.8.3 The Genetic Factor.
• 2.8.4 Environmental Factors.
• 2.8.5 Correlative Effects.
• 2.8.6 Hormones.
• 2.8.7 Secondary or Induced Dormancy.
• 2.8.8 The Development of Hard Coats.
• 2.9 Endogenous Germination Inhibitors.
• 2.9.1 Chemical Nature of Inhibitors.
• 3. The Release from Dormancy.
• 3.1 Light and Phytochrome.
• 3.2 The Phytochrome System.
• 3.2.1 Spectral Sensitivity and Photoreversibility.
• 3.2.2 Energies for Photoconversion.
• 3.2.3 The Escape Time.
• 3.2.4 Phytochrome Photoequilibria.
• 3.2.5 Chemistry of Phytochrome.
• 3.2.6 The Pathway of Phytochrome Photoconversion.
• 3.2.7 The State of Phytochrome in Seeds.
• 3.2.8 Seed Hydration and Sensitivity to Light.
• 3.2.9 Reversion of Pfr in Darkness.
• 3.2.10 Thermal Processes Connected with Phytochrome Action.
• 3.2.11 Phytochrome Location and the Photosensitive Site.
• 3.3 Phytochrome — an Overview.
• 3.4 Blue Light Effects.
• 3.5 Response Types.
• 3.6 Temperature and the Action of Light.
• 3.6.1 Constant Temperature.
• 3.6.2 Temperature Alternations and Shifts.
• 3.6.3 Chilling.
• 3.7 Temperature and the Release from Dormancy.
• 3.8 Termination of Dormancy by Temperature Alternations and Shifts.
• 3.9 Termination of Dormancy by Low Temperature.
• 3.9.1 Response Types.
• 3.9.2 Temperature and Time Requirements.
• 3.10 Termination of Dormancy by High Temperature.
• 3.11 Loss of Dormancy in Dry Seeds — After-ripening.
• 3.11.1 Moisture Content.
• 3.11.2 Temperature.
• 3.11.3 Oxygen.
• 3.12 Finale — Replacements and Interactions.
• 3.13 Hard-coated Seeds.
• 3.14 Removal of Dormancy by Chemicals.
• 3.14.1 Growth Regulators.
• 3.14.2 Gibberellins.
• 3.14.3 Cytokinins.
• 3.14.4 Ethylene.
• 3.14.5 Plant and Fungal Products.
• 3.14.6 Respiratory Inhibitors.
• 3.14.7 Oxidants.
• 3.14.8 Nitrogenous Compounds.
• 3.14.9 Sulfhydryl Compounds.
• 3.14.10 Various Other Chemicals Including Anaesthetics.
• 4. The Control of Dormancy.
• 4.1 Introduction.
• 4.2 Dormancy — Events and Causes.
• 4.2.1 Metabolism of Dormant and After-ripened Seeds.
• 4.2.2 Dormancy and Maturation.
• 4.2.3 Chemical Inhibition.
• 4.2.4 Membrane Properties and Dormancy.
• 4.3 Primary Events in the Release of Dormancy.
• 4.3.1 Phytochrome Action.
• 4.3.2 Chilling Action.
• 4.3.3 Alternating Temperatures and After-ripening.
• 4.4 Secondary Events in the Release from Dormancy — Physiological Considerations.
• 4.4.1 Hormones and Dormancy.
• 4.4.2 Hormones and Light-terminated Dormancy.
• 4.4.3 Hormones and the Low-temperature Release from Dormancy.
• 4.4.4 Ethylene and Dormancy.
• 4.4.5 Water Relations and Growth Potentials.
• 4.5 Secondary Events in the Release from Dormancy — Metabolic Considerations.
• 4.5.1 Perpetuated Misinterpretations of Studies on Dormancybreaking Mechanisms.
• 4.5.2 Hormonal Effects on Nucleic Acid and Protein Synthesis.
• 4.5.3 Fusicoccin and Cell Elongation.
• 4.5.4 Hormonal Effects on Respiration.
• 4.5.5 The Pentose Phosphate Pathway — a Role in Dormancy Breaking?.
• 4.5.6 Phytochrome-induced Changes in Metabolism.
• 4.5.7 Low temperature-induced Changes in Metabolism.
• 5. Perspective on Dormancy.
• 6. Environmental Control of Germination.
• 6.1 Introduction.
• 6.2 Light.
• 6.2.1 Light-inhibited Seeds.
• 6.2.2 Dual Effects of Light.
• 6.3 Spectral Effects in Photoinhibition.
• 6.3.1 Short-Duration and Intermittent Far-Red Light.
• 6.3.2 Prolonged or High-Irradiance Far-Red Light.
• 6.3.3 Inhibition by Prolonged Blue Light.
• 6.3.4 Suppression of Germination by White Light — A Re-Examination.
• 6.4 Light and Seed Burial.
• 6.5 Shade and Seed Germination.
• 6.6 Temperature.
• 6.6.1 Temperature Minima, Optima and Maxima.
• 6.6.2 Temperature and Germination Rate.
• 6.6.3 The Action of Temperature.
• 6.6.4 Temperature and Germination Ecology.
• 6.6.5 Geographical Adaptation and Plant Distribution.
• 6.6.6 Chilling Injury.
• 6.6.7 Alternating Temperatures.
• 6.7 Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide.
• 6.8 Secondary Dormancy.
• 6.8.1 Mechanism of Secondary Dormancy.
• 6.8.2 Secondary Dormancy in Nature.
• 6.9 Water Stress.
• 6.9.1 Drought During Seed Development and Maturation.
• 6.9.2 Germination Under Stress.
• 6.9.3 Dehydration and Rehydration Following Imbibition — Effects on Germination.
• 6.9.4 Dehydration and Rehydration Following Imbibition — Effects on Growth, Yield and Tolerance: Drought-Hardening.
• 6.9.5 Osmotic Pretreatment — the Priming of Seeds.
• 6.9.6 Salinity Stress.
• 6.9.7 Cellular Changes Associated with Dehydration-Rehydration Treatments.
• 6.9.8 Changes to Membranes Induced by Desiccation-Rehydration Treatments.
• 6.9.9 Desiccation-Induced Changes to Metabolism and Structure.
• Glossary and Index of English and Botanical Names.
• Author Index.