We have reviewed seed dormancy and germination in the Rubiaceae, the fourth-largest angiosperm family (in terms of species richness), in relation to ecology, life form, biogeography and phylogeny (subfamily/tribe). Life forms include trees, shrubs, vines and herbs, and tropical rainforest trees have the greatest number of tribes and species. The family has five kinds of embryos: investing, linear-full

Although seed trait variations and their relationship to the ecological niche have been studied extensively at the species level, they do not necessarily reflect variations at the population level. In this study, we explored the intra-specific variation in relative embryo length, seed mass and germination speed in 40 populations of Daucus carota distributed across Europe and North America. By including

Nypa fruticans Wurmb is both a relic plant and a true mangrove. In China, wild populations are distributed only on Hainan Island and face significant challenges in regeneration from seedlings. This study explored the underlying causes of recruitment limitation by examining seed morphological traits from three distinct populations (Haikou, Wenchang and Wanning) and analysing seed germination and seedling

Seed longevity influences the success of ex situ storage and preservation of plant genetic diversity and is thus a critical factor in conservation efforts. Rapid seed ageing experiments at high temperature and high humidity have been widely used to classify seed longevity for hundreds of plant species, with potential implications for longevity in ex situ conservation. In this approach, radicle emergence

The endemic tree Neltuma caldenia Burk. and the shrub Neltuma flexuosa var depressa F.A. Roig (Fabaceae; subfam: Mimosoideae) are two promising species from the central region of Argentina, with high potential for use in the restoration of disturbed environments, for extensive livestock grazing and apiculture. Both species have seeds with physical dormancy. Ecological study of native species is important

The performance of plants in any one generation can be influenced not just by the prevailing biotic and abiotic factors, but also by those factors experienced by the parental generation. These maternal effects have been recorded in an array of plant species, but most studies tend to focus on abiotic factors over two generations. Here we show that maternal effects in the annual forb Senecio vulgaris

Seed genebanks must maintain collections of healthy seeds and regenerate accessions before seed viability declines. Seed shelf life is often characterized at the species level; however, large, unexplained variation among genetic lines within a species can and does occur. This variation contributes to unreliable predictions of seed quality decline with storage time. To assess variation of seed longevity

Seeds of many Amazonian floodplain forest trees are dispersed during high-water periods and spend weeks or months underwater until the flooding retreats. To assess whether prolonged seed submersion affects germination and early seedling development, an experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with seeds of Campsiandra laurifolia, Cassia leiandra, Crataeva tapia, Ilex inundata, Macrolobium acaciifolium

The environment experienced by a plant before and after reproduction can have a profound effect on the behaviour of the progeny after shedding. Maternal environmental effects on seeds are important for phenology and fitness in plants, especially for bet-hedging reproductive strategies. Maternal tissues that disperse with seeds are important for dormancy in many species, particularly those with coat-imposed

Several experimental tools allow researchers to manipulate environmental variables to simulate future climate change scenarios during in situ seed ecology studies. The most common ones are designed to modify a single environmental variable. For example, open-top chambers (OTCs) increase temperature or rain-out shelters decrease precipitation. However, changes in environmental variables in the future

Grass seeds play a critical and fundamental role in grass breeding and production. Elymus sibiricus L. is a widespread Poaceae forage grass in northern Eurasia which is used for ecological restoration and forage production. Sucrose is the main source of substrate and energy required for starch synthesis in the seeds, so the hydrolysis of sucrose determines and influences starch synthesis and filling

Seed dormancy in plants can have a significant impact on their ecology. Recent work by Rojas-Villa and Quijano-Abril (2023) classified the seed dormancy class in 14 plant species from the Andean forests of Colombia by using germination trials and several microscopy techniques to describe seed anatomy and morphology. The authors conclude that Cecropia species have both physical and physiological dormancy

Seed germination is a pivotal period of plant growth and development. This process can be divided into four major stages, swelling absorption, seed coat dehiscence, radicle emergence and radicle elongation. Cupressus gigantea, a tree native to Tibet, China, is characterized by its resistance to stresses such as cold, and drought, and has a high economic and ecological value. Nevertheless, given its

Seed dormancy is an important trait associated with pre-sprouting and malting quality in barley. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have been used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying complex traits in major crops. In the present study, we collected 295 barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) accessions from Australia, Europe, Canada and China. A total of 25,179 single nucleotide polymorphism

Time-separated seed collections with a separation period of 12–18 years were used to study recent changes in germination traits and the role of climate factors in seven tropical dry forest (TDF) woody species in Zambia, southern Africa. In all the species, peak and final germination were lower in recent (2016–2021) seed collections than in historic (1998–2005) seed collections during the first germination

Alpine plant species are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Temperature fluctuations are projected to be most severe at high elevations. Even small shifts in temperature have major consequences on phenology, reproduction, and community composition. Early life stages are arguably the most important processes in the fitness of an individual plant and the dynamics and persistence of plant populations

The assessment of seed quality and physiological potential is essential in seed production and crop breeding. In the process of rapid detection of seed viability using tetrazolium (TZ) staining, it is necessary to spend a lot of labour and material resources to explore the pretreatment and staining methods of hard and solid seeds with physical barriers. This study explores the TZ staining methods of

This work provides insights into the deterioration of cacti seeds of Escontria chiotilla (F.A.C. Weber ex K. Schum) and Stenocereus pruinosus (Otto ex Pfeiff.) Buxbaum stored ex situ at 25 °C, under dry and dark conditions or buried in situ conditions in a xerophytic shrubland. Viability, germination speed, electrolyte leakage and indicators of the redox balance including glutathione content, glutathione

The germination percentage (GP) is commonly employed to estimate the viability of a seed population. Statistical methods such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) and logistic regression are frequently used to analyse GP data. While ANOVA has a long history of usage, logistic regression is considered more suitable for GP data due to its binomial nature. However, both methods have inherent issues that require

Climate variability is expected to increase due to climate change, with projected increases in temperature and erratic rainfall patterns. These changes will alter the environmental cues sensed by seeds, and therefore will impact plant recruitment. This study investigated the effects of seed functional traits (germinability, germination time, synchrony and seed mass) on germination responses of several

Desiccation tolerance (DT) of seeds, one of the plant's environmental adaptation mechanisms, allows them to survive as seeds in a quiescent state under extremely water-deficient conditions during the plant's life cycle, followed by seed germination and seedling establishment under favourable water conditions. The seed-DT is lost after radicle emergence; however, there is a developmental period called

‘Seed heteromorphism’ is a broadly- and loosely-defined term used to describe differences in size/mass, morphology, position on mother plants and ecological function (e.g. dispersal, dormancy/germination) of two or more seeds or other diaspores produced by an individual plant. The primary aim of this review paper was to characterize via an in-depth classification scheme the physical structural design

Statistical significance, or lack thereof, is often erroneously interpreted as a measure of the magnitude of effects, correlations between variables or practical relevance of research results. However, calculated P-values do not provide any information of this sort. Alternatively, effect sizes as measured by effect size indices provide complementary information to results of statistical hypothesis

Small isolated plant populations are one of the consequences of fragmentation of natural habitats by humans. We asked what effect does the creation of smaller populations from larger ones has on the plant fitness-related trait seed germination. Using information on 119 species (142 species entries) in 50 families, we found that seeds in only 35.2% of the species entries from larger populations germinated

The intraspecific variations of phenotypic traits in the early life stages, such as seed germination and seedling establishment, are important components affecting species adaptation and differentiation. As one of the most common ways in which seeds are maintained, dry storage usually affects these traits, by either increasing or decreasing variation among populations. However, little is known about

Scientists are becoming increasingly aware that disparities in opportunities for conducting and publishing research among scientists living under different socio-economic contexts have created pervasive biases and long-lasting impacts on our views of the natural world. These disparities are challenging the establishment of a global research agenda for a variety of disciplines, including seed ecology

Light and temperature conditions trigger germination in specific temporal windows and microhabitats, thus determining the germination niche of plant species. Manihot species grow in fire-prone ecosystems and their seeds show heat tolerance. Successful establishment in disturbed environments might be related to seed attributes that allow seeds to cope with or avoid stressful environments. We studied

Palmitoyl-protein thioesterase (PPT), involved in the fatty acid synthesis and the de-palmitoylation of protein, was induced under ecological cooling treatment in hydrated lettuce seeds. However, there was no significant difference in fatty acid levels between the control and the cooled samples. To further study the function of PPT, 2-bromopalmitic acid (2-Bp), an inhibitor of protein palmitoylation

In this review, we explore the origin of the rudimentary embryo, its relationship to other kinds of plant embryos and its role in the diversification of angiosperms. Rudimentary embryos have a length:width ratio of ≤2.0, and they have organs, including cotyledon(s) and a primary root. A literature survey failed to reveal rudimentary embryos in the pre-angiosperms, suggesting that this kind of embryo

Understanding seed moisture desorption and adsorption isotherms is important for seed quality maintenance and better predicting seed storage lifespan. Freshly harvested oilseed rape and barley seeds were dried and then rehydrated twice. Seed equilibrium relative humidity (eRH) and moisture content (MC) were determined at different humidity levels so that two cycles of desorption and adsorption could

Seed dormancy is a key trait used around the world to help understand the ecological dynamics of plant species, however, in some ecosystems such as the Andean forests of Colombia, the identification of dormancy class remains poorly known. To address this, we described the morphology, anatomy and dormancy class of the seeds and fruits of 14 species using microtome sections, light microscopy and scanning

Mangroves are one of the most important ecosystems in the world being found in the tropical–subtropical belt. Despite their significance, they have been highly disturbed due to many anthropogenic and natural causes. A significant effort has been made to restore mangroves around the world. However, a lack of information on the seed biology of mangrove species has impeded restoration. Thus, this study

Southern European peninsulas have repeatedly played notable roles as refuges in the natural history of flora during periods of glaciation. Euonymus latifolius (Celastraceae) is a relict species from the last Würmian glaciation in the Iberian Peninsula. It still lives with isolated populations in favourable, cool mountainous microhabitats, being an extremely rare, critically endangered species. These

Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel has been widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. With the deepening of clinical application, the research on its plant resources has attracted much attention. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of distinct germination during Pulsatilla seed development are still mostly unknown. Therefore, in this study, four germination stages of P. chinensis seeds,

The Asteraceae with up to 30,000 species occurs on all continents except Antarctica and in all major vegetation zones on earth. Our primary aim was to consider cypselae dormancy-break and germination of Asteraceae in relation to ecology, vegetation zones and evolution. Cypselae are desiccation-tolerant and in various tribes, genera, species and life forms of Asteraceae are either non-dormant (ND) or

The obligate root parasite Cistanche armena is a recently rediscovered, extremely rare endangered species endemic to Armenia, specifically parasitizing camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum, Fabaceae) and saltwort (Salsola dendroides, Chenopodiaceae). Its populations are reputedly declining due to habitat destruction and biotic impacts. Since the only known means of its reproduction is via the seeds, understanding

Cumulative oxidation of cellular macromolecules during storage reduces seed longevity. This study was undertaken to unravel the physiological and biochemical changes in rice seeds that contribute to deterioration during storage. Rice seeds maintained at three different seed moisture contents (SMC; 10, 12 and 14%) were stored in airtight glass jars. Half of the jars were flushed with nitrogen gas to

Dormancy-breaking requirements and level of morphophysiological dormancy (MPD) were determined for seeds of Ilex formosana and I. uraiensis from the subtropical region, and seeds of I. rotunda from both the subtropical and tropical regions of Taiwan. We hypothesized that some Ilex species would have deep simple MPD broken by warm stratification. Germination of seeds and embryo growth was monitored

The evaluation of the genetic quality of a seed lot is crucial for the quality control process in its production and commercialization, as well as in the identification of superior genotypes and the verification of the correct crossing in plant breeding programmes. Current techniques, based on the identification of seed morphological characteristics, require skilled analysts, while biochemical methods

Reproductive strategies for specific populations are closely related to environmental factors. Consequently, they are fundamental for conservation plans and the management of threatened habitats like salt marshes. From this viewpoint, germination strategy under different temperatures and salt conditions, voltammetric parameters and molecular analysis were performed and compared in six Halocnemum populations

Post-fire flowering (PFF) species resprout, flower and disperse seeds within weeks after fire. This may be an important strategy to recruit new individuals and colonize the gaps opened by fire. The seeds released in the post-fire environment may interact with byproducts derived from plant burning, and the resulting ash may have compounds that can promote the germination of various seeds, particularly

Despite the importance of secondary dormancy for plant life cycle timing and survival, there is insufficient knowledge about the (epigenetic) regulation of this trait at the molecular level. Our aim was to determine the role of (epi)genetic processes in the regulation of secondary seed dormancy using natural genotypes of the widely distributed Capsella bursa-pastoris. Seeds of nine ecotypes were exposed

Generally, orchids produce dust-like seeds in which endosperm reduction and embryo undifferentiation represent a derived state shared with species in about 11 other plant families. Orchid seeds are proposed to have a special kind of morphological or morphophysiological dormancy. We test this proposition, overcoming several design limitations of earlier studies, specifically that the in vitro germination

Information in the literature and unpublished results of the authors on Dobinea were used to determine the kind [class(es)] of seed (true seed + endocarp) dormancy and of non-dormancy of genera in all five tribes of Anacardiaceae, and the results were examined in relation to the taxonomic position and endocarp anatomy within the family. Reports of both seed germination and endocarp anatomy were found

Zephyranthes tubispathais an ornamental species distributed along several countries of South America. Although it can be multiplied through bulbs or scales, seed germination is a simpler and more cost-effective process. Temperature plays a major role in the control of germination; however, its effect has been scarcely investigated in this species. In the present work, we characterized the germination

We explored the seed-associated bacterial endophytic microbiome in seeds of the endemic holoparasitic species Cistanche armena from a saline and arid habitat in Armenia. A combination of culture-dependent and molecular techniques was employed for identifying the seed endomicrobiome (culturable and unculturable). From surface-sterilized seeds, 10 phyla, comprising 256 endophytic bacterial genera, were

Seed health is an indispensable prerequisite of food security. While the toolkit of plant protection products is currently limited, evidence suggests that the seed microbiome could protect seeds from pathogens. Thus, given their possible disease suppressive potential, we tested 11 different pathosystems to achieve the following proof-of-concept: seed microbiomes can be beneficial for seed health through

In small seeds, light often promotes germination and longer-term exposure to darkness reduces light sensitivity. In cacti inhabiting harsh environments, a rapid response to light exposure is potentially advantageous for seedling establishment. We exposed dark-imbibed seeds of the cactus Cereus repandus to doses of red (RED) light and far-red (FR) light. The seeds exhibited positive photoblastism to

The objective of this study was to test the tolerance of two species of Schinus and two species of Handroanthus cultivated in iron mining tailings from the rupture of the dam in Mariana, Brazil. Samples of mining tailings were collected 1 km away from the dam location and then dried, stored in plastic bags and further analysed for elemental composition. The seeds, later seedlings, were cultivated in

Plant community-level studies on seed dormancy traits are important to understand and determine the significance of seed dormancy in different ecosystems. Hence, we studied seed dormancy and other related seed biological traits of 42 selected tropical lowland rainforest tree species from Sri Lanka, aiming to address seed dormancy class(es) for a biodiverse tropical lowland wet zone forest community

The Brazilian Cerrado, a Neotropical savanna, is a fire-prone ecosystem where the ground layer biomass consists mainly of graminoids. However, as for other savannas, the effects of fire cues (such as smoke) on Cerrado grasses do not present a clear pattern, either for germination or seedling development. Smoke can stimulate different stages of the plant life cycle, which can alter the community and

Cistus species have seeds with hard coats which impose physical seed dormancy that can be released after seed scarification. In fire-prone habitats, the break of physical seed dormancy is usually related to the heat produced during fires. It is commonly accepted that most hard-seeded species, including those of the genus Cistus, are able to germinate under a wide range of temperatures in light as well

Fire stimulates the germination of most seeds in fire-prone vegetation. Fruits of Leucadendron (Proteaceae) are winged achenes or nutlets that correlate with their requirements for smoke and/or heat in promoting germination. We describe five possible smoke–heat dormancy-release/germination syndromes among plants, of which Leucadendron displays three (no response, smoke only, smoke and heat). As seed-coat

Germination of seeds of some summer annuals in Kentucky (eastern USA) in late-winter lead to the hypothesis that under present climate conditions the whole length of the winter cold stratification (CS) period is not required for dormancy-break of seeds of summer annuals with physiological dormancy (PD). We evaluated our data from germination phenology studies of 45 species (69 datasets) and buried-seed

Cumulative oxidative damage from the unavoidable formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to seed ageing. Low-molecular-weight (LMW) antioxidants, such as water-soluble glutathione (GSH) and lipid-soluble tocochromanols, can prevent ROS from causing damage, especially when antioxidant enzymes are inactive due to desiccation. However, loss of tocochromanols does not always accompany seed

Oxygen is a major factor of seed germination since it allows resumption of respiration and subsequent metabolism reactivation during seed imbibition, thus leading to the production of reducing power and ATP. Most studies carried out in the 60s to 85s indicate that oxygen requirement depends on the species and is modulated by environmental factors. They have also demonstrated that the covering structures

Coastal desert vegetation of the Arabian Peninsula is almost entirely dominated by halophytes. Natural populations provide a genetic resource for ecological remediation and may also have direct economic value. High intrapopulation variation of seed traits is presumed to increase population persistence in the unpredictable climatic conditions of this hyper-arid desert. We investigated whether intrapopulation

We investigated the thermal thresholds to seed germination and the variations in abscisic acid (ABA) levels and oxidative metabolism during seed dormancy-breaking and germination in two palm species with differences in desiccation tolerance. We used Mauritia flexuosa (buriti palm, desiccation-sensitive seeds) from swampy habitats (Veredas) and Attalea speciosa (babassu, desiccation-tolerant seeds)

Seeds show important variation as plant regenerative units among species, but their evolutionary co-variations with other plant characteristics are still poorly understood. Whilst a positive association of seed mass with genome size (GS) and life forms has already been documented, a broad-scale quantification of their evolutionary correlation and adaptive selection has never been conducted. Here, we

Developmental signals and environmental stresses regulate carbon distribution in the vegetative and reproductive organs of plants and affect seed yield. Cleistogenes songorica is a xerophytic grass with great potential application value in ecological restoration. However, how carbohydrate transport and distribution during grain filling affect the seed yield of C. songorica under water stress is not