Seed Dormancy and Germination - Bradbeer, J. W.; SpringerLink (Online service) (Boston, MA : Springer US, 1988)
1 The Seed -- The role of the seed -- Germination -- The germination test -- Dormancy -- 2 Seed Formation -- Morphological aspects of seed formation -- Gymnosperms -- Angiosperms -- Physiological and biochemical aspects of seed formation -- Experimental approaches to embryogenesis -- 3 Seed Structure and Composition -- Some seed types -- Dehiscent seeds -- Indehiscent seeds -- Seed size -- Seed reserve substances -- 4 Germination -- The physical requirements for germination -- The morphology of seed germination -- Comparative morphology of seedlings -- The physiology of germination -- Imbibition -- Growth and seedling establishment -- Etiolation -- Development of the photosynthetic machinery -- The biochemistry of germination -- Mobilization of reserves -- Protein synthesis -- 5 The Mechanisms of Seed Dormancy -- Dormancy caused by embryo coverings -- The restriction of gaseous exchange by embryo coverings -- The restriction of water uptake by embryo coverings -- Mechanical restriction of embryo growth -- Water-soluble inhibitors in the embryo coverings -- Dormancy from the failure to mobilize extra-embryonic food reserves -- Embryo dormancy -- Underdeveloped and undifferentiated embryos -- The mechanism of embryo dormancy -- Endogenous inhibitors in embryo dormancy -- The possession of more than one dormancy mechanism -- 6 The Breaking of Seed Dormancy -- Dormancy breaking by single factors -- Chilling -- The mechanism of dormancy breaking during chilling of hazel seeds -- Dry storage and/or exposure of dry seeds to elevated temperatures -- Light -- Leaching -- Scarification -- Treatment with chemicals -- Dormancy breaking by fluctuating temperature -- Dormancy breaking by two or more factors -- Molecular mechanisms of the breaking of seed dormancy -- 7 Seeds in the Natural Environment -- The seed bank of the soil -- The effect of light in dormancybreaking in seeds in the seed bank -- The effects of seasonal conditions on the germination of seeds in the seed bank -- Laboratory investigation of germination characteristics of the species in the British flora -- Seed production and dispersal -- 8 Seed Viability and Vigour -- Viability -- Vigour -- Factors affecting the maintenance of viability and vigour during storage -- Moisture content -- Temperature -- Oxygen concentration -- The mechanism of ageing -- Seed longevity -- 9 Seed Technology -- Seed quality and seed testing -- Seed and crop production -- Seed germination and establishment -- Seed production -- Harvest, postharvest treatments and storage -- Genotype preservation in seed banks -- Seed technology and plant breeding -- Vernalization -- Seed technology in the developing world -- 10 An Experimental Approach to Seed Biology -- The procedure for an investigation of the seed biology of the natural flora of a temperate zone -- Seed collection -- Seed treatments -- Germination tests -- Further ways for the investigation and breaking of seed dormancy -- Problems with infected seed samples -- The seed bank in the soil -- Seed biology as an open-ended research problem -- References.
Keywords: Science; Science; Science, general