Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-kwt9d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-12T16:44:35.884Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Plant hormone interactions during seed dormancy release and germination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2007

Birgit Kucera
Affiliation:
Institute of Biology II, Botany/Plant Physiology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, D-79104, Freiburg, i. Br., Germany
Marc Alan Cohn
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 302 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA
Gerhard Leubner-Metzger*
Affiliation:
Institute of Biology II, Botany/Plant Physiology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, D-79104, Freiburg, i. Br., Germany
*
*Correspondence: Fax: +49 761 2032612 Email: gerhard.leubner@biologie.uni-freiburg.de,; Website: The Seed Biology Place http://www.seedbiology.de/
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the 'Save PDF' action button.

This review focuses mainly on eudicot seeds, and on the interactions between abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellins (GA), ethylene, brassinosteroids (BR), auxin and cytokinins in regulating the interconnected molecular processes that control dormancy release and germination. Signal transduction pathways, mediated by environmental and hormonal signals, regulate gene expression in seeds. Seed dormancy release and germination of species with coat dormancy is determined by the balance of forces between the growth potential of the embryo and the constraint exerted by the covering layers, e.g. testa and endosperm. Recent progress in the field of seed biology has been greatly aided by molecular approaches utilizing mutant and transgenic seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana and the Solanaceae model systems, tomato and tobacco, which are altered in hormone biology. ABA is a positive regulator of dormancy induction and most likely also maintenance, while it is a negative regulator of germination. GA releases dormancy, promotes germination and counteracts ABA effects. Ethylene and BR promote seed germination and also counteract ABA effects. We present an integrated view of the molecular genetics, physiology and biochemistry used to unravel how hormones control seed dormancy release and germination.

Information

Type
Invited Review
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005