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Cellular Events during Germination and Seedling Growth

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Seeds

Abstract

When dry, viable seeds imbibe water, a chain of events is initiated which ultimately results in the emergence of the radicle, signifying that germination has been successfully completed. On imbibition, metabolism quickly recommences. Respiration, enzyme and organelle activity, and RNA and protein synthesis are fundamental cellular activities intimately involved in germination and the preparation for subsequent growth. It is not surprising, therefore, that most research into the biochemistry of germination and growth has concentrated on these events in an attempt to elucidate the key processes which lead to the successful completion of germination. Even so, the amount of research on germination is very scanty, especially compared with that on seed development, and only sporadic progress has been made.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    J. Derek Bewley

  2. Division of Life Sciences, King’s College, University of London, London, England

    Michael Black

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  1. J. Derek Bewley
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  2. Michael Black
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© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Bewley, J.D., Black, M. (1994). Cellular Events during Germination and Seedling Growth. In: Seeds. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1002-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1002-8_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-44748-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1002-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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