Chapter 18: Seed Dormancy, Germination, and Seedling Establishment

The chapter details the molecular basis of dormancy breaking, examining how environmental cues such as temperature fluctuations, light exposure, and moisture availability trigger germination through hormone signaling cascades and gene expression changes. Germination physiology receives extensive coverage, including water uptake phases, metabolic reactivation, reserve mobilization from endosperm and cotyledons, and the coordination between different tissue types during early growth. The discussion progresses to seedling establishment processes, exploring how emerging plants transition from heterotrophic to autotrophic nutrition, establish functional root and shoot systems, and respond to environmental stresses during this vulnerable developmental phase. Particular attention is given to the integration of multiple signaling pathways that coordinate dormancy release with favorable environmental conditions, ensuring successful establishment. The chapter also addresses practical applications in agriculture and ecology, examining how understanding these processes informs crop production strategies, seed storage techniques, and restoration ecology practices, while connecting fundamental physiological mechanisms to real-world plant establishment success.