Study
Seed germination and dormancy
Bewley, J. Derek
The Plant Cell, 1997
A synthesis of the physiology of germination: the three phases of water uptake, the resumption of metabolism, the mobilisation of stored reserves, and the hormonal control that keeps a viable seed dormant until conditions are right.
- Studied in
- Angiospermae
- Sample size
- synthesis of seed physiology across species
Germination begins with rapid imbibition, plateaus while metabolism restarts and reserves mobilise, then resumes as the radicle elongates and breaks through the seed coat — the event that defines germination as complete. Dormancy is actively maintained, largely by abscisic acid, and released by gibberellins.
What it means
The authors' reading, and ours. Where they differ, that difference is the point.
How the authors put it
Germination is a controlled developmental programme, and dormancy is an active state rather than the absence of activity.
How NatureHQ reads it
The point that reframes everything: a dormant seed is not simply waiting, it is being actively held back. Dormancy is a maintained state with its own hormonal machinery, which is why a seed can sit in soil for decades and then germinate the week a tree falls. It also explains why germination is defined by the radicle emerging rather than by anything greening — the visible seedling is well after the fact.
- A synthesis; species differ enormously in dormancy type and requirement.
- Weighted towards crop and model species that germinate readily.
- Molecular understanding has advanced considerably since.
What this study is used for on NatureHQ
One study can inform several subjects. Here is everywhere this one is cited.
Published by: Academic book publishersPublished as an academic monograph.
This reference was resolved automatically against Crossref on 2026-08-11.
NatureHQ summarises research in its own words and does not reproduce published text. Reviewed 2026-08-10.