Dormancy and Germination
Henk W. M. Hilhorst, Leónie Bentsink, Maarten Koornneef
Abstract
Dormancy is a term that is used to denote a state of a plant or plant organ that is generally characterized by the virtual absence of metabolic activity and/or a lack of further development and growth. It is found among most known forms of plant life and may occur in seeds, bulbs, tubers, buds, and whole plants. Dormancy is a trait that has been acquired during evolution by selection for the capacity to survive unfavorable environmental conditions, such as heat, cold, and drought. There are indications that the evolutionary origin of dormancy is related to climatic changes during Earth’s history. This is supported by observations that the number of plant species with dormancy generally increases with the geographical distance from the equator and, hence, with the amount of variation in precipitation and temperature (Baskin and Baskin, 1998). There is, however, little doubt that the phenomenon of dormancy has significantly contributed to the development of new species and the successful dispersion of those already present (Baskin and Baskin, 1998).