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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2014, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (1): 328-338.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb20140139

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Mechanisms for plants detecting the optimum time and place to germinate

ZHANG Jia-ning1,2,LIU Kun2   

  1. 1.Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of Gansu,Lanzhou 730000,China;
    2.School of Life Sciences,State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems,Lanzhou University,Lanzhou 730000,China
  • Received:2013-07-28 Online:2014-02-20 Published:2014-02-20

Abstract: Germination is a critical transition (from seed to seedling) for plants adaption,because it determines the context for subsequent development and natural selection. Thus,to determine the optimum germination time and space is especially important,it has great effect on plant survival,competition,and reproduction. Temperature,soil moisture and photoperiod are the most important factors that can affect germination season. These factors can directly regulate seed germination season or regulate seed germination season by affecting seed dormancy status. Light (including quantity and quality of light),diurnal temperature fluctuation,nitrate and fire are the most common factors that can regulate seed germination place. These factors can limit seed germination to vegetation gaps,which is very benefit for seedling emergence and establishment. Abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA) are the two most common hormones that affect dormancy and germination (ABA,inducing and maintenance of seed dormancy; GA,releasing of dormancy and improving of germination potential). Environmental factors can affect expression of genes that regulate the biosynthesis,catabolism,signaling of ABA and GA,which results in optimum germination time and place: temperature can regulate expression of genes that related to the biosynthesis,catabolism,signaling of ABA and GA,as a result,germination occurs in the optimum time for seedling establishment; light can increase the expression of GA3ox1 (the GA biosynthesis gene),and nitrate can increase the expression of CYP707A2 (A gene of ABA catabolism),thus,light and nitrate can help plant germinate in place where is in favour of seedling establishment.

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