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Title: CHARACTERIZATION OF GENES EXPRESSED WHEN DORMANT SEEDS OF CEREALS AND WILD GRASSES ARE HYDRATED AND REMAIN GROWTH-ARRESTED

Author
item WALKER SIMMONS M - 5348-05-00
item GOLDMARK PETER J - DJR RESEARCH, OKANOGAN WA

Submitted to: Plant Dormancy Symposium
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/13/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Review of book chapter. Interpretive Summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: This chapter describes recent progress in identifying and characterizing genes expressed when dormant seeds of cereals and wild grasses are hydrated and remain growth arrested. The molecular and biochemical constraints that impose dormancy in hydrated seeds are not yet known. During the first hours after imbibition both dormant and nondormant seeds display the same physiological responses including similar rates of water uptake and new protein synthesis (Bewley and Black, 1985). After further hydration nondormant seeds exhibit cell expansion and seed germination, while dormant seeds remain growth arrested. By characterizing the genes that are expressed in hydrated dormant seeds and not in germinating seeds, it is our intent to advance understanding of the mechanisms that impose seed dormancy in mature cereal and wild grass seeds.