Seed Dormancy

Tina Steinbrecher; Kai Graeber; Kazumi Nakabayashi; Gerhard Leubner-Metzger

doi:10.1016/B978-0-443-40403-0.00007-X

Seed Dormancy

Tina Steinbrecher
, Kai Graeber
, Kazumi Nakabayashi
, Gerhard Leubner-Metzger

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

Seed dormancy is a temporary intrinsic block to germination which has evolved differently across species through adaptation to the prevailing environments so that germination is timed to avoid unfavorable weather for subsequent plant establishment and reproductive growth. A classification system for the different forms of dormancy and how these evolved has been proposed by seed ecologists. Here we describe the environmental and hormonal regulation, as well as the underlying molecular and biomechanical mechanisms of physiological dormancy, the most abundant and best investigated dormancy class and discuss other, far-less understood, dormancy classes. Mechanisms involved in primary dormancy induction during seed maturation, dormancy release after seed dispersal and dormancy cycling in the soil seed bank are described in relation to ecophysiology. We discuss applied aspects of seed dormancy for horticulture and agriculture including its alleviation in crop species by innovative seed technologies as well as food security in times of climate change.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Encyclopedia of Plant Sciences: From Basic to Translational Biology
Publisher	Elsevier
Chapter	20012
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-40403-0.00007-X
Publication status	Published - 16 Jun 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 2 Zero Hunger
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

abscisic acid (ABA)
allelochemicals
coat dormancy
endosperm weakening
gas plasma-activated water (GPAW)
germination stimulants
gibberellins (GA)
morphological dormancy (MD)
physiological dormancy (PD)
proanthocyanidins
soil seed bank

Access to Document

10.1016/B978-0-443-40403-0.00007-XLicence: Unspecified

7 Article

Comparative pericarp biomechanics and germination physiology of Raphanus raphanistrum and Raphanus pugioniformis indehicent fruits
Steinbrecher, T., Bhattacharya, S., Binder, J., Kleemeier, K., Przesdzink, F., Groene, F., Jacoblinnert, K., Mummenhoff, K. & Leubner-Metzger, G., 27 Jan 2025, In: Annals of Botany. 135, 5, p. 977-990 14 p., mcaf015.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access

1 Downloads (Pure)
Distinct molecular biomechanical mechanisms inhibit endosperm cell-wall weakening and seed germination at cold and warm nonoptimal temperatures
Steinbrecher, T., Voegele, A., Ignatz, M., Weitbrecht, K., Safina, K., Graeber, K., Hourston, J. & Leubner-Metzger, G., 5 Aug 2025, In: Plant, Cell and Environment. 48, p. 8047-8067
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access

1 Downloads (Pure)
Morphological dormancy, embryo growth and pericarp restraint during crop and wild Apiaceae mericarp germination in response to ambient temperature
Nakabayashi, K., Fatelnig, L., Walker, M., Kennedy, S., Hourston, J., Novak, O., Tarkowska, D., Strnad, M., Gawthrop, F., Steinbrecher, T. & Leubner-Metzger, G., 1 Nov 2025, In: Planta. 262, 142.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access

1 Public engagement, outreach and knowledge exchange - Industrial engagement
1 Invited talk

Consultancy Service Sugarbeet Seed Quality and Technology for KWS SAAT SE
Leubner, G. (Participant)
1 Apr 2013 → …
Activity: Other › Public engagement, outreach and knowledge exchange - Industrial engagement
Lead Speaker and chairman ISTA Congress (International Seed Testing Association), Köln, 2010
Leubner, G. (Speaker)
2010
Activity: Talk, presentation or media contribution › Invited talk

Cite this

@inbook{002259785d1847c5a627ee437afc5a12,

title = "Seed Dormancy",

abstract = "Seed dormancy is a temporary intrinsic block to germination which has evolved differently across species through adaptation to the prevailing environments so that germination is timed to avoid unfavorable weather for subsequent plant establishment and reproductive growth. A classification system for the different forms of dormancy and how these evolved has been proposed by seed ecologists. Here we describe the environmental and hormonal regulation, as well as the underlying molecular and biomechanical mechanisms of physiological dormancy, the most abundant and best investigated dormancy class and discuss other, far-less understood, dormancy classes. Mechanisms involved in primary dormancy induction during seed maturation, dormancy release after seed dispersal and dormancy cycling in the soil seed bank are described in relation to ecophysiology. We discuss applied aspects of seed dormancy for horticulture and agriculture including its alleviation in crop species by innovative seed technologies as well as food security in times of climate change.",

keywords = "abscisic acid (ABA), allelochemicals, coat dormancy, endosperm weakening, gas plasma-activated water (GPAW), germination stimulants, gibberellins (GA), morphological dormancy (MD), physiological dormancy (PD), proanthocyanidins, soil seed bank",

author = "Tina Steinbrecher and Kai Graeber and Kazumi Nakabayashi and Gerhard Leubner-Metzger",

year = "2026",

month = jun,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1016/B978-0-443-40403-0.00007-X",

language = "English",

booktitle = "Encyclopedia of Plant Sciences: From Basic to Translational Biology",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - CHAP

T1 - Seed Dormancy

AU - Steinbrecher, Tina

AU - Graeber, Kai

AU - Nakabayashi, Kazumi

AU - Leubner-Metzger, Gerhard

PY - 2026/6/16

Y1 - 2026/6/16

N2 - Seed dormancy is a temporary intrinsic block to germination which has evolved differently across species through adaptation to the prevailing environments so that germination is timed to avoid unfavorable weather for subsequent plant establishment and reproductive growth. A classification system for the different forms of dormancy and how these evolved has been proposed by seed ecologists. Here we describe the environmental and hormonal regulation, as well as the underlying molecular and biomechanical mechanisms of physiological dormancy, the most abundant and best investigated dormancy class and discuss other, far-less understood, dormancy classes. Mechanisms involved in primary dormancy induction during seed maturation, dormancy release after seed dispersal and dormancy cycling in the soil seed bank are described in relation to ecophysiology. We discuss applied aspects of seed dormancy for horticulture and agriculture including its alleviation in crop species by innovative seed technologies as well as food security in times of climate change.

AB - Seed dormancy is a temporary intrinsic block to germination which has evolved differently across species through adaptation to the prevailing environments so that germination is timed to avoid unfavorable weather for subsequent plant establishment and reproductive growth. A classification system for the different forms of dormancy and how these evolved has been proposed by seed ecologists. Here we describe the environmental and hormonal regulation, as well as the underlying molecular and biomechanical mechanisms of physiological dormancy, the most abundant and best investigated dormancy class and discuss other, far-less understood, dormancy classes. Mechanisms involved in primary dormancy induction during seed maturation, dormancy release after seed dispersal and dormancy cycling in the soil seed bank are described in relation to ecophysiology. We discuss applied aspects of seed dormancy for horticulture and agriculture including its alleviation in crop species by innovative seed technologies as well as food security in times of climate change.

KW - abscisic acid (ABA)

KW - allelochemicals

KW - coat dormancy

KW - endosperm weakening

KW - gas plasma-activated water (GPAW)

KW - germination stimulants

KW - gibberellins (GA)

KW - morphological dormancy (MD)

KW - physiological dormancy (PD)

KW - proanthocyanidins

KW - soil seed bank

U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-443-40403-0.00007-X

DO - 10.1016/B978-0-443-40403-0.00007-X

M3 - Chapter

BT - Encyclopedia of Plant Sciences: From Basic to Translational Biology

PB - Elsevier

ER -

Seed Dormancy

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Research output

Comparative pericarp biomechanics and germination physiology of Raphanus raphanistrum and Raphanus pugioniformis indehicent fruits

Distinct molecular biomechanical mechanisms inhibit endosperm cell-wall weakening and seed germination at cold and warm nonoptimal temperatures

Morphological dormancy, embryo growth and pericarp restraint during crop and wild Apiaceae mericarp germination in response to ambient temperature

Activities

Consultancy Service Sugarbeet Seed Quality and Technology for KWS SAAT SE

Lead Speaker and chairman ISTA Congress (International Seed Testing Association), Köln, 2010

Cite this