Development—Regulation and Maturation

Abstract

We have seen in the previous chapter that seed development commences with the formation of the single-celled fertilized egg and (generally) terminates when the seed is mature. Between these events there occur many morphological, cellular, and biochemical/synthetic changes which are regulated in a coordinated manner so that the progeny of a particular species are phenotypically more or less identical. Development proceeds in an environment in which seeds are hydrated, yet they do not germinate. What, then, prevents seeds from germinating during development? And how are the controls which maintain seeds in a developmental mode eventually overcome to permit germination? Research into these questions has increased greatly since the first edition of this book appeared, and while much remains to be learned, enough is known to warrant a chapter dealing exclusively with this topic.