Entries by Carlos A. Ordóñez-Parra

Evolution and ecology of seed internal morphology in relation to germination characteristics in Amaranthaceae ($) (Ann. Bot.)

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Seed germination, a critical life stage in a plant’s life cycle, can be affected by internal seed morphology. In this exciting research, Vandelook and colleagues investigated the evolution of embryo and nutritive tissue characteristics and their relationship with the germination traits of 84 species of Amaranthaceae, a large and diverse family that includes many plants […]

Review: Time to wake up: Epigenetic and small-RNA-mediated regulation during seed germination (Plants)

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Seed germination is a crucial step in plants’ life cycle and has critical implications in ecological and agronomic contexts. Therefore, there has been an increasing interest in understanding the mechanisms that prevent or trigger this process. Here, Luján-Soto and Dinkova provide a thorough review of the molecular mechanisms that regulate germination, focusing on histone modifications, […]

Experimental evidence of microbial inheritance in plants and transmission routes from seed to phyllosphere and root (Environ. Microbiol.)

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All plant species are associated with a diverse yet distinct assemblage of microorganisms known as the microbiome. Traditionally, the environment is considered the primary source of these microbes. However, Abdelfattah and colleagues’ fascinating research shows that seeds can act as vehicles to share microorganisms between plant generations. Quercus robur acorns were grown in sterile conditions […]

Seed tolerance to post-fire temperature fluctuation of Cerrado legume shrubs with micromorphological implications ($) (Flora)

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Legume seeds are typically physically dormant, meaning they have an impermeable seed coat that prevents water uptake. In fire-prone ecosystems, this dormancy is presumably broken when the seed coat is cracked due to being exposed to fire or the daily temperature fluctuations found in burnt sites. However, the role of alternate temperatures in this process […]

Seed enhancement technologies to improve germination and emergence of Australian native Poaceae (Seed Sci. Res.)

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One of the most significant limitations in seed-based restoration projects is that some native species exhibit low recruitment in the field. As a result, various seed enhancement technologies (SETs) are being developed to improve germination and seedling emergence by facilitating access to nutrients and water. Moreover, they can include germination-enhancing chemicals (GECs) that help seeds […]

Seed functional traits provide support for ecological restoration and ex situ conservation in the threatened Amazon ironstone outcrop flora (Front. Plant Sci.)

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East Amazonian ironstone outcrops host highly diverse plant communities with impressive endemism levels (meaning the plants are found nowhere else), yet they are threatened by large-scale mining operations. As a result, proper conservation and restoration techniques are urgently needed to ensure their future. Zanetti and colleagues provide the first community-wide assessment of seed functional traits […]

Time travelling seeds reveal that plant regeneration and growth traits are responding to climate change (Ecology)

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Increasing our understanding of how plants will respond to climate change is one of our most urgent challenges. However, most approaches require extensive historical records that are not available for most areas. In this paper, Everingham and colleagues compare the regeneration and growth traits of plants from seeds that have been stored in ex situ […]

The seed germination spectrum of alpine plants ($) (New Phytol.)

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Alpine ecosystems include all the environments found above the treeline, the maximum elevation where trees can grow. These environments are known for their low temperatures, unstable substrates, and short growing seasons. However, while germination studies in this ecosystem can be traced back to the 1930s, our knowledge about its germination ecology remains scattered in multiple […]

Distribution of seed dormancy classes across a fire-prone continent: effects of rainfall seasonality and temperature (Ann. Bot.)

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Seed dormancy controls germination so that it occurs under the most suitable conditions. Different dormancy classes achieve this by allowing germination in response to distinct environmental cues. In fire-prone ecosystems, species with physically dormant (PY) seeds benefit from fire since it breaks their impermeable seed coat. In contrast, those with physiological dormancy (PD) respond to […]