Seed Dormancy and Germination

This text covers the physiological and ecological aspects of seed dormancy and germination in a manner suitable for advanced undergraduates. The author considers the relationship between plant form and function and explains, in physical and chemical terms, plant growth and development. The place of germination and dormancy in plant ecophysiology is taken into account, with attempts to understand the seed in its environment, whether the environment be natural, semi-natural or wholly artificial. The experimental basis of the subject is emphasized throughout and the book concludes with suggestions for potential investigators of seed ecophysiology.