The Plant Hormone Ethylene - Chapter 5 - Ethylene in the regulation of seed dormancy and germination: Biodiversity matters

Seed dormancy release and germination are under hormonal control. Besides abscisic acid and gibberellins, the most extensively studied hormones involved in these processes, the gaseous hormone ethylene is known to stimulate seed responses to environmental cues, resulting in alleviation of dormancy and triggering germination in many species. Knowledge about ethylene regulation of seed germination has expanded in recent decades; however, their roles in wild plant species are still poorly understood. In this chapter, we discuss the roles of ethylene in the regulatory network of seed germination. Emphasis is given to aspects of seed biodiversity known to influence ethylene biosynthesis and the involvement of ethylene in the regulation of seed dormancy and germination.