While widespread transcriptome changes were previously observed with seed dormancy loss, this study specifically characterized transcriptional changes associated with the increased seed dormancy and dormancy loss of the gibberellin (GA) hormone-insensitive sleepy1-2 (sly1-2) mutant. The SLY1 gene encodes the F-box subunit of an SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase needed for GA-triggered proteolysis of DELL...

In Bacillus megaterium, the transition from bacterial spore to vegetative cell has been divided into phases of germination, swelling, emergence, elongation, and cell division. This has been demonstrated both in simple (Levinson and Hyatt, 1956) and in complex (Mandels et al., 1956) media, the primary tool for quantitative measurement being the change in respiratory rate accompanying each new de...

Loss of aquatic plant species has occurred in coastal and freshwater habitats throughout the world. In particular, population and habit loss of the submerged aquatic species, Vallisneria americana Michx., have made it a potential restoration candidate. For successful restoration, reliable seed sources are vital for producing plants or for direct seeding. Seed survival and their ability to retai...

Germination of dormant spores of Bacillus species is initiated when nutrient germinants bind to germinant receptors in spores' inner membrane and this interaction triggers the release of dipicolinic acid and cations from the spore core and their replacement by water. Bacillus subtilis spores contain three functional germinant receptors encoded by the gerA, gerB, and gerK operons. The GerA germi...

We investigated weight loss caused by Liposcelis entomophila (Enderlein) feeding in damaged (cracked) and intact kernels of 'Jagger' variety of hard red winter wheat over a 90-d period at 30 +/- 1 degrees C and 75 +/- 5% relative humidity. L. entomophila caused 8.5% weight loss in damaged wheat kernels, which was significantly greater than the weight loss found in intact wheat kernels (0.2%). W...

BACKGROUND Germination is the irreversible loss of spore-specific properties prior to outgrowth. Because germinating spores become more susceptible to killing by stressors, induction of germination has been proposed as a spore control strategy. However, this strategy is limited by superdormant spores that remain unaffected by germinants. Harsh chemicals and heat activation are effective for sti...

Two peptidoglycan-lytic enzyme activities were isolated from spores of Bacillus megaterium KM. Surface-bound lytic enzyme was extracted from dormant spores and hydrolysed a variety of peptidoglycan substrates including isolated spore cortex, but did not cause refractility changes in permeabilized spores. Germination-specific lytic enzyme activity appeared early in germination and had minimal ac...

Seeds respond to multiple different environmental stimuli that regulate germination. Nitrate stimulates germination in many plants but how it does so remains unclear. Here we show that the Arabidopsis NIN-like protein 8 (NLP8) is essential for nitrate-promoted seed germination. Seed germination in nlp8 loss-of-function mutants does not respond to nitrate. NLP8 functions even in a nitrate reduct...

We investigated the loss of desiccation tolerance (DT) in Adenanthera pavonina seeds during germination. Seeds were subjected to imbibition for 0, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 81 h, then dried to their initial moisture content (13%), rehydrated and evaluated for survival (resumption of growth and development of normal seedlings) and membrane system integrity (electrolyte leakage). Embryonic axes of seeds...

Drought cause yield loss of soybean production is the major reason to yield losing of soybean. To improve the germination and growth of soybean seeds under drought stress; We studied the effect of the single walled carbon nanotubes (SwCNTs) material in seed germination and the physiological changes occurred under drought condition, performed SwCNTs treatments in soybean (Zhonghuang 35) seeds at...