Seed Dormancy

The origin of the seed was a pivotal event in plant evolution. Seeds, brilliantly described by Jonathan Silvertown as “embryos in picnic baskets,” determine where, how, and when plants move across the landscape. In addition to dispersal in space, seeds have also evolved a mechanism for dispersing through time, an adaptation known as seed dormancy. This program will introduce you to seed dormancy types and classification, the evolutionary history and biogeography of dormancy mechanisms, and current topics in seed research relevant to plant conservation and ecological restoration.

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