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Very fast-germinating seeds of desert species are cryptoviparous-like

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 May 2013

Kun Liu
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou730000, P.R. China
Jerry M. Baskin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY40506, USA
Carol C. Baskin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY40506, USA Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY40546, USA
Guozhen Du*
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou730000, P.R. China
*
*Correspondence E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

From previously published studies we have learned that very fast-germinating species have some characteristics in common with cryptoviviparous species: (1) little or no endosperm/perisperm; (2) embryos fully developed and chlorophyllous at seed maturity; and (3) very fast germination, independent of temperature. Thus, we propose that these very fast-germinating seeds are ‘cryptoviviparous-like′.

Type
Research Opinion
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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