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Related Concept Videos

Seed Structure and Early Development of the Sporophyte02:33

Seed Structure and Early Development of the Sporophyte

Seed structures are composed of a protective seed coat surrounding a plant embryo, and a food store for the developing embryo. The embryo contains the precursor tissues for leaves, stem, and roots. The endosperm and cotyledons—seed leaves—act as the food reserves for the growing embryo.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

A Seed Coat Bedding Assay to Genetically Explore In Vitro How the Endosperm Controls Seed Germination in Arabidopsis thaliana
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A Seed Coat Bedding Assay to Genetically Explore In Vitro How the Endosperm Controls Seed Germination in Arabidopsis thaliana

Published on: November 9, 2013

Post-Dispersal Embryo Growth Is a Thermal Checkpoint for Seed Regeneration.

Keyvan Maleki1, Elias Soltani2

  • 1Department of Horticulture and Crop Science The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio USA.

Ecology and Evolution
|July 8, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Embryo growth in seeds, not just dormancy, is a key thermal process. Understanding the embryo-growth thermal niche (EGTN) is crucial for predicting plant regeneration under climate change.

Keywords:
embryo‐growth thermal nichegermination ecologyphenological mismatchphylogenetic conservatismthermal performance curves

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Protocols for Obtaining Zygotic and Somatic Embryos for Studying the Regulation of Early Embryo Development in the Model Legume Medicago truncatula
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Efficient and Rapid Isolation of Early-stage Embryos from Arabidopsis thaliana Seeds
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Efficient and Rapid Isolation of Early-stage Embryos from Arabidopsis thaliana Seeds

Published on: June 7, 2013

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Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

A Seed Coat Bedding Assay to Genetically Explore In Vitro How the Endosperm Controls Seed Germination in Arabidopsis thaliana
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A Seed Coat Bedding Assay to Genetically Explore In Vitro How the Endosperm Controls Seed Germination in Arabidopsis thaliana

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Protocols for Obtaining Zygotic and Somatic Embryos for Studying the Regulation of Early Embryo Development in the Model Legume Medicago truncatula
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Protocols for Obtaining Zygotic and Somatic Embryos for Studying the Regulation of Early Embryo Development in the Model Legume Medicago truncatula

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Efficient and Rapid Isolation of Early-stage Embryos from Arabidopsis thaliana Seeds
08:05

Efficient and Rapid Isolation of Early-stage Embryos from Arabidopsis thaliana Seeds

Published on: June 7, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Plant Ecology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Climate Change Biology

Background:

  • Many seeds require embryo growth post-dispersal before germination, especially those with morphological (MD) or morphophysiological dormancy (MPD).
  • This critical embryo development phase is often overlooked, treated as a passive delay rather than an active ecological process.
  • Current dormancy frameworks do not fully capture the thermal regulation of embryo growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose embryo growth as a distinct thermal performance process, independent of germination thresholds.
  • To introduce the concept of the embryo-growth thermal niche (EGTN) as a filter for plant regeneration under varying climates.
  • To investigate the implications of EGTN for plant responses to climate warming and evolutionary constraints.

Main Methods:

  • Defining the embryo-growth thermal niche (EGTN) by temperature-dependent initiation thresholds and thermal performance curves for elongation.
  • Analyzing embryo growth as a functional trait, decoupled from dormancy class.
  • Examining species-specific base, optimum, and ceiling temperatures governing embryo elongation.

Main Results:

  • Embryo growth is governed by specific thermal parameters (base, optimum, ceiling temperatures) that are mechanistically separate from germination thresholds.
  • The EGTN dictates the pace of embryo development and the climatic window for successful plant regeneration.
  • Climate warming can paradoxically delay seedling emergence by causing embryo growth to arrest at supra-optimal temperatures, leading to phenological inversion.

Conclusions:

  • Embryo growth acts as a crucial developmental checkpoint, filtering regeneration opportunities based on thermal conditions.
  • The EGTN framework reveals distinct regeneration strategies based on thermal breadth and upper thermal limits, irrespective of dormancy type.
  • Integrating EGTN into regeneration models is essential for accurate forecasting of plant community responses to global warming and understanding evolutionary constraints.