Seed Germination Inhibitors: Molecular and Phytochemical Aspects

Abstract

Two major stages of seed development are dormancy and germination which finally promotes the growth of a plant. Some internal and external factors such as hormonal, genetic, chromatin development and environmental factors which maintain the seed dormancy with passing time and other suitable factors, these dormancy promoters are gradually decreased causing release of dormancy and promoting germination by the mechanisms of ROS in plant signalling, cell elongation and reverse mobilization. But dormancy has some benefits in protecting the seed from extreme condition even after natural disaster as well as serving as food for predators in order to maintain balance of nature. So, dormancy can be inhibited by some phytochemical components like terpenoids, polyphenoliic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids and glycosides by the mechanism of inhibiting water uptake system III and II, surface sterilization, reverse mobilization, cell elongation etc.