Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and, Evolution of Dormancy and Germination

Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination differs from all other books on seed germination. It is an all-encompassing volume that provides a working hypothesis of the ecological and environmental conditions under which various kinds of seed dormancy have developed. It also presents information on the seed germination of more than 3500 species of trees, shrubs, vines and herbaceous species, making this a valuable reference for anyone studying germination. This book delivers information on characteristics of each type of seed dormancy, how each type of dormancy is broken in nature, and what environmental conditions are required for germination after dormancy is broken. It explains how studies should be done to distinguish persistent from transient seed banks, and covers which species should be controlled, propagated, and conserved. Seeds gives the reader insight and guidelines for doing ecologically meaningful studies on the biogeography and evolution of seed dormancy and germination in order to better understand plant reproductive strategies, life history traits, adaptations to habitats, and physiological processes.

• Evolutionary/phylogenetic origins and relationships of various kinds of seed dormancy
• A world biogeographical perspective on seed dormancy and germination
• Ecophysiology of seeds with each type of dormancy
• Critical evaluation of methodology used in soil seed bank studies
• Germination ecology of plants with specialized habitat and life cycle types
• Genetic and maternal preconditioning effects on seed dormancy and germination
• Guidelines for doing ecologically-meaningful germination studies

Over 50 years’ experience in seed germination ecology, biogeography, and evolution of seed dormancy and germination. Dr Baskin has a Ph.D. in biology from Vanderbilt University and has held several teaching posts in the fields of agricultural sciences and biology in the US and Europe. Dr Baskin’s current research at the University of Kentucky focuses on the life cycle and germination ecology of woody and herbaceous species of angiosperms; biology, conservation, and geographical ecology of plant taxa endemic to cedar (limestone) glades of unglaciated eastern United States; and plant geography of Kentucky.

She has written several publications on the subject of seed germination, most notably Seeds: Ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy (Elsevier), in collaboration with her husband Dr Jerry M. Baskin.

Dr Baskin received his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in June 1967 and after 1 year of postdoctoral work at the University of Florida joined the University of Kentucky (UK) Biology faculty in 1968. He was promoted to Full Professor in 1981and retired from UK in June 2011. Almost all of his publications are co-authored with Carol C. Baskin. He has approximately 520 journal articles plus 14 book chapters and 10 publications in symposium and conference proceedings. The first edition of “Seeds” was published in 1998 and the second edition in 2014. The book on rock outcrops and barrens (co-edited with J. Fralish and R. Anderson) was published in 1999.