1. Viability and Longevity.- 1.1 The Life-Span of Seeds.- 1.2 Viability of Seeds in Storage.- 1.3 Microflora and Seed Deterioration.- 1.4 The Biochemical Basis of Deterioration.- 1.5 Respiration and the Production of ATP.- 1.6 Protein and RNA Synthesis.- 1.7 Chromosome Aberrations and DNA Synthesis.- 1.8 Metabolism of Dry Seeds.- 1.9 Changes in Food Reserves.- 1.10 Free Fatty Acids and Interference with Metabolism.- 1.11 Membrane Changes and Leakage.- Some Works of General Interest.- References.- 2. Dormancy.- 2.1 What is Dormancy?.- 2.2 Dormancy Mechanisms.- 2.3 Embryo Dormancy.- 2.4 Coat-imposed Dormancy.- 2.5 Two Case Histories.- 2.6 Coat-imposed Dormancy - a Retrospective View..- 2.7 Relationships Between Coat-imposed and Embryo Dormancy.- 2.8 The Onset of Dormancy.- 2.9 Endogenous Germination Inhibitors.- Some Works of General Interest.- References.- 3. The Release from Dormancy.- 3.1 Light and Phytochrome.- 3.2 The Phytochrome System.- 3.3 Phytochrome - an Overview.- 3.4 Blue Light Effects.- 3.5 Response Types.- 3.6 Temperature and the Action of Light.- 3.7 Temperature and the Release from Dormancy.- 3.8 Termination of Dormancy by Temperature Alternations and Shifts.- 3.9 Termination of Dormancy by Low Temperature.- 3.10 Termination of Dormancy by High Temperature.- 3.11 Loss of Dormancy in Dry Seeds - After-ripening.- 3.12 Finale - Replacements and Interactions.- 3.13 Hard-coated Seeds.- 3.14 Removal of Dormancy by Chemicals.- Some Works of General Interest.- References.- 4. The Control of Dormancy.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Dormancy - Events and Causes.- 4.3 Primary Events in the Release of Dormancy.- 4.4 Secondary Events in the Release from Dormancy - Physiological Considerations.- 4.5 Secondary Events in the Release from Dormancy - MetabolicConsiderations.- Some Works of General Interest.- References.- 5. Perspective on Dormancy.- References.- 6. Environmental Control of Germination.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Light.- 6.3 Spectral Effects in Photoinhibition.- 6.4 Light and Seed Burial.- 6.5 Shade and Seed Germination.- 6.6 Temperature.- 6.7 Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide.- 6.8 Secondary Dormancy.- 6.9 Water Stress.- Some Works of General Interest.- References.- Glossary and Index of English and Botanical Names.- Author Index.