Molecular and genetic mechanisms regulating the transition from embryo development to germination

How do plants regulate development from embryogenesis through to germination? Mutational analysis of embryo maturation and germination in Arabidopsis and maize has provided a framework for dissecting the regulatory processes required for this transition. Genetic loci have been identified that are responsible for both repressing premature germination and simultaneously stimulating embryo development. Several of these loci have now been cloned, and an analysis of their molecular properties, in combination with analysis of their genetic interactions, is providing insights into how the transition between seed and seedling is regulated and coordinated.