DORMANCY
Dormancy, diapause, rest and quiescence are terms that describe a state of (temporarily) lowered metabolic activity or ‘hypometabolic state’. Dormancy is a state of suspended animation of life functions and is found in many species, ranging from bears to mice and frogs, from fish to buds and seeds and from crustaceans to yeast and bacteria. It is an adaptation to survive future unfavourable conditions for prolonged periods of time.
Dormancy and stress responses are closely linked. Many organisms become dormant before they are exposed to stress conditions. The timing may depend on developmental phase (e.g. sexual versus asexual), seasonal rhythms, environmental cues and food supply, among others. Common denominators appear to be a controlled reduction of metabolic activity, arrest of the cell cycle and the initiation of protective mechanisms.
Studies of dormancy may ultimately result in improved methods for the long- term biopreservation and storage of cells, tissues, organs and organisms.
Because of the vastness of the subject and its acknowledged importance to agriculture and horticulture, our first ever post-experience course on DORMANCY will be limited to plants. It is planned to address the following topics:
· Definitions, classification and nomenclature
· Regulation and control of post-harvest environments
· Treatments to induce dormancy and/or germination
· Genetic, physical and physiological aspects
· Predictive laboratory testing
· Critique of significant patent literature, mainly relating to ‘improvements’