种子萌发过程中胚乳的突破性研究

胚乳将许多种子的胚完全包裹，是这些种子萌发的物理屏障，其破裂与否是决定种子萌发与否的最后开关。胚乳破裂是胚生长产生由内向外“顶”的机械力量以及胚乳组织本身机械强度下降（胚乳弱化）的共同结果，而胚乳弱化则包括细胞壁的酶促和非酶促松弛机制。本文综述胚生长产生的机械力量、胚乳破裂的部位和方式、胚乳的组织结构及其细胞壁的化学组成、各种细胞壁降解酶及非酶的扩展蛋白（expansin）和活性氧在胚乳弱化中的作用等方面的研究进展。

Breaking through the Endosperm during Seed Germination

Endosperm completely encloses the embryo of many seeds and is a mechanical restraint for the completion of germination. Thus, rupture of the endosperm is the last key step controlling the process of germina- tion. Rupture of the endosperm requires the growth potential of embryo and weakening of the endosperm after imbibition. Weakening of the endosperm involves enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms. This review sum- marizes research progress in growth potential of embryo, location and ways of endosperm rupture, structure of the endosperm and chemical composition of endosperm cell walls, roles of cell-wall-degrading enzymes, expansin and reactive oxygen species.