Dormancy: A New Universal Terminology

Abstract

Abstract Attempts to discuss the various aspects of plant dormancy can be bewildering due to the excessive number of nonphysiological, independent terms that have arisen over the years. In the context of field observations and orchard management, this terminology has often been adequate. However, in the complex realm of scientific description of the processes that constitute dormancy, the terminology has not been able to keep pace with physiological investigation. In 1985, a set of alternative terms, endodormancy, ectodormancy, and ecodormancy, were suggested to improve the situation (14). During the past 2 years, R. Darnell, J. Early, G. Martin, and I have reviewed the dormancy literature to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of new and previous terms. At various times, N. Arroyave, R. Biasi, R. Femandez-Escobar, G. Stutte, and others from around the world have contributed greatly to discussion and critical analysis of the requirements for a physiological nomenclature. In 1986, ectodormancy was replaced by paradormancy (16) due to the former’s spoken and written similarities to ecodormancy. This paper summarizes the communicative burden presented by the current terminology, the evolution of the new terms, the universal classification system in which the terms are used, and the implications for future dormancy research. These topics are presented in greater detail elsewhere (15).