Heat shock promotes papaya germination

In a new publication, jointly authored with the University of Manchester and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, we show that heat shock promotes germination in Carica papaya seeds. Heat shock is accompanied by changes in the pattern of protein synthesis, and de novo protein synthesis is needed to break dormancy. The requirement for heat shock may be related to the detection of canopy removal in tropical forests, important for this opportunistic pioneer species.