1. phenology the beginning of growth of a mature, generally dormant seed, spore, or pollen grain —note germination is generally characterized by rupture of the seed coat, or of the spore or pollen grain wall, and the emergence of a radicle, plumule, thallus, or hypha 2. propagation the development of a seedling from a seed, i.e., the realization of viability This definition last updated 10/27/2008