About this Research Topic
Seeds are an essential reproductive organ for angiosperms to achieve generational change. Seed dormancy and germination are important traits for plants to adapt to adversity and maintain reproduction. After sensing adversity signals such as low temperature and drought, seeds reduce water and nutrient consumption through dormancy and inhibit germination to survive in the harsh living environment. Once climate improves, seeds will break dormancy, germinate and grow into new individuals. Understanding the genetic basis and regulatory mechanism of seed dormancy and germination has been a fundamental scientific problem in botany research. In agricultural production, strong dormancy of crop seeds will lead to a low germination rate and uneven emergence. In contrast, weakly dormant seeds can easily trigger pre-harvest sprouting on the mother plant before harvest, affecting the yield and quality of seeds. Coordinating the dormancy and germination of crop seeds is also a primary industrial requirement for agricultural production.
In the past decades, significant progress has uncovered the regulatory mechanisms by which seed germination or dormancy are controlled, especially under adverse conditions, such as low temperature, drought, salinity, hypoxia stress, and pre-harvest sprouting. However, the molecular basis of seed germination and dormancy still needs in-depth study, which would undoubtedly aid in fine-tuning crop seeds' dormancy and germination to improve grain quality and crop yield. Research articles using model plants are also welcome. Overall, this Research Topic aims to present an overview of the latest fundamental discoveries in the field of seed germination and dormancy regulation.
We welcome all submissions, including original research, review, and method articles on topics, including but not limited to:
• Signaling pathways involved in seed germination or dormancy under adverse conditions
• Cell morphology regulating seed dormancy or germination
• Interaction of phytohormones in seed germination or dormancy
• Novel metabolites to manage seed germination or dormancy
Keywords: Seed germination, Dormancy, Genetic basis, Regulatory mechanism, Crop productivity
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.