About this Research Topic
Higher plants produce seeds crucial for successful reproduction and gene flow, allowing them to survive extreme environmental conditions. Studying seed traits is essential for functional biology, conservation, and species diversity. Seed physiology covers development, maturation, desiccation tolerance, dormancy, germination, seedling emergence, seed longevity, and vigor. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, oxygen, light, and phytohormones significantly influence these processes. Biotic stressors also notably affect crop yield. Metabolites produced in response to stress can be primary (essential for basic functions) or secondary (roles in defense and signaling). Their synthesis and transport involve complex genetic and epigenetic regulation. Phytohormones like ABA, GA, and JA play integral roles in regulating seed physiology and responding to stresses, interacting in complex networks to ensure the plant's growth, development, and survival.
Research on seed physiology and its regulation by environmental factors is key to understanding plant reproduction, conservation biology, and species diversity. Higher plants depend on seeds for reproduction, gene flow, and resilience to harsh conditions. Studying seed traits like development, maturation, dormancy, germination, and vigor is crucial for improving crop yields and maintaining biodiversity. Environmental factors and phytohormones influence seed physiology and stress responses through complex genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Understanding how primary and secondary metabolites are synthesized and transported is vital for cellular functions and stress adaptation, optimizing seed quality, viability, and longevity, essential for agricultural productivity and conservation.
The goal of this Research Topic is to elucidate complex mechanisms in seed physiology—including development, maturation, dormancy, germination, and stress responses—to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. By understanding the genetic, epigenetic, molecular, and biochemical factors that regulate seed traits and their environmental responses, we can enhance crop yields and resilience, improve seed nutritional value and longevity, optimize gene bank storage, and support conservation efforts. This topic will cover recent advancements in genetic characterization and practical applications in agriculture, conservation, and biodiversity management, promoting sustainable practices adaptable to changing climates and environmental challenges.
For this Research Topic, we invite both Original Research and Review articles that provide insights into the genetic, epigenetic, molecular, biochemical, and morpho-physiological control effects of various environmental stresses and factors in regulating diverse seed traits. Special focus areas include, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- The effects of environmental factors on seed physiology to advance basic seed science and its potential applications in agriculture, forestry, and natural resource management.
- The effect of environmental cues on breaking seed dormancy and promoting germination.
- Changes in environmental conditions that alter seed traits and seed responses under stress conditions, with a focus on global warming.
- The effect of seed priming on germination and seedling establishment in dormant and non-dormant seeds, and their interaction with environmental stresses.
- The impact of plant-pathogen interactions on overall seed physiology.
- Omics-based strategies to uncover the genetic determinants of stress and seed composition.
Research on seed physiology and its regulation by environmental factors is key to understanding plant reproduction, conservation biology, and species diversity. Higher plants depend on seeds for reproduction, gene flow, and resilience to harsh conditions. Studying seed traits like development, maturation, dormancy, germination, and vigor is crucial for improving crop yields and maintaining biodiversity. Environmental factors and phytohormones influence seed physiology and stress responses through complex genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Understanding how primary and secondary metabolites are synthesized and transported is vital for cellular functions and stress adaptation, optimizing seed quality, viability, and longevity, essential for agricultural productivity and conservation.
The goal of this Research Topic is to elucidate complex mechanisms in seed physiology—including development, maturation, dormancy, germination, and stress responses—to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. By understanding the genetic, epigenetic, molecular, and biochemical factors that regulate seed traits and their environmental responses, we can enhance crop yields and resilience, improve seed nutritional value and longevity, optimize gene bank storage, and support conservation efforts. This topic will cover recent advancements in genetic characterization and practical applications in agriculture, conservation, and biodiversity management, promoting sustainable practices adaptable to changing climates and environmental challenges.
For this Research Topic, we invite both Original Research and Review articles that provide insights into the genetic, epigenetic, molecular, biochemical, and morpho-physiological control effects of various environmental stresses and factors in regulating diverse seed traits. Special focus areas include, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- The effects of environmental factors on seed physiology to advance basic seed science and its potential applications in agriculture, forestry, and natural resource management.
- The effect of environmental cues on breaking seed dormancy and promoting germination.
- Changes in environmental conditions that alter seed traits and seed responses under stress conditions, with a focus on global warming.
- The effect of seed priming on germination and seedling establishment in dormant and non-dormant seeds, and their interaction with environmental stresses.
- The impact of plant-pathogen interactions on overall seed physiology.
- Omics-based strategies to uncover the genetic determinants of stress and seed composition.
Keywords: Seed longevity, dormancy, germination, desiccation tolerance, environmental stresses, global warming, agriculture, multi-omics
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.
