Abstract:

Seed dormancy represents a core biological trait in plants for environmental adaptation and is of critical importance for population propagation, germplasm resource conservation, and agricultural and forestry production. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying dormancy induction and release are complex and diverse. Current research often focuses on conventional physiological and biochemical analyses, lacking systematic and comprehensive investigation, whereas omics technologies provide precise tools for deciphering these processes. To thoroughly review advances in the molecular mechanisms of seed dormancy and dormancy release, this article systematically summarizes the application and representative achievements of three prominent omics technologies in this field: transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Transcriptomics enables precise identification of key dormancy-related genes (e.g., DOG1 and hormone signaling pathway genes) and non-coding RNAs, revealing spatiotemporal specificity in gene expression. Proteomics facilitates the identification of differentially abundant proteins during dormancy transitions, elucidating the synergistic roles of hormone interactions, reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation, and energy metabolism. Metabolomics can pinpoint key metabolites involved in dormancy release (such as sucrose, proline, and lysophospholipids) and help construct a ‘gene-protein-metabolite’ association network. The review also notes existing limitations in current research, including insufficient integration of multi-omics data, limited species generality, and inadequate translation of research findings into practice. Accordingly, the review proposes that future studies should strengthen cross-omics data correlation analysis, expand research on wild and rare species, and accelerate the translation of basic research into breeding practices, thereby providing theoretical support and technical guidance for a comprehensive understanding of seed dormancy mechanisms and their application in agricultural production.

Key words: seed dormancy, dormancy release, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics