Seed Biology in Horticulture: From Dormancy to Germination

Dear Colleagues,

Seeds are essential in horticultural production, and their biological characteristics significantly influence crop establishment, performance, and sustainability. Horticultural research has traditionally focused on yield and post-harvest quality. However, current global challenges, such as climate change, resource scarcity, and the need for more sustainable agricultural practices, have shifted the focus toward the early stages of plant development. These include seed dormancy, germination, and seedling establishment. These processes are crucial not only in ensuring successful crop establishment but also in advancing several of the United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), and Climate Action (SDG 13). Therefore, enhancing our understanding of seed biology is essential in developing resilient, efficient, and sustainable horticultural systems that align with global sustainability targets. This Special Issue, titled "Seed Biology in Horticulture: From Dormancy to Germination", will highlight recent advances in our understanding of the physiological, molecular, and ecological aspects of seed biology in horticultural species. We invite original research articles, reviews, and short communications that explore key themes such as dormancy mechanisms, the regulation of germination via environmental and hormonal cues, seed quality and vigor, seed priming and enhancement technologies, and the impact of stress conditions on early seedling development. For this Special Issue, we encourage the submission of studies that focus on genetic regulation, the application of new technologies, and innovations for enhancing seed performance within sustainable horticultural systems. Our goal is to provide a platform for sharing both fundamental and applied research that will advance our understanding of seed biology and promote the development of more resilient and efficient horticultural practices. Papers submitted to this Special Issue will be subject to peer review to allow for the rapid dissemination of robust results.

Dr. Valeria Cafaro
Dr. Cristina Patanè
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• seed dormancy
• germination physiology
• seed vigor
• seed treatments
• biotic and abiotic stress