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Advances in Seed Development and Germination
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Advances in Seed Development and Germination

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2025 | Viewed by 2830

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Sławomir Borek

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Guest Editor
Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
Interests: autophagy; autophagic body degradation; plant physiology and biochemistry; programmed cell death (PCD); pexophagy; seed metabolism; selective autophagy; sugar starvation; seed development and germination; storage lipid metabolism; uncommon nucleotides; vacuolar processing enzymes (VPE); vacuole
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Łukasz Wojtyla

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Plant Physiology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, 61-712 Poznan, Poland
Interests: seed germination; seed priming; abiotic stress response; proteomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Garnczarska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Plant Physiology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
Interests: seed development; germination and aging; seed germination under abiotic stresses; priming and memory

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Seeds represent a crucial phase in the lifecycle of plants, playing a pivotal role in dissemination and species survival. Moreover, the processes of seed development and germination can be influenced by varying environmental conditions, modifying reproductive success. Seeds are a vital agricultural product, serving as a primary source of food and animal feed. Consequently, seeds are a significant object of global research that covers many areas, from fundamental studies on seed structure, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics to practical agricultural applications, as well as food and feed production.

Understanding seed development and germination is fundamental to improving crop yield and ensuring food security in the face of various global challenges, such as climate change and soil degradation. While this Special Issue will cover a broad spectrum of topics, we particularly encourage submissions that focus on the molecular underpinnings of seed metabolism during development and germination. Your contributions will be instrumental in advancing our understanding of seed biology on topics including the following:

  • Genetic and epigenetic control of seed development and gemination;
  • Hormonal regulation during seed maturation and germination;
  • The impact of abiotic and biotic stresses on seed performance;
  • Cutting-edge techniques for enhancing seed viability and vigor;
  • Advances in seed treatment and storage for sustainable agriculture.

Prof. Dr. Sławomir Borek
Dr. Łukasz Wojtyla
Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Garnczarska
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.

Keywords

  • seed aging
  • seed development
  • seed dormancy
  • seed germination
  • seed metabolism
  • seed preservation
  • seed priming
  • seed responses to stress

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2987 KB  
Communication
Improved Degradome Sequencing Protocol via Reagent Recycling from sRNAseq Library Preparations
by Marta Puchta-Jasińska, Jolanta Groszyk and Maja Boczkowska
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(14), 7020; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26147020 - 21 Jul 2025
Viewed by 353
Abstract
One of the key elements in the analysis of gene expression and its post-translational regulation is miRNAs. Degradome-seq analyses are performed to analyze the cleavage of target RNAs in the transcriptome. This work presents the first degradome-seq library preparation protocol that enables successful [...] Read more.
One of the key elements in the analysis of gene expression and its post-translational regulation is miRNAs. Degradome-seq analyses are performed to analyze the cleavage of target RNAs in the transcriptome. This work presents the first degradome-seq library preparation protocol that enables successful construction of libraries, even from highly degraded RNA samples with RIN below 3, thus significantly expanding the possibilities for research when working with low-quality material. The developed protocol improves the efficiency of library preparation in degradome-seq analysis used to identify miRNA targets, reduces library preparation time, and lowers the cost of purchasing reagents by using reagents from the RNA-seq library preparation kit and proprietary-designed primers. A crucial feature of this new protocol is optimizing the purification step for short library fragments, which increases the yield of correctly sized fragments compared to previously used methods. This is achieved by implementing an original method involving tube-spin purification with gauze and precipitation using sodium acetate with glycogen, greatly enhancing recovery efficiency—a factor especially critical when working with degraded RNA. Cloning to a plasmid and sequencing of the inserted fragment verified the correctness of the library preparation using the developed protocol. This protocol represents a groundbreaking tool for degradome research, enabling the construction and sequencing of degradome libraries, even from degraded samples previously considered unsuitable for such analyses. This is due to the use of residues from the sRNA-seq library kit. It noticeably reduces the cost of library construction. The precision of the excised fragment after electrophoresis was performed during the procedure to isolate fragments of the correct length, which was improved using additional size markers. Compared to previously used methods, optimizing the purification method of degradome-seq libraries allowed an increase in the yield of fragments obtained. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Seed Development and Germination)
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19 pages, 4288 KB  
Article
HsGA20ox1, HsGA3ox1, and HsGA2ox1 Are Involved in Endogenous Gibberellin Regulation Within Heracleum sosnowskyi Ovaries After Gibberellin A3 Treatment
by Tautvydas Žalnierius, Dominykas Laibakojis, Saulė Rapalytė, Jurga Būdienė and Sigita Jurkonienė
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(10), 4480; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104480 - 8 May 2025
Viewed by 635
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the endogenous gibberellin levels and related genes analysis of noxious invasive weed Heracleum sosnowskyi. Genome-wide identification, phylogenetic analysis, conserved motif analysis, and gene structure characterization of GA-oxidases were performed. We analysed endogenous GAs levels and the expression [...] Read more.
This study aims to investigate the endogenous gibberellin levels and related genes analysis of noxious invasive weed Heracleum sosnowskyi. Genome-wide identification, phylogenetic analysis, conserved motif analysis, and gene structure characterization of GA-oxidases were performed. We analysed endogenous GAs levels and the expression of target HsGAoxs in response to GA3 within H. sosnowskyi developing ovaries. Twenty-seven HsGAoxs genes were identified, distributed across eleven chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis classified proteins into the HsGA20ox, C19-HsGA2ox, and HsGA3ox subfamilies, facilitating functional predictions. Among the thirteen HsGA2ox protein members, there were no C20-GA2ox subfamily that distinguish H. sosnowskyi from other model plant species. The analysis of gene structure and conserved motifs confirmed the phylogenetic grouping and suggested that the evolutionary pattern was maintained within these subfamilies. The observed increase in precursor and bioactive GA levels provides evidence that they play a crucial role in promoting fruit growth. Ovary phenotypes reflected the timing of peak gibberellin levels, specifically during the cell expansion period. Exogenous GA3 treatment promoted HsGA3ox1 expression within both the central and lateral regions of the umbel ovaries. Overall, the results show that GA levels are precisely regulated by multiple HsGAox genes for stable early fruit development, and that disturbances in this stability affect fruit development. This opens up the possibility of investigating the role of GA in H. sosnowskyi fruit formation and developing measures for invasion control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Seed Development and Germination)
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Review

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14 pages, 816 KB  
Review
Exploring the Role of Carbon Monoxide in Seed Physiology: Implications for Stress Tolerance and Practical Uses
by Faezeh Bazvand, Łukasz Wojtyla, Hamid Reza Eisvand, Małgorzata Garnczarska and Małgorzata Adamiec
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010223 - 30 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1023
Abstract
Carbon monoxide (CO) is recognized as a signaling molecule in plants, inducing various physiological responses. This article briefly examines the physiological functions of CO in seed biology and seedlings’ responses to environmental stresses. The activity of heme oxygenase (HO), the main enzyme responsible [...] Read more.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is recognized as a signaling molecule in plants, inducing various physiological responses. This article briefly examines the physiological functions of CO in seed biology and seedlings’ responses to environmental stresses. The activity of heme oxygenase (HO), the main enzyme responsible for CO synthesis, is a key factor controlling CO levels in plant cells. CO can influence seed germination by regulating seed dormancy through interactions with genes and hormones. Additionally, CO positively affects seedling growth by enhancing the antioxidant system, thereby increasing resistance to oxidative damage caused by stress. CO has beneficial effects on root development, root length, stomatal closure, and regulation of the photosynthetic system. Its interaction with reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediates hormone- and light-dependent growth processes during the early stages of plant development under stress. Furthermore, CO interacts with other signaling molecules, such as nitric oxide (NO), molecular hydrogen (H2), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). By gaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes, CO can be more effectively utilized to improve seed germination and seedling growth in agricultural practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Seed Development and Germination)
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