Metabolic Responses of Seeds Development and Germination

Dear Colleagues,

Seed development and seed germination are complex and highly coordinated developmental processes. Plants undergo vegetative growth, enter reproductive growth, and their flower organs begin to develop, including the coordinated or uncoordinated growth of male and female flowers. When flower organs mature, they undergo sexual reproduction (usually fertilization) or asexual reproduction to give birth to the next generation of life, i.e., seeds. Seed development starts from the fertilized eggs and goes through the differentiation and division of countless cells. During this period, many metabolic processes are accompanied, including hormone metabolism, glucose metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and so on, until finally the seed reaches physiological maturity and prepares for the next cycle of life. From the germination of the seed to the morphogenesis of the seedling, the cycle is repeated, and life continues. Each of the above links involves the metabolic activities of various substances and energies. Research on seed development and formation and seedling development (i.e., seed germination) can help us to better understand plant life activities and a provide theoretical basis to guide agricultural production. We plan on publishing a collection of papers to review the current understanding of metabolism in the seed life cycle, using metabolomics for basic research and practical applications.

This Special Issue is devoted to “Metabolic responses of seeds development”, and topics will include (but are not restricted to) the following:

(1) Biological and abiotic stress resistance;
(2) Crop seed metabolism;
(3) Metabolic Responses during seeds formation including flowering organ of anther, tassel, ear and silk etc. 
(4) Hormone regulation in seed or seedling;
(5) Secondary metabolism.

Dr. Li Li
Prof. Dr. Mingxun Chen
Guest Editors

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• stress
• seeds
• seedling
• metabolism
• hormone regulation
• development