Molecular Regulation of Seed Development

Dear Colleagues,

Seeds, besides being a key entity for reproduction, are an important food source. The study of seed development, a pivotal and entangled process, is one of the main approaches of plant breeders, since this process is directly associated with grain yield. In addition, improving seed size has been one of the primary goals of plant breeding since the domestication of crop plants. Despite the socio–economical relevance of seeds, the molecular mechanisms driving seed development have only recently begun to be understood. In the last decade and a half, molecular studies on seed development have gained great importance and as a result, a number of molecular regulators have been identified. Given the great complexity of seed development, it is not surprising that multiple regulatory processes and controllers are in place. This development process comprises a set of morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes. This set is divided into three main phases: embryogenesis (cell division and expansion), maturation (reserve accumulation and increase in the dry mass of the seed), and desiccation. Seed development is a complex process involving a coordinated growth of maternal and zygotic tissues, which is regulated by the integrated action of transcriptional, epigenetic, hormonal, peptide, and sugar signaling regulators. In dicotyledons, the embryo is normally the major component of the mature seed, and the endosperm tissues are often ephemeral. In contrast, in monocotyledons, endosperm tissues often constitute the bulk of the seed. The organs and tissues involved in embryogenesis require, among other control mechanisms, precise coordination between cell division and cell differentiation. Seed development is initiated by the double fertilization of the ovule by the pollen grain, leading to the development of the embryo and the endosperm. Embryogenesis is initiated by zygote polarization, and auxins play a preponderant role throughout this first embryogenic state. That is, auxin has a vital role in determining embryo identity and structure (i.e., embryo-axis formation and apical–basal pattern formation). Given current knowledge, we can say that auxin is a molecular trigger of seed development. In addition to auxins, cytokinins (CKs) and gibberellins (GAs) are involved in this development process. Later in development, ABA has a particularly strong influence in enhancing the synthesis of seed storage proteins, in the acquisition of desiccation tolerance during maturation, and in the induction of primary dormancy. 

The objective of this special issue of Plants is to bring together a series of authors who are currently researching the seed development process from the physiological and molecular points of view. We welcome all types of submissions, including original research papers, reviews, and methods. We hope that the submitted manuscripts, which must be related to the indicated keywords, will serve to clarify fundamental doubts and advance on specific points still unclear corresponding to seed development.

Prof. Dr. Angel J. Matilla
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• cDNA microarrays
• crop plants
• desiccation tolerance
• differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and proteins (DEPs)
• DNA methylation
• endosperm
• full-length transcriptome
• maternally expressed genes (MEGs)
• metabolome
• microRNA fingerprinting
• phytohormones
• polycomb group (PcG) proteins and polycomb-repressive complexes (PRCs)
• pre-harvest sprouting
• proteome
• RNA-seq
• seed coat
• single-molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT-seq)