| Abstract | Seeds are a fundamental component in the life cycle of sexually reproducing plants, marking both the beginning of a new generation through germination and the culmination of the reproductive phase through seed production. Plant species exhibit remarkable diversity in seed characteristics, particularly in size, number, and composition, with seeds developing through precisely coordinated programs across embryo, endosperm, and seed coat compartments. In crop plants, seeds represent the most economically significant products, directly influencing both crop quality and yield. Recent advances in omics technologies including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have dramatically enhanced our understanding of seed biology (Liu et al., 2022). These comprehensive findings have provided unprecedented insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying seed development, germination, and composition (Chen et al., 2023; Yu et al., 2023; Klcova et al., 2024). Seed omics studies have facilitated the identification of key genes and pathways associated with essential traits, contributing to the development of advanced breeding strategies that improve desirable attributes such as nutritional content, fertilization efficiency, and yield (Yuan et al., 2024). Moreover, these studies play a crucial role in optimizing seed quality and enhancing crop resilience to various environmental and climatic challenges. As global food demand continues to rise, insights from seed omics research have become increasingly vital for achieving sustainable agriculture and food security goals.
This Research Topic focuses on recent advances in seed omics research, comprising twelve articles that explore diverse aspects of the field. Five review articles examine recent progress in seed omics, while seven research articles present findings on omics data processing, new methodological developments, and seed trait analysis, as detailed below. |
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