Seeds are a crucial component of the global diet, with cereal grains contributing up to half of per capita energy intake. Seed biology is a well-researched area, but fundamental questions about how embryos emerge from seeds and how dormancy is maintained remain unanswered. Seed dormancy, an adaptive trait that optimizes germination timing, is generally undesirable in agricultural crops but advantageous during seed development to prevent preharvest sprouting. Germination begins with water uptake (imbibition) and ends with the elongation of the embryonic axis, often marked by the penetration of the radicle through surrounding structures. Dormancy is defined as the failure of a viable seed to germinate under favorable conditions, and it can be coat-enhanced or embryo-dormant. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a key role in regulating dormancy, with mutants lacking ABA content or sensitivity exhibiting precocious germination. Gibberellins (GAs) promote germination and counteract ABA effects. The mechanisms behind dormancy breaking, including signal transduction and metabolic changes, are not fully understood, and further research is needed to identify specific genes and processes involved.Seeds are a crucial component of the global diet, with cereal grains contributing up to half of per capita energy intake. Seed biology is a well-researched area, but fundamental questions about how embryos emerge from seeds and how dormancy is maintained remain unanswered. Seed dormancy, an adaptive trait that optimizes germination timing, is generally undesirable in agricultural crops but advantageous during seed development to prevent preharvest sprouting. Germination begins with water uptake (imbibition) and ends with the elongation of the embryonic axis, often marked by the penetration of the radicle through surrounding structures. Dormancy is defined as the failure of a viable seed to germinate under favorable conditions, and it can be coat-enhanced or embryo-dormant. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a key role in regulating dormancy, with mutants lacking ABA content or sensitivity exhibiting precocious germination. Gibberellins (GAs) promote germination and counteract ABA effects. The mechanisms behind dormancy breaking, including signal transduction and metabolic changes, are not fully understood, and further research is needed to identify specific genes and processes involved.