Seed’s awakening: Unveiling the MKK3–MPK7–ERF4 module in dormancy-to-germination transition

Seed dormancy is nature’s strategic pause in the plant life cycle, a purposeful interlude during which a seed, poised on the cusp of potential growth, bides its time in a state of quiescence. This period of dormancy is a crucial adaptation, allowing the seed to withstand unfavorable environmental conditions and synchronize germination with optimal circumstances for growth and survival (Née et al., 2017). Dormancy is orchestrated by a complex interplay of genetic, physiological, and environmental factors, including phytohormones like abscisic acid and gibberellins (GAs), as well as specific regulators like DELAY OF GERMINATION1 and others (Née et al., 2017; Liu et al., 2020).