Seed Storability in Rice: Physiological Foundations, Molecular Mechanisms, and Applications in Breeding
Zhou Tianshun,
Yu Dong,
Wu Liubing,
Xu Yusheng,
Duan Meijuan,
Yuan Dingyang
Affiliations
Zhou Tianshun
Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China; State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Yu Dong
State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Wu Liubing
Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China
Xu Yusheng
Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Rice Stress Biology, College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Duan Meijuan
Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Rice Stress Biology, College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Corresponding authors.
Yuan Dingyang
Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China; State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Corresponding authors.
Long-term storage of crop seeds is critical for the conservation of germplasm resources, ensuring food supply, and supporting sustainable production. Rice, as a major food staple, has a substantial stock for consumption and production worldwide. However, its food value and seed viability tend to decline during storage. Understanding the physiological responses and molecular mechanisms of aging tolerance forms the basis for enhancing seed storability in rice. This review outlines the latest progress in influential factors, evaluation methods, and identification indices of seed storability. It also discusses the physiological consequences, molecular mechanisms, and strategies for breeding aging-tolerant rice in detail. Finally, it highlights challenges in seed storability research that require future attention. This review offers a theoretical foundation and research direction for uncovering the mechanisms behind seed storability and breeding aging-tolerant rice.
