DIV1: The master of awakening seeds in harsh salinity stress

When nondormant seeds are imbibed in optimal conditions, they are "woken up," initiating the crucial processes that promote germination.For Arabidopsis seeds, these optimal conditions include adequate moisture, sufficient oxygen, favorable temperature, suitable light quality, and the absence of environmental stressors such as salinity, drought, cold, or heat stress.This precise combination of factors ensures the successful transition from dormancy to active growth (Sajeev et al., 2024).Plants are sessile and have evolved a variety of mechanisms to constantly monitor the changing environment around them (Yu et al., 2017).Seeds, in particular, employ endogenous hormone signaling to integrate external cues and determine the ideal timing for germination (Shu et al., 2016).Among the various plant hormones, abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid (GA) play pivotal roles in regulating seed germination (Shu et al., 2016).ABA primarily maintains seed dormancy, effectively preventing premature germination, while GA facilitates the termination of seed dormancy and initiates the germination process (Yu et al., 2017).Despite the understanding of these hormonal roles, the molecular mechanisms that integrate environmental stresses, such as salt stress, with hormonal signaling pathways remain poorly elucidated.