Seed dormancy is an important adaptive mechanism to protect seeds under the unfavorable environments. Unlike to wild type species, the seed dormancy trait of cultivated crops has been weakened by breeding programs during the domestication period. Weak seed dormancy often causes preharvest sprouting (PHS) problem in many cereal crops that result in significant economic loss. The seed dormancy is a quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlled by multiple genetic and environmental factors. So far, many QTLs for seed dormancy have been identified from rice and wheat as well as in the model plant Arabidopsis. Unveiling of QTL genes and complex mechanisms underlying seed dormancy is accelerated by the rapid progress of crop genomics. In the present study, we reviewed current status of research progress on the seed dormancy QTLs and correlated genes in Arabidopsis and cereal crops.

• 허선미(국립농업과학원 농업생명자원부 유전자공학과) | Sun Mi Huh The two authors equally contributed to this work.
• 한혜주(국립농업과학원 농업생명자원부 유전자공학과) | Hay Ju Han The two authors equally contributed to this work
• 김범기(국립농업과학원 농업생명자원부 유전자공학과) | Beom-Gi Kim
• 권택윤(국립농업과학원 농업생명자원부 유전자공학과) | Taek Yun Kwon
• 이강섭(국립농업과학원 농업생명자원부 생물안전성과) | Gang Sub Lee
• 윤인선(국립농업과학원 농업생명자원부 유전자공학과) | In Sun Yoon Corresponding author