Research Progress on Endophytic Fungi Promoting Seed Germination: A Potential Breeding Approach

Low seed germination rate is a great challenge in the breeding and production of many crops. Although traditional methods such as physics and chemistry can promote the germination of some seeds, the fact that some seeds have difficulty in germinating still exists. Recent research indicates that endophytic fungi (fungi that live symbiotically with plant seeds) play a crucial role in breaking dormancy and promoting seed germination. This paper is a review of the latest developments in endophytic fungi promoting seed germination. It covers the molecular mechanisms by which endophytic fungi regulate the synthesis of hormones within seeds to affect germination, including the regulation of gibberellin, abscisic acid, auxin, ethylene, jasmonic acid, and brassinolide synthesis. It also discusses how endophytic fungi induce plants to produce defense enzymes to promote seed germination, as well as how they regulate secondary metabolites in seeds to affect germination. Finally, it provides an outlook on the development of this field. This review will offer scientific references for seed research and provide green and sustainable ideas for solving efficient breeding with endophytes in agriculture.