Hormonomics profiles revealed the mechanisms of cold stratification in breaking the dormancy during seed germination and emergence process of Polygonatum sibiricum Red

Polygonatum sibiricum Red, known as Huangjing in Chinese, is a perennial plant valued in traditional Chinese medicine and is a nutritional food ingredient. With increasing market demand outpacing wild resource availability, cultivation has become essential for sustainable production. However, the cultivation of P. sibiricum is challenged by the double dormancy characteristics of seeds, which include embryo and physiological dormancy. This affected the germination of seeds and the establishment of seedlings. This study investigates the role of plant hormones in breaking seed dormancy and regulating germination and emergence in P. sibiricum. We found that cold stratification at 4°C for over 70 d significantly alleviates seed dormancy, associated with changes in endogenous hormone levels. Auxin, gibberellin, abscisic acid, cytokinin, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene were identified as key players in these processes. Exogenous applications of GA3 and 2-coumarate (2-hydroxycinnamic acid) significantly enhanced seed germination, while 6-BA and GA3 promoted corm growth and development. In conclusion, our research provides insights into the hormonal regulation of seed dormancy and germination in P. sibiricum, offering valuable strategies for improving cultivation practices. Further studies are needed to explore the specific mechanisms of hormone interactions and to develop optimized germination and seedling establishment strategies for this medicinally important plant.