Non-coding and epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of seed germination in Arabidopsis thaliana

Seed germination as a developmental process has been extensively studied using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Its seed biology is generally well understood, from the regulation of seed maturation and dormancy to germination and the post-germinative transition. These events require, and are the result of, extensive transcriptional reprogramming which importantly are mediated by essential epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, different histone variants and modifications, as well as by non-coding regulatory RNAs. Studying these mechanisms therefore is essential for understanding the regulation of gene expression during germination. In this review we summarize our current knowledge of these mechanisms in the context of Arabidopsis thaliana seed biology and discuss aspects requiring further study.