Influence of KAR1 on the plant growth and development of dormant seeds by balancing different factors

Karrikins is a new family of different compounds that can interrupt the seed's dormancy and cause seed germination. Karrikins chemically defined as a family of compounds formed in smoke from the burning of plant material. Previous research indicates that karrikins have essential roles in various biological processes, such as seed dormancy, seed germination, and early plant growth. Recent research indicates that KAR1 can alleviate seed dormancy in rapeseed and Avena fatua by balancing and biosynthesis of gibberellin (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA). This study also summarized the role of KAR1 in affecting ethylene synthesis to resolve seed dormancy by controlling the ACS, ACO, and ethylene receptor genes. Expression levels of ethylene-related genes imply a regulation of the seeds' sensitivity modified to the existence of ethylene and indicate a specific diversification of the particular genes. KAR1 has demonstrated its capacity to regulate the antioxidant activity significantly to break dormancy. KAR1 encouraged the aggregation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) during ethylene synthesis as a result of increased activity of two ethylene biosynthesis enzymes, ACC synthase (ACS) and ACC oxidase (ACO). Data on the role of KAR1 in alleviating seed dormancy in various plants are hardly available. Only a few articles demonstrated KAR1’s function in alleviating seed dormancy. Researchers have to pay attention on this issue. This analysis can enable researchers to understand KAR1 and how it works.