种子萌发是植物生命周期的起点，对作物高产稳产至关重要。研究表明胚根突破种皮时，细胞分裂在其中发挥重要作用，而WOXs蛋白在控制干细胞分裂方面起着关键作用，然而有关WOXs调控种子萌发活力的研究还是空白。课题组近期发现WOX2 和WOX5 可能参与调控细胞分裂影响种子萌发活力，但其下游靶基因以及分子调控机制还不十分清楚。因此，项目以WOXs蛋白入手，鉴定其下游靶基因，并利用分子生物学、组学、生理生化、遗传学等技术对WOXs及其靶基因的功能、作用机制和分子网络开展深入研究，解析其调控细胞分裂促进种子萌发的分子通路，并阐明该通路与植物激素途径的作用关系，为农业生产中控制种子萌发提供分子理论基础。

Seed germination is a new start point of life cycle, and plays important role in the production of crops. Studies have showed that cell division is involved in radicle protrusion during germination. WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) transcription factors are essential in maintaining and/or promoting meristem. However, it is not clear if WOXs play a role in radicle protrusion through controlling cell division. Recent progress in our lab indicated that loss-of-function of WOX2 and WOX5 can result in changed seed germination speed. Therefore, we would further investigate the molecular mechanisms of WOXs in regulating germination in this project. The work will be focus on the identification of target genes of WOXs in regulating radicle protrusion and gene regulatory network through combining genetics, OMICS, physiology and biochemistry approaches. The work will be very helpful for understanding seed germination capability regulated by cell division mediating by WOXs , and to provide molecular basis of seed germination for the control of agricultural production.