A number of internal signals are required for seed germination. However, the precise signalling responses in the initial imbibition of seed germination are not yet fully understood in rice. In this study, the RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) approach was conducted in 8 h imbibed seeds to understand the signalling responses in the initial imbibition of rice seed germination. A total of 563 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with at least 4-fold change were identified in 8 h imbibed seeds compared to dry seeds. MapMan analysis revealed that the majority of signalling response-related DEGs were hormone- and transcription factor-related genes, in which the largest number of DEGs belong to the AP2-domain-containing regulators, and their expressions were significantly induced in the initial imbibition of seed germination in rice. Moreover, at least five AP2-domain-containing transcription factor OsDREBs were identified in the initial imbibition of rice seed germination, and the expressions of 251 DEGs were putatively regulated by OsDREBs through the dehydration-responsive element (DRE) cis-element assay. It suggested that the OsDREBs might play important roles in the regulation of initial seed imbibition in rice. The identified genes provide a valuable resource to study the signalling regulation of seed germination in the future.

种子发芽需要许多内部信号。然而，在水稻种子萌发的初始吸收过程中，确切的信号传导反应尚未完全被理解。在这项研究中，在8h吸收种子中进行了RNA测序（RNA-Seq）方法，以了解水稻种子萌发初始吸收中的信号传导响应。与干燥种子相比，在8 h吸收的种子中鉴定出总共563个具有至少4倍变化的差异表达基因（DEG）。MapMan分析表明，大多数与信号反应相关的DEGs是激素和转录因子相关基因，其中最大数量的DEGs属于含AP2结构域的调节剂，它们的表达在最初的吸水过程中被明显诱导。水稻种子发芽。此外，顺式元素测定。这表明OsDREBs可能在水稻初始种子吸收的调控中起重要作用。鉴定出的基因为将来研究种子萌发的信号传导调控提供了宝贵的资源。