Studies on the seed germination of Annonaceae species from Mexico: a systematic review

Annonaceae is a family of approximately 2,430 species of angiosperms, about 70 of which contribute to the diversity of Mexico's tropical forests. Some species produce pleasant fruits, others generate essences used in perfumery or food flavoring, and others biosynthesize secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical and agronomic interest. However, information on seed germination in these species is still scarce. Several species produce dormant seeds as a protective mechanism for the perpetuation of the species. This review highlights the state-of-the-art, with emphasis on seed formation and the dormancy and germination mechanisms of Annonaceae species from Mexico. Systematic research was conducted in Scielo, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Embase databases. The PRISMA strategy was used with keywords related to seed formation, germination and dormancy of Annonaceae species from Mexico combined by Boolean operators. The search yielded 1,185 articles, of which 59 provided relevant information and were included in this review, which identified studies involving seeds of 15 species. The most investigated species are from the genus Annona. The research includes the mechanisms involved in seed formation, germination process, and the establishment and overcoming of dormancy. Factors such as hormonal balance, temperature, and light are considered. The main prospects for further studies lie in expanding the number of species to be studied, from seed formation, establishment and classification of dormancy to methods for overcoming dormancy, as well as the ecophysiology of germination, in order to assist in agronomics projects involving seedling production and ensuring the conservation and biodiversity of Mexican Annonaceae.