Seed dormancy and germination are the two important traits related to plant survival, reproduction and crop yield. To understand the regulatory mechanisms of these traits, it is crucial to clarify which genes or pathways participate in the regulation of these processes. However, little information is available on seed dormancy and germination in peanut. In this study, seeds of the variety Luhua No.14, which undergoes nondeep dormancy, were selected, and their transcriptional changes at three different developmental stages, the freshly harvested seed (FS), the after-ripening seed (DS) and the newly germinated seed (GS) stages, were investigated by comparative transcriptomic analysis. The results showed that genes with increased transcription in the DS vs FS comparison were overrepresented for oxidative phosphorylation, the glycolysis pathway and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, suggesting that after a period of dry storage, the intermediates stored in the dry seeds were rapidly mobilized by glycolysis, the TCA cycle, the glyoxylate cycle, etc.; the electron transport chain accompanied by respiration was reactivated to provide ATP for the mobilization of other reserves and for seed germination. In the GS vs DS pairwise comparison, dozens of the upregulated genes were related to plant hormone biosynthesis and signal transduction, including the majority of components involved in the auxin signal pathway, brassinosteroid biosynthesis and signal transduction as well as some GA and ABA signal transduction genes. During seed germination, the expression of some EXPANSIN and XYLOGLUCAN ENDOTRANSGLYCOSYLASE genes was also significantly enhanced. To investigate the effects of different hormones during seed germination, the contents and differential distribution of ABA, GAs, BRs and IAA in the cotyledons, hypocotyls and radicles, and plumules of three seed sections at different developmental stages were also investigated. Combined with previous data in other species, it was suggested that the coordination

2Seed dormancy and germination are the two important traits related to plant survival and 3 reproduction, and crop yield. To understand their regulation mechanism, it is crucial to clarify 4 which genes or which pathways participate in the regulation of these processes. However, little 5 information is available during the procedure of seed dormancy and germination in peanut. In this 6 study, the seeds of the variety Luhua No.14 with non-deep dormancy were selected and its 7 transcriptional changes at three developmental stages: the fresh-harvest (FS), the after-ripened 8 (DS) and the just-germinated seeds (GS), were investigated by comparative transcriptomics 9 analysis. The results showed that genes with increased transcription in DS vs FS comparison were 10 overrepresented for oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis pathway and tricarboxylic acid cycle 11 (TCA), suggesting that after a period of drying storage, the intermediates stored in dry seeds were 12 rapidly mobilized by glycolysis, TCA cycle, glyoxylate cycle, etc.; the electron transport chain 13 accompanying with respiration has been reactivated to provide ATP for mobilization of other 14 reserves and seed germination. In GS vs DS pairwise, dozens of the up-regulated genes were 15 related to plant hormone biosynthesis and signal transduction, including the majority of 16 components in auxin signal pathway, and brassinosteroid biosynthesis and signal transduction, and 17 some GA and ABA signal transduction genes. During seeds germination, the expression of some 18 EXPANSIN and XYLOGLUCAN ENDOTRANSGLYCOSYLASE was also significantly enhanced.19 To investigate the effect of different hormone during the procedure of seed germination, the 20 contents and the differential distribution of ABA, GA, BR and IAA in cotyledon, hypocotyl and 2 21 radicle, and plumule of three seed sections at different developmental stages were also detected.22 Combining with previous data in other species, a model of regulatory network related to peanut 23 seed germination was developed. This model will helpful to gain further understanding of the 24 mechanisms controlling seed dormancy and germination. Introduction 26Seed dormancy and germination are the two important traits in the plant life cycle, which 27 involve in the survival of a species and the offspring proliferation. Different plant species have 28 various classes of dormancy to regulate the timing of seed germination, help seedlings emerge 29 under favorable conditions. Primary dormancy of seeds is acquired during the seed maturation 30 phase, and reaches a high level in freshly harvested seeds. During subsequent dry period of seeds 31 (after-ripening), primary dormancy slowly reduces. When the dormancy level gradually decreases, 32 seeds can rapidly loose dormancy and proceed to germination during imbibition at favorable 33 conditions [1]. A recent research in Arabidopsis suggested that seed after-ripening is a specific 34 developmental pathway that is independent of germination potential and doesn't rely on ABA 35 regu...