Abstract: Seed dormancy and germination are complicated processes, and their mechanisms to date are still unclear. However, some genes correlated with seed dormancy and germination have been identified from Arabidopsis mutants, which would be helpful in understanding the mechanisms of seed germination and dormancy. Gibberellic acid (GA) is one of the key factors promoting seed germination. Genes such as RGL, SPY, GCR, SLY and GAR are involved in the GA promotion of seed germination, whereas ABI1, ABI2, ABI3, ABI4, ABI5, FUS3, LEC, MARD and CIPK are relevant to the induction of abscisic acid (ABA) in seed dormancy. Research results involving the ethylene mutants of ein, etr, and ctr and the brassinosteroid mutants det and bri indicated that both ethylene and brassinosteroids promote seed germination via counteracting the inhibitory effects of ABA. The phytochromes PhyA, PhyB, PhyC, PhyD and PhyE are light receptors that regulate the expression of other germination-related genes by phosphorylation. Nitrogenous compounds could release dormancy in a way depending on nitric oxide.