Honey proteins and seed dormancy

Abstract

In a recent issue of the Pakistan Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Azim et al. [1] presented a compelling study on the role of honey in promoting seed germination. Despite containing only a small fraction of proteins (typically 1% or less), honey was shown to possess bioactive proteins that contribute to various biological functions, including plant development. The study highlights the potential of honey proteins in breaking seed dormancy and acting as a natural bio-stimulant for plant growth—an area that remains relatively underexplored compared to more commonly studied plant stimulants such as phytohormones, microbial inoculants, humic substances, seaweed extracts, and protein hydrolysates.