Abstract <p>Improving seed germination is one of the focuses of modern agriculture. Traditionally, external environmental factors such as temperature, moisture and light are intuitive and simple for seed germination. However, the regulation of hormones and dormancy-specific genes is relatively complex, yet precise and efficient, and is still being explored and developed. In recent years, it has been discovered that endophyte, which mutually symbiotically coexist inside seeds, are also important factors affecting seed germination. Some endophytic fungi even are determinants of plant seed germination. They play important roles in regulating seed germination through hormone production, promoting seed growth by nutrient delivery and enhancing seed resistance to stress through symbiotic genes and secondary metabolites. This has become a new direction for promoting seed germination with green, efficient and sustainable advantage. In this paper, the latest research results on the combination of endophyte and traditional factors are reviewed in order to promote a more objective and complete understanding of the factors affecting plant seed germination, and to help readers grasp the current and future development direction of the field.</p>