Studies on the ecologicalimportance of seedcoatmucilage have provided valuable information about its roles in critical stages of the plant life cycle. Seedmucilage may, by providing a moist environment and maintaining metabolic activity in the seed, promote seed development. In seed dispersal, seedmucilage influences topochory, epizoochory, endozoochory and hydrochory by anchorage of seeds to soil surface, lubrication or changing the specific weight of the seed. In arid environments, seedmucilage can prevent seeds from drying or initiate DNA repair mechanisms, thereby maintaining the soil seed bank. Seedmucilage reduces oxygen diffusion to the seed and thus has a role in regulating seed dormancy. Due to it being hydrophilous, acting as a physical barrier and containing chemicals, seedmucilage is proposed to promote seed germination in favorable environments. In seedling growth, seedmucilage may lubricate the radicle as it penetrates the soil and be degraded by soil microfloras and thus promote seedling growth. Further investigation of seedmucilage for more species in diverse habitats from the perspectives of evolution, genetics, proteomics, phylogeny and plant–microbe interactions would contribute substantially to our understanding about its ecologicalimportance.