Seed germination process is strongly dependent on environmental filtration, which is one of the key stages of plant life cycle and has important ecological significance for forest ecosystem. As a key environmental signal, light may be one of the most important environmental clues to break seed dormancy and promote seed germination. Seeds germinate in the right season by sensing the change of photoperiod. But in dense forests, only a small amount of sunlight can reach the ground after light absorption and shading by the canopy. This study will search all relevant literature related to the effects of photoperiod, light intensity and quality on seed germination process using Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Then, high quality and credible publications will be selected and the corresponding data will be obtained. The study attempts to provide a comprehensive and systematic elucidation of how the seed germination process responds to these changes in the light environment from the perspective of seed germination characteristics, physiology and molecular science using meta-analysis methods. The study should contribute to a deeper understanding of the effects of light conditions on seed germination processes and may also serve for ecosystem restoration.