Abstract: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important food crops in China, and direct seeding has become a crucial method in rice production. Low germination rates of seeds under low temperatures represent the primary bottleneck limiting the development of direct seeding technology. Enhancing low-temperature germinability(LTG) is of significant importance for ensuring high-yield stability and expanding cultivation areas. This paper systematically reviewed the identification methods, evaluation indicators and physical environmental parameter configurations for LTG in rice. It also summarized key quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and cloned functional genes identified through map-based cloning and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in recent years, with a focus on elucidating the molecular regulatory networks involving positive regulators such as qLTG3-1, OsSAP16, and GF14h, as well as negative regulators like OsMYB30 and OsWRKY71. Additionally, the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying rice responses to low-temperature conditions during germination were thoroughly analyzed from perspectives including osmotic regulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis maintenance, and antagonistic balance between abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA). The application prospects of molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) and gene editing technologies in breeding cold-tolerant germinating rice varieties were explored, aiming to provide a theoretical reference for the genetic improvement of low-temperature tolerance during the germination period.