Technical Abstract: Dormancy in plants involves a temporary suspension of meristem growth, thus insuring bud survival and maintenance of proper shoot system architecture. Dormancy regulation is a complex process involving interactions of various signals through specific and/or overlapping signal transduction pathways. In this review, environmental, physiological, and developmental signals affecting dormancy are discussed. Environmental signals such as temperature and light play crucial roles in regulating development and release of bud dormancy. Physiological signals including phytochrome, phytohormones, and sugar are associated with changes in dormancy status that occur when plants perceive environmental signals. Developmental signals such as flowering and senescence also have an effect on bud dormancy. Currently, many genes and/or gene products are known to be responsive directly or indirectly to these signals. The potential roles for these genes in dormancy progression are discussed.