Stress memory responses and seed priming correlate with drought tolerance in plants: an overview

Environmental-friendly techniques based on plant stress memory, cross-stress tolerance, and seed priming help sustainable agriculture by mitigating negative effects of dehydration stress. The frequently uneven rainfall distribution caused by global warming will lead to more irregular and multiple abiotic stresses, such as heat stress, dehydration stress, cold stress or the combination of these stresses. Dehydration stress is one of the major environmental factors affecting the survival rate and productivity of plants. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop improved resilient varieties. Presently, technologies based on plant stress memory, cross-stress tolerance and priming of seeds represent fruitful and promising areas of future research and applied agricultural science. In this review, we will provide an overview of plant drought stress memory from physiological, biochemical, molecular and epigenetic perspectives. Drought priming-induced cross-stress tolerance to cold and heat stress will be discussed and the application of seed priming will be illustrated for different species.

Seed priming with non-ionizing physical agents: plant responses and underlying physiological mechanisms

Seed priming has long been explored as an effective value-added potential technique that results in improved germination, reduced seedling emergence time, shortened crop duration, increased stress tolerance and eventually increased higher grain production. However, the wider applicability of water or chemical-based conventional methods of seed priming is often restricted considering its deleterious effects on post-treatment storability or agricultural pollution due to the persistence of chemicals in plant systems or in the environment. In this context, the utilization of physical methods of seed priming for enhancing plant productivity has created a new horizon in the domain of seed technology. Being eco-friendly and cost-effective approaches, priming with extra-terrestrial or physical agents such as ionizing radiation such as X-rays and gamma rays and non-ionizing radiation such as ultrasonic wave, magnetic field, microwaves, and infrared light offers many advantages along with ensuring enhanced production over conventional methods. Ultraviolet radiations, bridging between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, are important electromagnetic waves that would also be an effective priming agent. Non-ionizing radiation has certain biological advantages over ionizing radiation since it does not generate charged ions while passing through a subject, but has enough energy to cause biological effects. Extensive research works to study the effects of various non-ionizing physical priming methods are required before their wider exploitation in agriculture. With this background, this review aims to highlight the current understanding of non-ionizing physical methods of seed priming and its applicability to combat present-day challenges to achieve agro-ecological resilience.

Nano-Scale Zero Valent Iron (nZVI) Priming Enhances Yield, Alters Mineral Distribution and Grain Nutrient Content of Oryza sativa L. cv. Gobindobhog: A Field Study

In recent decades, nano-scale zero valent iron is reported to have plant growth enhancement capacity under laboratory conditions, but till date, there is no report to highlight its effect on the growth and yield of field-grown plants. In this study, we have evaluated the potential of nZVI priming on rice yield. A two-year field study has been conducted with different concentrations (10, 20, 40, and 80 mg l^-1) of nZVI for seed priming. The efficacy of nanopriming was compared with the hydroprimed control set. Seeds were treated for 72 h and sown in nursery beds and after 30 days seedlings were transplanted in the field. Root anatomy and morphology were studied in 7 days old seedlings where no changes were found. RAPD analysis also confirmed that low doses of nZVI were not genotoxic. Nanoprimed plants also had broader leaves, higher growth, biomass, and tiller number than control plants. Maximum yield was obtained from the 20 mg l^-1 nZVI primed set (3.8 fold higher than untreated control) which is achieved primarily because of the increase in fertile tiller numbers (two fold higher than untreated control). Higher values of other agronomic parameters like growth rate, net assimilation rate proved that nZVI priming enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and helped in the proper storage of photo-assimilates. All these attributed to increased accumulation of phytochemicals like starch, soluble sugar, protein, lipid, phenol, riboflavin, thiamine, and ascorbic acid in the grains. The elemental analysis confirmed that nZVI priming also promoted higher accumulations of macro and micronutrients in grains. Thus, nanoprimed seeds showed better crop performance compared to the traditional hydropimed seeds. Hence, nZVI can be considered as 'pro-fertilizer' and can be used commercially as a seed treatment agent which is capable of boosting plant growth and yield along with minimum interference to the soil ecosystem.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00344-021-10335-0.

Rhizobacteria mediated seed bio-priming triggers the resistance and plant growth for sustainable crop production

Advanced technologies are commonly used in modern agriculture to break the yield barriers and increase crop productivity. Seeds treated with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are an effective bio-priming method to introduce beneficial microbial inocula into the rhizosphere or soil. Bio-priming is a type of seed treatment that employs biological entities, which involves the hydration of seeds and inoculation with beneficial microorganisms. Mainly, the seed bio-priming technique improves the seed quality, germination, viability, vigor index, growth promotion, production, and subsequent disease resistance by enhancing the uniform speed of germination and production of others growth regulators. In the majority of cases, bacterial inoculants mostly PGPR are used for seed bio-priming, it is an ecologically comprehensive strategy that uses selected PGPR to promote plant growth by producing regulatory substances, enhancing uptake of nutrients, protecting seedlings/plants from seed or soil-borne pathogens. Bio-priming methods using PGPR inoculants are becoming more common in modern agriculture as an alternative to chemical treatments. They are more environmentally sustainable and safer for future agriculture apart from improving plants and soil health.

Nanoceria seed priming enhanced salt tolerance in rapeseed through modulating ROS homeostasis and α-amylase activities

BACKGROUND

Salinity is a big threat to agriculture by limiting crop production. Nanopriming (seed priming with nanomaterials) is an emerged approach to improve plant stress tolerance; however, our knowledge about the underlying mechanisms is limited.

RESULTS

Herein, we used cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) to prime rapeseeds and investigated the possible mechanisms behind nanoceria improved rapeseed salt tolerance. We synthesized and characterized polyacrylic acid coated nanoceria (PNC, 8.5 ± 0.2 nm, -43.3 ± 6.3 mV) and monitored its distribution in different tissues of the seed during the imbibition period (1, 3, 8 h priming). Our results showed that compared with the no nanoparticle control, PNC nanopriming improved germination rate (12%) and biomass (41%) in rapeseeds (Brassica napus) under salt stress (200 mM NaCl). During the priming hours, PNC were located mostly in the seed coat, nevertheless the intensity of PNC in cotyledon and radicle was increased alongside with the increase of priming hours. During the priming hours, the amount of the absorbed water (52%, 14%, 12% increase at 1, 3, 8 h priming, respectively) and the activities of α-amylase were significantly higher (175%, 309%, 295% increase at 1, 3, 8 h priming, respectively) in PNC treatment than the control. PNC primed rapeseeds showed significantly lower content of MDA, H2O2, and •O2- in both shoot and root than the control under salt stress. Also, under salt stress, PNC nanopriming enabled significantly higher K+ retention (29%) and significantly lower Na+ accumulation (18.5%) and Na+/K+ ratio (37%) than the control.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that besides the more absorbed water and higher α-amylase activities, PNC nanopriming improves salt tolerance in rapeseeds through alleviating oxidative damage and maintaining Na+/K+ ratio. It adds more knowledge regarding the mechanisms underlying nanopriming improved plant salt tolerance.

Brassinosteroids as a multidimensional regulator of plant physiological and molecular responses under various environmental stresses

Biotic and abiotic stresses, especially heavy metal toxicity, are becoming a big problem in agriculture, which pose serious threats to crop production. Plant hormones have recently been used to develop stress tolerance in a variety of plants. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are the sixth class of plant steroid hormones, with pleiotropic effects on plants. Exogenous application of BRs to boost plant tolerance mechanisms to various stresses has been a major research focus. Numerous studies have revealed the role of these steroidal hormones in the up-regulation of stress-related resistance genes, as well as their interactions with other metabolic pathways. BRs interact with other phytohormones such as auxin, cytokinin, ethylene, gibberellin, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and polyamines to regulate a variety of physiological and developmental processes in plants. BRs regulate expressions of many BR-inducible genes by activating the brassinazole-resistant 1 (BZR1)/BRI1-EMS suppressor 1 (BES1) complex. Moreover, to improve plant development under a variety of stresses, BRs regulate antioxidant enzyme activity, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthetic capability, and glucose metabolism. This review will provide insights into the mechanistic role and actions of brassinosteroids in plants in response to various stresses.

Elucidating ROS signaling networks and physiological changes involved in nanoscale zero valent iron primed rice seed germination sensu stricto

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play pivotal roles during seed dormancy and germination. Metabolically active cells of seeds generate ROS and successful germination is governed by internal ROS contents, maintained within an optimum "oxidative window" by several ROS scavengers. Although ROS was previously considered hazardous, optimum ROS generation in seeds can mediate early seed germination by acting as messengers for cell signaling involved in endosperm weakening, stored food mobilization, etc. Recent reports suggest that nanopriming can expedite seed germination rates and enhance seed quality and crop performances. However, nanoparticle-driven signal cascades involved during seed germination are still unknown. The present study is aimed to explore molecular mechanisms for promoting germination in nanoprimed seeds and to investigate the plausible role of nanoparticle-mediated ROS generation in this process. Here rice seeds were primed with 20 mg L ^-1nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) for 72 h and several biochemical and physiological changes were monitored at different time points (5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 h). To gain insight into roles of ROS in germination rate enhancement, intercellular ROS inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) was taken as another priming agent. Seed priming with DPI impaired seed germination percentage, hydrolytic enzyme activities due to ROS imbalance. On the contrary, seeds primed with both DPI and nZVI could recover from deleterious consequences of DPI treatment. Although DPI impaired intercellular ROS generation, nZVI can generate ROS independently which was confirmed from ROS localization assay. In both nZVI and the DPI and nZVI co-primed sets, significant up-regulation in genes like OsGA3Ox2, OsGAMYB were observed which are responsible for regulating the activity of several hydrolases and mediates efficient mobilization of storage food reserves of seeds. Thus, nZVI priming has potential to regulate intracellular ROS levels and orchestrate all the metabolic activities which eventually up-regulates seed germination rate and seed vigour.

Nanopriming with zero-valent iron synthesized using pomegranate peel waste: A "green" approach for yield enhancement in Oryza sativa L. cv. Gonindobhog

Nanopriming is a combination of nanoparticle treatment and a seed dressing technique that can increase seed quality, seedling vigour, yield and also imparts tolerance against biotic and abiotic stress. Here, nano-scale zero-valent iron (G-nZVI) was synthesized using fruit peel waste of Punica granatum L and their formation was validated from XRD and optical spectroscopic techniques. Later, the seeds were primed with G-nZVI at six different concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg L ^-1) to determine the dose which is optimum for increasing germination percentage and seedling vigour of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Gobindobhog). According to initial results, upon priming seeds with 40-80 mg L ^-1 G-nZVI highest growth rate was found. The early growth enhancement of seedlings was chiefly attributed to increased ROS generation, higher hydrolytic enzyme activities, and increased iron uptake in germinating seeds upon nanopriming. The effects of nanopriming were carried over to later stages of development. A field experiment was carried out where nanoprimed seeds and traditional hydroprimed control seeds were sown in plots and grown till maturity without the aid of any conventional fertilizers and pesticides and it was found that crop yield and grain nutrient concentrations were higher in nanoprimed sets. Compared to control hydroprimed sets, 1.53 folds higher crop yield was observed upon seed priming with 80 mg L ^-1 G-nZVI. Thus in the future, G-nZVI can be considered to be a novel low-cost, eco-friendly, food waste-derived seed treatment agent that has immense potential in increasing rice yield.

Thiourea supplementation mediated reduction of grain arsenic in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars: A two year field study

The present study delineates the interactions of arsenic (As), a carcinogenic metalloid, and thiourea (TU), a non-physiological reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, in rice plants grown in As contaminated fields in West Bengal, India. The study was performed for four consecutive seasons (two boro and two aman) in 2016 and 2017 with two local rice cultivars; Gosai and Satabdi (IET-4786) in a control and two As contaminated experimental fields. Thiourea (0.05% wt/vol) treatment was given in the form of seed priming and foliar spray. Thiourea significantly improved growth and yield of rice plants and reduced As concentration in root, shoot, husk and grains in both cultivars and fields. The reduction in As concentration ranged from 10.3% to 27.5% in four seasons in different fields. The average (four seasons) increase in yield was recorded about ~8.1% and ~11.5% in control, ~20.2% and ~18.6% in experimental field 1, and ~16.2% and ~24.1% in experimental field 2, for gosai and satabdi, respectively. Mean hazard quotient (HQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values of As reduced upon TU supplementation for both cultivars as compared to that of non-TU plants. Hence, TU can be effectively used to cultivate rice safely in As contaminated fields.

Sodium nitroprusside mediated priming memory invokes water-deficit stress acclimation in wheat plants through physio-biochemical alterations

AIM

Water-deficit stress is the most devastating environmental factor that adversely affects plant growth causing yield losses and low crop productivity. In this study, we employed sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as a seed priming agent for the acclimation of water-deficit stress in wheat plants by invoking priming memory.

METHODS

The SNP-primed (75, 100, and 125 μM) and non-primed controls were allowed to grow in pots under water deficit and normal conditions. The flag leaves of 98-days mature plants were used for biochemical and physiological studies by following the well-established methods.

RESULTS

The antioxidant and hydrolytic enzymes were upregulated while reducing sugars, total sugars, and glycine betaine increased significantly in flag leaves of wheat plants originated from SNP-treated seeds compared to control under water deficit stress. However, a significant reduction in MDA and proline contents represented a lesser ROS production which resulted in enhanced cell membrane stability. Consequently, there was a significant enhancement in yield, plant biomass and 100 grains weight of wheat plants under water deficit stress.

CONCLUSION

The improvement in yield parameters indicates the induction of priming memory in SNP-primed seeds which elicit water deficit tolerance till the maturity of plants thus ensures sustainable productivity of wheat.

Effects of seed priming on germination and seedling growth of desiccation-sensitive seeds from Mexican tropical rainforest

Seed priming increases the vigor of seeds and seedlings through metabolic and biochemical processes occurring during controlled hydration, followed by dehydration. In the field, seeds are exposed to hydration-dehydration events in and on the soil after dispersal, as in seed priming. Nevertheless, seed priming has been sparsely tested on desiccation-sensitive seeds, which are vulnerable to climate change effects. We evaluated the effect of two priming methods on seeds from two tropical rainforest species: Cupania glabra and Cymbopetalum baillonii. For hydropriming, the seeds were fully hydrated and then dehydrated to three dehydration levels. For natural priming, the seeds were buried for 12 days in either closed forest or forest gap. Primed seeds were sown in 1% agar medium and placed in an environmental chamber. The growth of the seedlings from the highest germination priming treatments was evaluated for 1 year in the field. Our results showed that for C. glabra and C. baillonii, hydroprimed seeds varied in their germination response, depending on the degree of their dehydration. However, for C. baillonii, hydropriming seems to invigorate seeds, compared to non-imbibed seeds of the same dehydration level. Natural priming increased germination speed in both species without any difference between closed forest and forest gap. Moreover, seeds with natural priming had a higher final germination percentage than seeds with hydropriming. Seedlings from seeds with natural priming showed a higher growth rate than the controls in both species, whereas hydropriming produced a similar effect in C. glabra. Both priming methods could be used for restoration practices with the studied species, natural priming being a novel method. The ecological implications of priming in desiccation sensitive seeds are discussed in this study.

Amelioration of salt induced toxicity in pearl millet by seed priming with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs): The oxidative damage, antioxidant enzymes and ions uptake are major determinants of salt tolerant capacity

Abiotic stresses in plants reduce crop growth and productivity. Nanoparticles (NPs) are effectively involved in the physiochemical processes of crop plants, especially under the abiotic stresses; whereas, less information is available regarding the role of AgNPs in salt-stressed plants. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated the effects of seed priming with commercially available silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) (size range between 50 and 100 nm) on plant morphology, physiology, and antioxidant defence system of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) under different concentrations of salt stress (0, 120 and 150 mM NaCl). The seed priming with AgNPs at different levels (0, 10, 20 and 30 mM) mitigated the adverse impacts of salt stress and improved plant growth and defence system. The results demonstrated that salt-stressed plants had restricted growth and a noticeable decline in fresh and dry weight. Salt stress enhanced the oxidative damage by excessive production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in pearl millet leaves. However, seed priming with AgNPs significantly improved the plant height growth related attributes, relative water content, proline contents and ultimately fresh and dry weight at 20 mM AgNPs alone or with salt stress. The AgNPs reduced the oxidative damage by improving antioxidant enzyme activities in the pearl millet leaves under salt stress. Furthermore, sodium (Na⁺) and Na⁺/K⁺ ratio was decreased and potassium (K⁺) increased by NPs, and the interactive effects between salt and AgNPs significantly impacted the total phenolic and flavonoid content in pearl millet. It was concluded that seed priming with AgNPs could enhance salinity tolerance in crop plants by enhancing physiological and biochemical responses. This might boost global crop production in salt-degraded lands.

Cold plasma seed priming modulates growth, redox homeostasis and stress response by inducing reactive species in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Seed germination and vegetative growth are two important plant growing stages that are vulnerable to physical and biological stress. Improvement in crop germination potential and seedling growth rate generally leads to high crop productivity. Cold plasma is a promising technology used to improve seed germination and growth. Structural changes on tomato seed surface exposed with cold air plasma jet for a different time period (1 min, 5 min, 10 min) was examined by SEM. For in-depth study, different physiological parameter such as seed germination and seedling growth, biochemical parameter such as reactive species status, antioxidants and phytohormone, and molecular analysis of various gene expression was also evaluated. Drought stress tolerance potential of cold plasma primed tomato seedling was also examined under 30% PEG stress. Cold plasma seed priming modulates tomato seed coat and improves the germination efficiency. It also induces growth, antioxidants, phytohormone, defense gene expression, and drought stress tolerance potential of tomato seedling. Cold plasma seeds priming augment the reactive species at a molecular level within seedlings, which changes the biochemistry and physiological parameters of plants by inducing different cellular signaling cascades.

Seed priming with calcium compounds abrogate fluoride-induced oxidative stress by upregulating defence pathways in an indica rice variety

The aim of this manuscript was to investigate the role of calcium compounds, viz., Ca(OH)₂, Ca(NO₃)₂, and CaCl₂ (each used at 0.3 mM and 0.5 mM concentration) as seed priming agents to ameliorate fluoride toxicity in rice. The stressed seedlings exhibited high fluoride bioaccumulation, severe growth retardation, and cellular damages. Calcium compounds improved plant performance by increasing seed germination, seedling biomass, and root and shoot length, avoiding chlorophyll degeneration and leakage of electrolytes, along with lowering the levels of malondialdehdye, H₂O₂, and endogenous fluoride. Calcium-regulated defence was mediated by proline synthesised due to increased Δ¹-pyrroline 5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) and lowered proline dehydrogenase (PDH) expression, and glycine betaine synthesised due to betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (BADH1) expression. While the stress-mediated lowering of carotenoids and total phenolics was relieved by calcium priming, stress-enhanced flavonoids and ascorbic acid content was restored to the normal condition, along with releasing the fluoride-induced inhibition of ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO) activity. The activities of antioxidant enzymes like catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, and the expression of catalase and superoxide dismutase genes were also affected by calcium priming. The elevated endogenous calcium level, brought about by priming, enhanced the expression of genes related to calcium signalling pathway, particularly the calcineurin-B-like 10 (CBL10) gene. Ca(OH)₂ (0.3 mM) appeared to be the most efficient of all the three priming agents. Overall, the present work highlighted the efficacy of calcium compounds as priming agents in abrogating fluoride toxicity in rice.

Influence of exogenous ascorbic acid and glutathione priming on mitochondrial structural and functional systems to alleviate aging damage in oat seeds

BACKGROUND

Loss of vigor caused by seed aging adversely affects agricultural production under natural conditions. However, priming is an economical and effective method for improving the vigor of aged seeds. The objective of this study was to test the effectiveness of exogenous ascorbic acid (ASC) and glutathione (GSH) priming in the repairing of aged oat (Avena sativa) seeds, and to test the hypothesis that structural and functional systems in mitochondria were involved in this process.

RESULTS

Oat seeds were artificially aged for 20 days at 45 °C, and were primed with solutions (1 mmol L^- 1) of ASC, GSH, or ASC + GSH at 20 °C for 0.5 h before or after their aging. Seed germination, antioxidant enzymes in the ASC-GSH cycle, cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activities, and the mitochondrial ultrastructures of the embryonic root cells were markedly improved in aged oat seeds through post-priming with ASC, GSH, or ASC + GSH, while their malondialdehyde and H₂O₂ contents decreased significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that priming with ASC, GSH, or ASC + GSH after aging could effectively alleviate aging damage in oat seeds, and that the role of ASC was more effective than GSH, but positive effects of post-priming with ASC and GSH were not superior to post-priming with ASC in repairing aging damage of aged oat seeds. However, pre-priming with ASC, GSH, or ASC + GSH was not effective in oat seeds, suggesting that pre-priming with ASC, GSH, or ASC + GSH could not inhibit the occurrence of aging damage in oat seeds.

Influence of different seed priming techniques on oxidative and antioxidative responses during the germination of Oryza sativa varieties

NaCl and PEG stresses have negative impacts on seed germination and early seedling establishment in Oryza sativa. The present study was designed to ascertain the influence of different priming techniques (Hydro priming-HyP, Halo priming-HP, UV-B priming-UP) in enhancing oxidative and anti-oxidative mechanisms during seed germination phase in response to NaCl and PEG stresses tolerance of three rice varieties (Neeraja, Vaisakh and Vyttila 6). NaCl and PEG stresses caused delayed germination rate, enhanced reactive oxygen species content and thereby increased lipid peroxidation rate. Different priming techniques significantly hastened the metabolites/non enzymatic antioxidant contents (total sugars, total phenolics, free amino acids, proline, ascorbate and glutathione) as well as activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and guaiacol peroxidase), and thus reduced oxidative stress damages caused by NaCl and PEG stresses in rice seedlings. Seed priming techniques imparted abiotic stress tolerance not only to sensitive varieties but also additional tolerance potential to tolerant varieties. All three priming techniques protects the plants from toxicity caused by NaCl and PEG stresses but halo priming had proved to be more successful.

Effect of UV-B priming on the abiotic stress tolerance of stress-sensitive rice seedlings: Priming imprints and cross-tolerance

Ultraviolet (UV)-B priming can boost the abiotic stress tolerance of plants by activating stress-responsive pathways. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the persistence of priming imprints and cross-tolerance inducing effects of UV-B priming in abiotic stress-sensitive rice (Oryza sativa L. 'Aiswarya') when subjected to various abiotic stressors (NaCl, PEG, and UV-B). The UV-B priming of rice seeds and seedlings effectively enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant machinery activity, and antioxidative enzyme production, especially when seedlings were exposed to NaCl, followed by UV-B and PEG. The ability of UV-B priming to induce cross-tolerance against NaCl stress was substantiated by the greater antioxidant activity of the primed and NaCl-stressed seedlings. The greater performance and stress tolerance of the seedlings from UV-B-primed seeds were attributed to the carryover of priming imprints from seeds into the seedlings. Indeed, UV-B priming activated the antioxidant systems of the seedlings, even under non-stress conditions, and resulted in greater responses upon subsequent stress exposure, which suggested that preparedness for encountering imminent stress was attained by UV-B priming in a stress-sensitive rice.

Evaluation of structurally different benzimidazoles as priming agents, plant defence activators and growth enhancers in wheat

Priming is a valuable, facile and well-established technique used to enhance seed quality to achieve rapid germination, establishment of stress resistance and improvement of crop yields. Different natural and synthetic priming agents have been used for better crop performance and abiotic stress management. In this study, four different benzimidazoles were selected as priming agents and their comparative effects were evaluated on different biochemical attributes including total soluble protein, total oxidant status, MDA contents, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD) and hydrolytic enzymes (protease, estrases) compared to control. Treatments with 2-thio-1-H-benzimidazole reduced total soluble proteins and increased total oxidant status significantly but no considerable effect was observed on other parameters. Priming with 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-H-benzimidazole considerably increased the total oxidant status and a little improvement was observed in total soluble proteins. Seeds primed with 1-H-benzimidazole showed a noticeable decrease in the protease activity while all other priming treatments were unable to induce any detectable change compared to control. The treatment with 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-H-benzimidazole induced maximum reduction in MDA contents and POD activity. Moreover, all benzimidazole priming treatments reduced mean germination time, increased germination percentage and germination rate of wheat seeds.

Alleviation of cadmium-induced genotoxicity and cytotoxicity by calcium chloride in faba bean (Vicia faba L. var. minor) roots

Alleviation of cadmium-induced root genotoxicity and cytotoxicity by calcium chloride (CaCl₂) in faba bean (Vicia faba L. var. minor) seedlings were studied. Faba bean seeds were treated with H₂O or 2% CaCl₂ for 6 h before germination. Seeds were then exposed to 0 and 50 µM CdCl₂ concentrations for 7 days. Genotoxic damaging effects of Cd was examined through the determination of the mitotic index (MI), chromosomal aberrations (CA) and micronucleus (MN) in the meristem cells of faba bean roots. Similarly, effects of Cd stress on metal accumulation, total membrane lipid contents, total fatty acid composition (TFA), lipid peroxidation as indicated by malondialdehyde production, soluble protein and non-protein thiols (NP-SH) contents, hydrogen peroxide production and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) were evaluated after 7 days of Cd stress in the seedling roots. Cd stress resulted in the reduction of MI, in addition to MN formation and CA induction in the roots of non-primed seeds (treated with H₂O). Moreover, Cd induced lipid peroxidation, H₂O₂ overproduction and loss of membrane lipid amount and soluble protein content, and changes in the TFA composition in roots of faba bean seedlings. SOD activity declined, but CAT and GPX activities increased. However, seed pre-treatment with CaCl₂ attenuated the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of Cd on Vicia faba roots. The results showed that CaCl₂ induced reduction of Cd accumulation, improved cell membrane stability and increased the antioxidant defence systems, thus reducing and alleviating Cd genotoxicity and oxidative damage.

Salinity stress in cotton: effects, mechanism of tolerance and its management strategies

Cotton is classified as moderately salt tolerant crop with salinity threshold level of 7.7 dS m^-1. Salinity is a serious threat for cotton growth, yield and fiber quality. The sensitivity to salt stress depends upon growth stage and type of salt. Understanding of cotton response to salinity, its resistance mechanism and looking into management techniques may assist in formulating strategies to improve cotton performance under saline condition. The studies have showed that germination, emergence and seedling stages are more sensitive to salinity stress as compared to later stages. Salt stress results in delayed flowering, less fruiting positions, fruit shedding and reduced boll weight which ultimately affect seed cotton yield. Depressed activities of metabolic enzymes viz: acidic invertase, alkaline invertase and sucrose phophate synthase lead to fiber quality deterioration in salinity. Excessive sodium exclusion or its compartmentation is the main adaptive mechanism in cotton under salt stress. Up regulation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants genes offer important adaptive potential to develop salt tolerant cotton varieties. Seed priming is also an effective approach for improving cotton germination in saline soils. Intra and inter variation in cotton germplasm could be used to develop salt tolerant varieties with the aid of marker assisted selection. Furthermore, transgenic approach could be the promising option for enhancing cotton production under saline condition. It is suggested that future research may be carried out with the combination of conventional and advance molecular technology to develop salt tolerant cultivars.

Hydro-thermal priming enhance seed germination capacity and seedling growth in sugar beet

Seed priming improves seed performance in many crop species. In this study, the influence of hydrothermal priming on seed parameters of sugar beet is investigated in both laboratory and field conditions. In the laboratory, the treatments consist of a combination of cultivars (Arya and Shokoofa), hydro-priming at two temperatures (10 and 15 °C) for 6, 10, 14, 18, 22 hours. Germination traits and seedling growth were measured for determination of optimum hydro-thermal priming. Also, the protein pattern in the optimum hydro-thermal priming treatments and unprimed seeds were compared by electrophoresis. In the field experiment, the percentage and rate of emergence of primed and unprimed seeds were measured. Results showed that hydro-thermal priming had a positive effect on final germination percentage, mean germination time and uniformity of germination. Optimum hydro-thermal priming time and the temperature were 6 and 10 hours at 15 °C for Shokoofa and Arya cultivars respectively. Hydro-thermal priming increased the seed emergence percentage in the field by 15%. There was no significant difference in protein pattern between primed and unprimed seeds. In general, hydro-thermal priming not only increases sugar beet seed germination in the laboratory but also has a more positive effect on the emergence in the field condition.

The effect of hydro and proline seed priming on growth, proline and sugar content, and antioxidant activity of maize under cadmium stress

We tested the effect of seed hydro- and proline-priming on cadmium (Cd) tolerance in maize plants. Soil supplemented with two concentrations of cadmium was used for the investigation. Cadmium content, fresh and dry mass, shoot length, leaf length and width, chlorophyll, proline, sugar and protein content, and antioxidant potential in 4-week-old plants were analysed. Cadmium content in soil and maize shoots was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Accumulation of Cd was observed for all plants, and highest Cd concentration was recorded in seedlings grown from proline-primed seeds with no visual signs of Cd toxicity. In proline-primed plants, increase in leaf length, photosynthetic pigments, and sugar and proline content as well as changes in antioxidant enzyme activities was recorded. Results obtained in this study suggest that proline-priming of maize seeds induces activation of defensive mechanisms, such as proline and sugar synthesis, which in return alleviates Cd toxicity on maize growth with increased Cd accumulation comparing to control plants.

Terminal drought and seed priming improves drought tolerance in wheat

Plants retain the preceding abiotic stress memory that may aid in attainment of tolerance to subsequent stresses. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of terminal drought memory (drought priming) and seed priming in improving drought tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). During first growing season, wheat was planted in field under optimal (well-watered) and drought stress imposed at reproductive stage (BBCH growth stage 49) until maturity (BBCH growth stage 83). Seeds collected from both sources were subjected to hydropriming or osmopriming (with 1.5% CaCl2 solution); while, dry seed was taken as control. Treated and control seeds, from both sources, were sown in soil filled pots. After the completion of seedling emergence, pots were maintained at 50% water holding capacity (drought) or 100% water holding capacity (well-watered). Drought stress suppressed the plant growth (2-44%), perturbed water relations (1-18%) and reduced yield (192%); however, osmolytes accumulation (3-14%) and malondialdehyde contents (26-29%) were increased under drought. The crop raised from the seeds collected from terminal drought stressed plants had better growth (5-63%), improved osmolyte accumulation (13-45%), and lower lipid peroxidation (3%) than the progeny of well-watered crop. Seed priming significantly improved the crop performance under drought stress as compared to control. However, osmopriming was more effective than hydropriming in this regard as it improved leaf area (9-43%), tissue water status (2-47%), osmolytes accumulation (6-48%) and grain yield (14-79%). In conclusion, terminal drought induced modifications in seed composition and seed priming improved transgenerational drought tolerance through improvement in tissue water status and osmolytes accumulation, and decrease in lipid peroxidation.

Apigenin pretreatment enhances growth and salinity tolerance of rice seedlings

Soil salinity is a limiting factor in rice production. Since flavonoids present in most plant tissues play multiple roles in plant-environment interactions, in this study, we focused on the contribution of flavone aglycone (Apigenin) to the adaptation of salinity-sensitive rice cultivar 'Koshihikari,' to salinity stress, for the first time. Rice seeds were soaked in Apigenin solution (10 ppm) for 24 h, then air-dried and grown hydroponically under 50 mM NaCl for 14 days. Apigenin pretreatment improved the growth of rice seedlings by enhancing shoot elongation and dry mass accumulation under both unstressed and NaCl-stress conditions, compared with that in the non-pretreated seedlings. Apigenin pretreatment significantly reduced Na⁺ accumulation in the salinity-stressed seedlings, and helped to maintain a lower Na⁺/K⁺ ratio in all plant organs, compared with that in the non-pretreated seedlings, possibly by regulating the expression of some important Na⁺ transporter-encoding genes (OsHKT2;1, OsCNGC1, OsSOS1). Higher levels of lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentrations were observed in the shoots of the salinity-stressed seedlings; however, lower levels of lipid peroxidation and H₂O₂ concentration were detected in the Apigenin-treated seedlings. Apigenin pretreatment was associated with the induction of the rice antioxidant defense system represented by the induced activities of the antioxidant enzymes Catalase (CAT) and Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in the roots, as well as by increased accumulation of the non-enzymatic antioxidants carotenoids and flavonoids in the shoots, relative to that in the untreated seedlings, under salinity stress conditions. Together, these results suggest that Apigenin pretreatment can alleviate the damaging effects of salinity on rice seedlings, presumably by regulating selective ion uptake by the roots and translocation to the shoots, thereby maintaining higher K⁺/Na⁺ ratios critical for normal plant growth under salinity stress, and by triggering the induction of the antioxidant defense system.

Seed priming with Se mitigates As-induced phytotoxicity in rice seedlings by enhancing essential micronutrient uptake and translocation and reducing As translocation

We laid down this investigation to explore the promotive and antagonistic aspect of selenium (Se) when supplemented through seed priming technology in rice before sowing into arsenic (As) free and As spiked soil. Findings suggest that As stress inhibits germination (35.38%), seedling growth (38.19%), chlorophyll content by 42.31%, and reduced translocation of iron, zinc, manganese by 19.40, 17.33, and 18.40% respectively, in the seedlings of unprimed seeds. Seedlings of unprimed seeds also had greater As translocation into the aerial part beside repressing micronutrient translocation, significantly. On the contrary, Se-primed seeds had higher germination (27.82%), longer root length (20.14%), greater chlorophyll content beside having greater translocation of iron, zinc, manganese in shoots along with restricting As translocation in rice seedlings by confining more As in the root, in a significant manner (p < 0.05 level) than the unprimed seedlings grown in identical stress. On the other hand, seedlings of Se-primed seeds grown alike the control also had higher germination % (7.08%), root and shoot length with significantly less proline, and hydrogen peroxide content in root and shoot. Findings indicate that seed priming with Se executes dual role, a growth promoting and antagonism in a more practical and farmer-friendly way to mitigate As-induced toxicity and enhance growth in rice seedlings.