Responses of seed germination, seedling growth, and seed yield traits to seed pretreatment in maize (Zea mays L.)

Individual or successiveseed priming with nitric oxide and calcium toward enhancing salt tolerance of wheat crop through early ROS detoxification and activation of antioxidant defense

Despite the considerable efforts reported so far to enhance seed priming, novel ideas are still needed to be suggested to this sustainable sector of agri-seed industry. This could be the first study addressing the effect of nitric oxide (NO) under open field conditions. The impacts of seed redox-priming using sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and osmo-priming with calcium chloride (CaCl2), both applied individually or successively, were investigated under salinity stress conditions on wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.). Various parameters, including water relations, growth, yield, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant activities (enzymatic and non-enzymatic), were recorded to assess the outcomes of these priming agents on mitigating the negative impacts of salinity stress on wheat plants. Water consumptive use (ETa) and irrigation water applied (IWA) decreased with seeds priming. Successive priming with SNP + CaCl2 induced the greatest values of crop water productivity (CWP), irrigation water productivity (IWP), seed index, grain yield and grain nitrogen content.Under salinity stress, the dry weight of plants was decreased. However, hydro-priming and successive chemical priming agents using combinations of calcium chloride and sodium nitroprusside (CaCl2 + SNP & SNP + CaCl2) preserved growth under salinity stress.Individual priming with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) resulted in the lowest recorded content of sodium in the shoot, with a value of 2 ppm. On the other hand, successive priming using CaCl2 + SNP or SNP + CaCl2 induced the contents of potassium in the shoot, with values of 40 ppm and 39 ppm, respectively. Malondialdehyde decreased in shoot significantly withapplicationof priming agents. Successive priming with CaCl2 + SNP induced the highest proline contents in shoot (6 µg/ g FW). The highest value of phenolics and total antioxidants contents in shoot were recorded under successive priming using CaCl2 + SNP and SNP + CaCl2.Priming agents improved the activities of ascorbate peroxidase and catalase enzymes. The successive priming improved water relations (ETa, IWA, CWP and IWP) and wheat growth and productivity under salinity stress more than individual priming treatments.

Optimizing germination conditions of Ghaf seed using ZnO nanoparticle priming through Taguchi method analysis

Ghaf, a resilient tree in arid environments, plays a critical role in ecological restoration, desertification mitigation, and cultural heritage preservation. However, the seeds' inherent challenges, notably their hard outer coating restricting germination, emphasize the pressing need for innovative strategies. This work aimed to investigate the optimization of Ghaf seed germination process through seed priming with ZnO nanoparticles treatment (duration (t), concentration (c), temperature (T), and agitation (a), employing the Taguchi method for efficient experimental design. Furthermore, the study includes Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), analysis for the regression model to assess the significance of predictor variables and their interactions, thereby strengthening the statistical validity of our optimization approach. Notably, it revealed that concentration is a pivotal influencer in optimization of Ghaf seed germination. The results showed that the concentration of ZnO nanoparticles has no linear relation with any other parameters. To verify the outcomes, validation tests were performed utilizing the predicted optimal parameters. The observed low error ratio, falling within the range of 1 to 6%, confirmed the success of the Taguchi methodology in identifying optimal levels of the factors chosen. Significantly, ZnO-primed seeds showcased a remarkable enhancement in Ghaf seed germination, increasing from 15 to 88%. This study introduces a novel approach utilizing ZnO nanoparticle treatment optimized through the Taguchi method, significantly enhancing seed germination rates of Ghaf seeds and offering a promising avenue for sustainable agricultural practices in arid environments.

Priming of Citrullus lanatus var. Colocynthoides seeds in seaweed extract improved seed germination, plant growth and performance under salinity conditions

Citrullus lanatus var. Colocynthoide "Gurum" is an unconventional crop that can be utilized as a new source of edible oil and has the ability to grow in a variety of harsh conditions. To mitigate the adverse effects of salinity on seed germination and plant performance of C. lanatus, seeds were primed in the aqueous extracts of the seaweed Ulva lactuca before planting under greenhouse conditions. The aqueous extract of U. lactuca at 8% w/v led to maximal seed germination percentage and seedling growth of C. lanatus. Moreover, U. lactuca extract counteracted the negative effects of salt stress on the plant by significantly increasing the activity of SOD, CAT, and POD. The bioactive components of U. lactuca, e.g. glycine betaine and phenolic compounds can account for such beneficial role of algal extract on C. lanatus. Thus, priming of C. lanatus seeds in U. lactuca extract with various concentrations of U. lactuca extract can be employed as an effective practice for successful seed germination, improved plant growth and enhanced salt resistance, probably as a result of increased antioxidant enzymes activity and photosynthetic pigments.

Genome-wide association study presents insights into the genetic architecture of drought tolerance in maize seedlings under field water-deficit conditions

Introduction

Drought stress is one of the most serious abiotic stresses leading to crop yield reduction. Due to the wide range of planting areas, the production of maize is particularly affected by global drought stress. The cultivation of drought-resistant maize varieties can achieve relatively high, stable yield in arid and semi-arid zones and in the erratic rainfall or occasional drought areas. Therefore, to a great degree, the adverse impact of drought on maize yield can be mitigated by developing drought-resistant or -tolerant varieties. However, the efficacy of traditional breeding solely relying on phenotypic selection is not adequate for the need of maize drought-resistant varieties. Revealing the genetic basis enables to guide the genetic improvement of maize drought tolerance.

Methods

We utilized a maize association panel of 379 inbred lines with tropical, subtropical and temperate backgrounds to analyze the genetic structure of maize drought tolerance at seedling stage. We obtained the high quality 7837 SNPs from DArT's and 91,003 SNPs from GBS, and a resultant combination of 97,862 SNPs of GBS with DArT's. The maize population presented the lower her-itabilities of the seedling emergence rate (ER), seedling plant height (SPH) and grain yield (GY) under field drought conditions.

Results

GWAS analysis by MLM and BLINK models with the phenotypic data and 97862 SNPs revealed 15 variants that were significantly independent related to drought-resistant traits at the seedling stage above the threshold of P < 1.02 × 10-5. We found 15 candidate genes for drought resistance at the seedling stage that may involve in (1) metabolism (Zm00001d012176, Zm00001d012101, Zm00001d009488); (2) programmed cell death (Zm00001d053952); (3) transcriptional regulation (Zm00001d037771, Zm00001d053859, Zm00001d031861, Zm00001d038930, Zm00001d049400, Zm00001d045128 and Zm00001d043036); (4) autophagy (Zm00001d028417); and (5) cell growth and development (Zm00001d017495). The most of them in B73 maize line were shown to change the expression pattern in response to drought stress. These results provide useful information for understanding the genetic basis of drought stress tolerance of maize at seedling stage.

Comparative protein analysis of two maize genotypes with contrasting tolerance to low temperature

BACKGROUND

Low temperature (LT) stress is one of the major environmental stress factors affecting the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). Hence, it is important to unravel the molecular mechanisms behind LT stress tolerance to improve molecular breeding in LT tolerant genotypes. In the present study, two maize genotypes viz. Gurez local from Kashmir Himalaya and tropical grown GM6, were dissected for their LT stress response in terms of accumulation of differentially regulated proteins (DRPs). Leaf proteome analysis at three-leaf stage of maize seedlings subjected to LT stress of 6 °C for a total of 12 h duration was performed using two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) followed by subsequent identification of the proteins involved.

RESULTS

After MALDI-TOF (Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight) and bioinformatics analysis, 19 proteins were successfully identified in Gurez local, while as 10 proteins were found to get successful identification in GM6. The interesting observations from the present investigation is the identification of three novel proteins viz. threonine dehydratase biosynthetic chloroplastic, thylakoidal processing peptidase 1 chloroplastic, and nodulin-like protein, whose role in abiotic stress tolerance, in general, and LT stress, in particular, has not been reported so far. It is important to highlight here that most of LT responsive proteins including the three novel proteins were identified from Gurez local only, owing to its exceptional LT tolerance. From the protein profiles, obtained in both genotypes immediately after LT stress perception, it was inferred that stress responsive protein accumulation and their expression fashion help the Gurez local in seedling establishment and withstand unfavorable conditions as compared to GM6. This was inferred from the findings of pathway enrichment analysis like regulation of seed growth, timing of floral transition, lipid glycosylation, and aspartate family amino acid catabolic processes, besides other key stress defense mechanisms. However, in GM6, metabolic pathways enriched were found to be involved in more general processes including cell cycle DNA replication and regulation of phenylpropanoid metabolism. Furthermore, majority of the qRT-PCR results of the selected proteins demonstrated positive correlation between protein levels and transcript abundance, thereby strengthening our findings.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our findings reported majority of the identified proteins in Gurez local exhibiting up-regulated pattern under LT stress as compared to GM6. Furthermore, three novel proteins induced by LT stress were found in Gurez local, requiring further functional validation. Therefore, our results offer more insights for elucidating the molecular networks mediating LT stress tolerance in maize.

Improved seed germination and plant growth mediated by compounds synthesized by endophytic Aspergillus niger (isolate 29) isolated from Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth

Plant-microbe interactions are remarkably diverse and dynamic. These interactions can be in the form of endophytic association. Colonization of endophytic microflora in crop plants improves crop health leading to crop enhancement. They stimulate the overall growth of plants by facilitating nutrient uptake and regulating various hormones. This eventually improves the plant biomass and grain yield. Owing to the assistance of the endophytes to the host plants, augmentation of crop plants with potential fungal endophytes or their extracted bioactive compound can upsurge the overall crop production and provide promising solutions for environmentally sustainable agriculture. In this light, the present study deals with the prospects of bioactive metabolites produced by endophytic fungi in Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth, a medicinal native plant of Rajasthan. The metabolomic analysis of a partially purified extract of Aspergillus niger (isolate 29) showed the presence of a total of 919 compounds using UHPLC-MS/MS. The metabolic pathway analysis revealed that these compounds were influencing super pathway of gibberellin and isoflavonoid biosynthesis. Significant increase in seed germination percentage (73-93%), seed vigour index (834.44-1498.21) and germination index (2.54-3.67 seeds/day) was found in treated seeds compared to untreated. There was a significant improvement in root (45-185%) and shoot length (215-295%) of wheat, barley and millet and a significant increase in root number (38-97%) in wheat and barley. Positive correlation was observed in the growth parameters of all the crops upon treatment. Overall, the results indicated that the partially purified fraction of A. niger (isolate 29) improved seed germination and promoted plant growth in cash crops. The results emphasize towards the importance of secondary metabolites in seed germination and enhancement of plant growth. These results also suggest a probable mutualistic role of endophyte with the host plant.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-022-03332-x.

Emerging cold plasma treatment and machine learning prospects for seed priming: a step towards sustainable food production

Seeds are vulnerable to physical and biological stresses during the germination process. Seed priming strategies can alleviate such stresses. Seed priming is a technique of treating and drying seeds prior to germination in order to accelerate the metabolic process of germination. Multiple benefits are offered by seed priming techniques, such as reducing fertilizer use, accelerating seed germination, and inducing systemic resistance in plants, which are both cost-effective and eco-friendly. For seed priming, cold plasma (CP)-mediated priming could be an innovative alternative to synthetic chemical treatments. CP priming is an eco-friendly, safe and economical, yet relatively less explored technique towards the development of seed priming. In this review, we discussed in detail the application of CP technology for seed priming to enhance germination, the quality of seeds, and the production of crops in a sustainable manner. Additionally, the combination treatment of CP with nanoparticle (NP) priming is also discussed. The large numbers of parameters need to be monitored and optimized during CP treatment to achieve the desired priming results. Here, we discussed a new perspective of machine learning for modeling plasma treatment parameters in agriculture for the development of synergistic protocols for different types of seed priming.

Identification of the Potential Genes Regulating Seed Germination Speed in Maize

Seed germination is the crucial stage in plant life cycle. Rapid and uniform germination plays an essential role in plant development and grain yield improvement. However, the molecular mechanism underlying seed germination speed is largely unknown due to the complexity of the dynamic process and the difficulty in phenotyping. Here, we conducted a time-series comparative transcriptome study of two elite maize inbred lines, 72-3 and F9721, with striking difference in seed germination speed, and identified a major locus underlying maize germination speed through genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) of an F₂ segregation population. Comparative transcriptome study identified 12 h after imbibition (HAI) as the critical stage responsible for the variation in germination speed. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between 72-3 and F9721 were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, oxidoreductase activity pathways, hormone signal transduction, and amino acid transporter activity pathways. GWAS revealed that germination speed was controlled by a major locus on chromosome 1 with the leading SNP as AX-91332814, explaining 10.63% of phenotypic variation. A total of 87 proposed protein-coding genes surrounding the locus were integrated with DEGs. Combined with evidence from the gene expression database and gene synteny with other model species, we finally anchored three genes as the likely candidates regulating germination speed in maize. This study provides clues for the further exploration of genes controlling the maize seed germination speed, thus facilitating breeding of rapid germinated elite lines through marker assistant selection.

Effect of Microbial Cell-Free Supernatants Extracted From a Range of pH Levels on Corn (Zea mays L.) and Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Seed Germination and Seedling Growth

The negative effects of more extreme pH conditions (soil acidity and alkalinity) are increasingly challenging crop production. Managing acidity and alkalinity in soils has been achieved through techniques such as the use of lime, afforestation, tillage, and addition of organic matter. The use of microbes to address this challenge is new and could increase agroecosystem sustainability while helping plants survive more extreme acidity and alkalinity, among other stresses. Use of plant growth promoting microbes (PGPM) has recently gained attention as these microbes afford plants several benefits, including nutrient acquisition and stress tolerance, both biotic and abiotic. Several methods of microbe application have been developed, all intended to maximize the benefits of plant-microbial interactions. The current study assessed the potential of changing microbial culture pH during production, followed by removal of cells to produce supernatant that enhances plant growth, specifically under acidity and alkalinity stresses. The study included L. helveticus. (EL2006H) and B. subtilis (EB2004S) which were cultured at three pH levels (5, 7, and 8) incubated for 24–48 h then centrifuged at 12 000 g to remove the cells. The cell-free supernatants obtained were used for seed germination and early seedling growth assays. The results indicated significant increase in seed germination rate, for both corn and tomato, compared to experimental controls. Supernatants produced at pH 5, for both strains, had greater effect than those produced at pHs 7 and 8. Similarly, the positive effect of these supernatants was observed in seedling growth as increased root length and volume. Their results indicate that there is potential in stressing microbes below or above optimum pH (~7) to induce production and excretion of favorable materials into the growth medium, as was evident in this study. To the best of our knowledge this would be the first attempt to look at this pH change to increase potential benefits related to plant growth promotion by microbes. It was interesting to learn that using the CFS of microbes cultured at pH 5 increased germination rate and seedling growth. These results provide an initial indication that support broadened research into PGPM under pH stressed conditions.

Seed Treatment with Biostimulants Extracted from Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica) Enhances Early Maize Growth

Biostimulants can be used as innovative and promising agents to address current needs of sustainable agriculture. Weeping willow tree (Salix babylonica) extracts are rich in many bioactive compounds, including, but not limited, to salicylates and phenolics. In this study, the potential of willow bark (WB) and willow leaf (WL) extracts is evaluated as plant-based biostimulants to improve the early growth of maize (Zea mays) under control and salinity stress conditions. In 3 days, seed treatment with salicylic acid and willow extract increased the shoot FW of maize seedlings 130% and 225%, respectively. The root area was, on average, enhanced by 43% with SA and 87% with willow extract applications. Moreover, these extracts increased the leaf protein concentration and reduced the negative effects of salinity during early growth. Reductions in lipid peroxidation and specific activities of antioxidative enzymes by seed treatments with willow extracts suggests a mitigation of salinity-induced oxidative stress. For most reported traits, WL applications were at least as effective as WB applications. Results indicate that aqueous extracts of weeping willow leaves, as well as bark, can be used as seed treatment agents with biostimulant activity to improve seedling growth and establishment under control and stress conditions.

Biopriming with Seaweed Extract and Microbial-Based Commercial Biostimulants Influences Seed Germination of Five Abelmoschus esculentus Genotypes

Seed germination is a crucial step in plant propagation, as it controls seedling production, stand establishment and ultimately crop yield. Approaches that can promote seed germination of valuable crops remain of great interest globally. The current study evaluated the effect of biostimulant (Kelpak^® and plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria—PGPR) biopriming on the seed germination of five (VI037996, VI046567, VI055421, VI050956, and VI033796) Abelmoschus esculentus genotypes. The germination responses of the bio-primed seeds were measured using six parameters, including final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), germination index (GI), coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG), germination rate index (GRI), and time spread of germination (TSG). Biostimulant application significantly affected MGT (1.1–2.2 days), CVG (1.4–5.9), and TSG (1.2–3.0 days). Genotype also significantly influenced the TSG (1–3 days). Significant interaction effect of biostimulant treatment and genotype was evident on the FGP, GI, and GRI of the germinated seeds. The most noteworthy effect was demonstrated by Kelpak^® (1:100) applied to genotype VI037996, with significantly improved FGP (82%), GI (238), and GRI (77%/day) when compared to the control. Overall, the current findings suggest the potential stimulatory effect of biostimulants (especially Kelpak^®) on the germination of Abelmoschus esculentus seeds. However, this influence was strongly dependent on the type of genotype.

Osmoprotection in Salvia hispanica L. seeds under water stress attenuators

Salvia hispanica cultivation is recent in Brazil and occurs in the off-season, when there is lower water availability in the soil. Water deficit is one of the abiotic factors that most limit germination for compromising the sequence of metabolic events that culminate with seedling emergence. Several attenuating substances have been used to mitigate the effects resulting from this stress and give higher tolerance to the species. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the action of different agents as water stress attenuators in the germination and accumulation of organic compounds in S. hispanica seedlings. The treatments consisted of pre-soaking the seeds for 4 hours in salicylic acid (1 mM.L-1), gibberellic acid (0.4 mM.L-1), distilled water and control treatment (without soaking). The seeds were germinated at osmotic potentials of 0.0, -0.1, -0.2, -0.3 and -0.4 MPa, using PEG 6000 as an osmotic agent. The variables germination percentage, germination speed index, shoot and primary root lengths, total dry mass, proline, total soluble sugars and total free amino acids were analyzed. Salicylic acid and gibberellic acid led to the best results among the attenuators tested, increasing germination, length, dry mass and biochemical components of S. hispanica seedlings under water deficit. Therefore, salicylic and gibberellic acids are efficient in mitigating water stress in S. hispanica seeds up to the potential of -0.4 MPa.

Echinops taeckholmiana Amin: Optimization of a Tissue Culture Protocol, Biological Evaluation, and Chemical Profiling Using GC and LC-MS

There have been no reports published on the rare Echinops taeckholmiana growing wildly in Egypt. So, this study aimed to preserve it through method optimization of in vitro seed germination, besides callus formation from induced seedlings. Chemical profiling using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the n-hexane fraction afforded 29 identified components, mainly fatty acids esters, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, one thiophene, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electron spray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI/MS-MS) analysis of total alcoholic root and induced calli extracts resulted in 68 metabolites. Taraxeryl acetate, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol-3β-d-glucoside, and 1,1,1-kestopentaose were identified from the defatted root extract, which inhibited α-amylase (IC50 54.6 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (60.4 μg/mL) enzymes compared with acarbose (IC50 values of 30.57 and 34.71 μg/mL, respectively). Moreover, it showed moderate activity against HepG2 (IC50 31.1 ± 1.4 μg/mL) and no activity against M-NFS-60 cell lines compared to cisplatin (IC50 3.25 ± 1.4 and 8.37 ± 0.25, respectively).

Seed Priming with Phytohormones: An Effective Approach for the Mitigation of Abiotic Stress

Plants are often exposed to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, heat, cold, and heavy metals that induce complex responses, which result in reduced growth as well as crop yield. Phytohormones are well known for their regulatory role in plant growth and development, and they serve as important chemical messengers, allowing plants to function during exposure to various stresses. Seed priming is a physiological technique involving seed hydration and drying to improve metabolic processes prior to germination, thereby increasing the percentage and rate of germination and improving seedling growth and crop yield under normal and various biotic and abiotic stresses. Seed priming allows plants to obtain an enhanced capacity for rapidly and effectively combating different stresses. Thus, seed priming with phytohormones has emerged as an important tool for mitigating the effects of abiotic stress. Therefore, this review discusses the potential role of priming with phytohormones to mitigate the harmful effects of abiotic stresses, possible mechanisms for how mitigation is accomplished, and roles of priming on the enhancement of crop production.

High resolution microscopy to evaluate the efficiency of surface sterilization of Zea Mays seeds

Surface sterilization of seeds is a key step in providing microorganisms-free seeds for numerous applications like understanding the role of seed-borne microorganisms in plant development, studying microbial cells-plant interactions by inoculating model microorganisms in a simplified system or selective cultivation of seed endobionts. However applying efficient treatment for surface sterilization of seeds without affecting the plant growth is not an easy task. In this study we aimed to provide an efficient surface sterilization treatment for maize seeds using i) hydrogen peroxide (HP), ii) sodium hypochlorite (SH) and iii) ethanol-sodium hypochlorite (EtOH-SH) under stirring (st) and vacuum-stirring (va-st) conditions. We used fluorescence microscopy and ultra-high resolution Helium Ion Microscopy (HIM) as powerful imaging approaches in combination with macroscopic techniques to visualize, quantify and evaluate the efficiency of seed sterilization, quality of root germination, seedlings and root hair development as well as the presence or absence of microorganisms on the root surface. Our results showed a strong reduction in microbial cell numbers of 4 orders of magnitude after the EtOH-SH treatments. Moreover, seeds exposed to EtOH-SH treatments displayed the lowest percentage of microbial growth (50%) and the highest percentage of germinated seeds (100%) compared to other sterilization treatments. HIM imaging proved the absence of microbial cells on the roots grown from seeds exposed to EtOH-SH treatments. Moreover, root hair development seemed not to be affected by any of the sterilization treatments. Our findings demonstrated that EtOH-SH treatments are significantly reducing the abundance of microbial cells from the surface of maize seeds and can be used with high confidence in future studies.

Effect of methyl salicylate (MeSA), an elicitor on growth, physiology and pathology of resistant and susceptible rice varieties

Methyl salicylate (MeSA) is a volatile organic compound synthesized from salicylic acid (SA) a plant hormone that helps to fight against plant disease. Seed treatment with MeSA, is an encouraging method to the seed industry to produce more growth and yield. The aim of our study is to find out the growth, development and disease tolerance of rice seed treated with different concentrations of MeSA. Also the seed treatments were studied to determine whether they directly influenced seedling emergence and growth in rice (Oryza sativa L) cultivars ‘IR 20, IR 50, IR 64, ASD 16, ASD 19 and ADT 46’ under greenhouse condition. MeSA seed treatments at 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/L significantly increased seedling emergence. Effects were stronger in IR 50, and IR 64 and the effects were dose dependent, although the relationship between dose and effect was not always linear. MeSA seed treated rice plant against bacterial blight were analyzed. Bacterial blight was more effectively controlled by the seed treated with 100 mg/L than others. These results suggest that seed treatment with MeSA alters plant physiology in ways that may be useful for crop production as well as protection.

Role of Ulva lactuca extract in alleviation of salinity stress on wheat seedlings

Seaweeds are potentially excellent sources of highly bioactive materials that could represent useful leads in the alleviation of salinity stress. The effects of presoaking wheat grains in water extract of Ulva lactuca on growth, some enzymatic activities, and protein pattern of salinized plants were investigated in this study. Algal presoaking of grains demonstrated a highly significant enhancement in the percentage of seed germination and growth parameters. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) increased with increasing the algal extract concentration while activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) was decreased with increasing concentration of algal extract more than 1% (w/v). The protein pattern of wheat seedling showed 12 newly formed bands as result of algal extract treatments compared with control. The bioactive components in U. lactuca extract such as ascorbic acid, betaine, glutathione, and proline could potentially participate in the alleviation of salinity stress. Therefore, algal presoaking is proved to be an effective technique to improve the growth of wheat seedlings under salt stress conditions.