Seed priming - one small step for farmer, one giant leap for food security: I application and exploration

Abstract

Crops under field condition face multiple abiotic and biotic stresses that reduce productivity and threaten world food security. Recent works suggests seed priming can optimise seed vigour through genetic repairing and optimising plant physiological process. Priming seeds not only produce robust seedling but also makes the plant ready to face multiple probable stresses in the field more efficiently. We review here factors influencing seed priming and promising methods such as hydro priming, halo priming, osmopriming, osmo-hardening, hormonal priming, matrix priming, nutri priming and bio-priming that can potentially confer enhanced tolerance when plants are exposed to multiple stresses. The crop specific use of different agents along with its challenges, opportunities and explorative evidences of chemical priming with Selenium and nano Zinc are addressed, with the aim to boost future research towards effective application in crop stress management.

Seed priming with sodium nitroprusside enhances the growth of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) under drought stress

“…technique for enhancing plant tolerance to extended stress exposure by increasing nutrient absorption, increasing water usage efficiency, breaking seed dormancy and enhancing crop physiology (6,7). Water-based, plant growth regulator-based, osmotic solution-based, chemical-based and other priming treatments are often used to improve drought tolerance in various agricultural plants.…”

Bio-Priming with Bacillus Isolates Suppresses Seed Infection and Improves the Germination of Garden Peas in the Presence of Fusarium Strains

“…[55]. The application of beneficial bacteria as priming agents has been reported to promote stimulus in the rhizosphere, facilitate nutrient cycling, accumulate enzymatic activity, and thereby improve crop performance under adverse environmental conditions [56]. The antagonism and positive effects on germination, both in the absence and presence of pathogens, are probably related to the production of lipopeptides, namely surfactin (B. subtilis B43) and bacillomicin (B. amyloliquefaciens B50), cellulase, IAA, and siderophores.…”