A practical and economical strategy to mitigate salinity stress through seed priming

Abstract

Soil salinity is one of the significant abiotic threats to crops that deteriorates crop yields, and the world’s increasing population faces serious food problems due to abiotic threats. It is one of the major abiotic problems affecting more than 30% of irrigated land across the globe. The concentrations of various salts, such as NaCl, KCl, Na2SO4, and Na2CO3, cause saline stress; however, NaCl is the most abundant salt in the soil. Salinity could affect seed germination due to osmotic potential or due to specific toxic ion effects, and it decreases germination percentage and increases germination time, and high salt stress is responsible for delaying seed germination. Therefore, it is necessary to alleviate the negative impact of soil salinity during seedling growth periods, so the growth of crops in salt-affected soil will be much more enhanced. Seed priming is the utmost effective technique that could mitigate the harmful impact of soil salinity. This methodology not only minimizes the salinity tolerance but also strengthens the defense system of crops. In this technique, the hydration level within the seeds is controlled by applying pre-sowing treatments, allowing specific pre-germinative metabolic processes to occur and preventing radical emergence. Seed priming also decreases the seed germination time and improves antioxidant enzyme activities, stopping or minimizing reactive oxygen species’ adverse effects. It enhances the seedling performance with rapid and homogenous germination and vigorous and dynamic growth of the seedling, achieving a physiological situation leading to quick and enhanced emergence and germination of various crops. This review covers the mechanisms of seed priming, salinity tolerance, seed priming crosstalk with salinity tolerance, and seed priming techniques that induce biochemical, physiological, and morphological mechanisms in saline stress. Further research needs to be performed on advanced seed priming methods such as priming with nanoparticles and seed priming with physical agents (UV radiation, X-rays, gamma rays, and microwaves) to minimize the negative impact of salinity stress on different crops under different harsh environmental conditions.

Effects of Plant Regulators on the Seed Germination and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity of Cotton under Compound Salt Stress

“…Enhancing crop germination and salt tolerance has become a top priority for addressing this problem. Many researchers are employing various strategies to bolster plants’ resilience to environmental stressors, thus, they are devising agricultural approaches to mitigate these unfavorable conditions [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. In order to study the mechanisms that influence crop germination in natural saline–alkali soils, this study utilized a complex salt solution extracted from local saline–alkali soil in Yopurga County.…”

Trends in Seed Priming Research in the Past 30 Years Based on Bibliometric Analysis

“…Salinity retards or prevents seed germination through various factors [51,52]. All kinds of techniques can improve the seedling emergence rate and stand establishment rate under salt conditions [53][54][55]. One of the most common methods is SP.…”

Evaluating Growth and Physiological Responses of a Medicinal Plant Phyla nodiflora to Salinity

“…Together, these effects of salinity interrupt physiological processes, such as respiration, photosynthesis, membrane transport, nutrient and water absorption, and homeostasis, thereby inhibiting cell elongation and division that result in a reduction in plant growth. Plants have different responses and tolerance mechanisms to salinity, depending on the plant species/ varieties [5,8,9]. Various tolerance mechanisms, at cellular and tissue levels, are evolved in salt-tolerant plants for their survival under salt stress [1,5,10].…”