The application of seed priming agents in enhancing drought resilience of rice: a comprehensive review

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) serves as a staple food for over half of the world’s population, and its production is vital for global food security. However, the increasing demand for rice is threatened by the rising occurrence of drought stress, driven by erratic rainfall patterns attributed to unpredictable global climate. Drought stress can significantly affect rice at various growth stages, with seed germination being particularly vulnerable due to reduced water intake. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), an alternative planting technology, offers water efficiency and cost savings but faces challenges like poor stand establishment. Seed priming, a technique that enhances seedling emergence and early growth, has proven to be a practical approach for improving rice tolerance under suboptimal conditions, including drought. The present article is intended to discuss (i) the mechanism and benefits of seed priming, (ii) seed priming techniques, potential agents, and effectiveness factors, (iii) the mechanism of seed priming to improve drought tolerance, (iv) challenges and opportunities, to promote the seed priming strategy as a future, cost-effective research tool to increase rice yield and productivity under drought stress.