Enhancing crop resilience: Understanding the role of drought priming in wheat stress response

Abstract

Wheat is a critical crop for global food security, but its production is often limited by both various abiotic stress forms- and events. The frequency of extreme events is increasing due to climate change. To address this challenge, it is crucial to develop effective strategies to enhance crop resilience. Drought priming is a promising approach to increase crop tolerance to abiotic stresses and to improve wheat production under adverse climatic conditions. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on drought priming in wheat, including its effects on both plant physiology and biochemistry, as well as on key molecular mechanisms involved in priming-induced stress tolerance. The article highlights the potential applications of drought priming in the agricultural sector, along with the challenges associated with its implementation. Overall, this review provides a foundation for further research to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of drought priming as a strategy for enhancing wheat resilience.