How are germination performance and seedling establishment under abiotic stress improved by seed priming? A review

Abstract

Seed priming, also called osmoconditioning, is one of the most promising treatments for reducing the time needed between sowing and seedling emergence. In addition, this treatment has also been associated with increases in seed tolerance to adverse conditions during seed germination and seedling establishment. Thus, this review examines the major changes seen in abiotically stressed plants as a result of seed priming treatments, in particular physiological and biochemical changes promoted by seed priming. Many studies cited in this review have reported improvements in seed physiological quality and seedling vigour when using seed priming under abiotic stress conditions. These features have been related to the repair and build-up of nucleic acids, increases in the synthesis of proteins, osmotic adjustment mechanisms, the repair of membranes and reduced lipid peroxidation, resulting from enhanced antioxidative activities. However, further studies are necessary to explain how physiological and biochemical changes caused by seed priming improve the plant's adaptations to stressful environmental conditions.