Priming Techniques Research Articles

Improvement of Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Faba Bean (Vicia Faba L.) through Seed Priming

In a lab experiment using seed priming, the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) seed germination and seedling development were studied. Twenty different priming techniques were utilized in the study, each comprising varying concentrations of NaOCI, CaCl2, KNO3, Manitol, PEG, KCL, H2O and a control group that received no priming. Four replications of a completely randomized design (CRD) were used in the experiment. Among the three priming treatments, there were substantial differences in the seedling growth metrics and germination rate. When 500 ppm NaOCl was used as a treatment, the highest seed germination percentage (96%) was attained. Although 100 ppm PEG had the greatest germination index (42.92), 10000 ppm NaOCl had the quickest mean germination time (8.27). Additionally, at a concentration of 1500 ppm NaOCl, the greatest seedling vigor index (29.79) and maximum germination coefficient (12.28) were likewise obtained. With H2O treatment, the maximum shoot length (21.09 cm) was observed for seedling growth parameters. The largest root length was produced by a 10000 ppm KNO3 treatment (11.19 cm). With 20000 ppm KNO3, the maximum root dry weight was achieved (88.50 mg), whereas H2O produced the highest shoot dry weight (51.0 mg). Additionally, it was discovered that a treatment with 10000 ppm KNO3 had the best root-shoot ratio (0.72). The research thus supports the possible use of seed priming as a method to improve faba bean seed germination and seedling growth. NaOCl and KNO3 seemed to work best for faba bean seed germination and seedling growth.

Physio-biochemical responses and crop performance analysis in chickpea upon botanical priming

Chickpea is a highly nutritious protein-rich source and one of the major crops to alleviate global malnutrition, but poor seed quality affects its productivity. Seed quality is essential for better crop establishment and higher yields, particularly in the uncertain climate change. The present study investigated the impact of botanical priming versus hydropriming and bavistin seed treatment on chickpea seeds. A detailed physiological (germination percentage, root and shoot length, vigour index) and biochemical (amylase, protease, dehydrogenase, phytase, and lipid peroxidation) analysis was carried out in order to assess the effect of priming treatments. Turmeric-primed seeds showed better germination rate (94.5%), seedling length, enzyme activity, and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis revealed the expression of minor polypeptides of albumin and globulin in the primed seeds. Moreover, field experiments indicated increased crop growth, vigour, days to 50% flowering, yield and its attributing traits in turmeric-primed seeds. Botanical priming can increase chickpea yield by up to 16% over the control group. This low-cost and eco-friendly technique enhances seed and crop performance, making it a powerful tool for augmenting chickpea growth. Therefore, chickpea growers must adopt botanical priming techniques to enhance the quality of seed and crop performance. Moreover, this approach is environmentally sustainable and can help conserve natural resources in the long term. Therefore, this new approach must be widely adopted across the agricultural industry to ensure sustainable and profitable farming practices.

Visual similarity effects in the identification of Arabic letters: evidence with masked priming

Abstract Research using masked priming and parafoveal preview techniques has shown that visual letter similarity has an impact on word processing during the initial stages in Latin-derived scripts. However, these effects appear to be absent in Arabic. One reason for this discrepancy could be attributed to the distinctive features of the Arabic script, which includes numerous letters sharing a basic form while varying in the location or number of diacritics. To shed light on this issue, the present study employed Arabic letters rather than words in two masked priming experiments: an alphabetic decision task and a letter-matching task. Both experiments showed that visually similar letters were more effective as primes than visually dissimilar letters. These findings suggest that the processes of letter identification in Arabic and Latin scripts may be roughly alike, implying that differences in visual letter similarity across scripts may arise at later stages of processing.

Genotype-specific germination behavior induced by sustainable priming techniques in response to water deprivation stress in rice.

Water stress brought about by climate change is among the major global concerns threatening food security. Rice is an important staple food which requires high water resources. Being a semi-aquatic plant, rice is particularly susceptible to drought. The aim of this work was to develop techniques directed to promote rice resilience to water deprivation stress during germination by implementing specific seed priming treatments. Five popular Italian rice varieties were subjected to priming treatments using novel, sustainable solutions, like poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), denatured γ-PGA (dPGA), and iron (Fe) pulsing, alone or in combination. The effect of the developed priming methods was tested under optimal conditions as well as under water deprivation stress imposed by polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatments. The priming efficacy was phenotypically determined in terms of germination behavior by measuring a series of parameters (germinability, germination index, mean germination time, seed vigor index, root and shoot length, germination stress tolerance index). Biochemical analyses were carried out to measure the levels of iron uptake and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Integrative data analyses revealed that the rice varieties exhibited a strong genotype- and treatment-specific germination behavior. PEG strongly inhibited germination while most of the priming treatments were able to rescue it in all varieties tested except for Unico, which can be defined as highly stress sensitive. Molecular events (DNA repair, antioxidant response, iron homeostasis) associated with the transition from seed to seedling were monitored in terms of changes in gene expression profiles in two varieties sensitive to water deprivation stress with different responses to priming. The investigated genes appeared to be differentially expressed in a genotype-, priming treatment-, stress- and stage-dependent manner. The proposed seed priming treatments can be envisioned as sustainable and versatile agricultural practices that could help in addressing the impact of climate challenges on the agri-food system.

Networked Cluster Formation via Trigonal Lipid Modules for Augmented Ex Vivo NK Cell Priming.

Current cytokine-based natural killer (NK) cell priming techniques have exhibited limitations such as the deactivation of biological signaling molecules and subsequent insufficient maturation of the cell population during mass cultivation processes. In this study, we developed an amphiphilic trigonal 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylethanolamine (DSPE) lipid-polyethylene glycol (PEG) material to assemble NK cell clusters via multiple hydrophobic lipid insertions into cellular membranes. Our lipid conjugate-mediated ex vivo NK cell priming sufficiently augmented the structural modulation of clusters, facilitated diffusional signal exchanges, and finally activated NK cell population with the clusters. Without any inhibition in diffusional signal exchanges and intrinsic proliferative efficacy of NK cells, effectively prime NK cell clusters produced increased interferon-gamma, especially in the early culture periods. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that our novel lipid conjugates could serve as a promising alternative for future NK cell mass production.

Seed priming: An overview of techniques, mechanisms, and applications

Seed priming is a pre-sowing seed treatment method that has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential to improve seed germination and early seedling growth. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of seed priming techniques, their underlying mechanisms, and diverse applications in crop production during the recent years. The article introduces the concept of seed priming and its importance in optimizing seed performance, discussing various seed priming techniques including osmotic priming, hydro-priming, hormonal priming, and microbial priming. Each technique is described in detail, outlining the specific procedures and conditions involved, and their advantages and limitations are discussed. The underlying mechanisms of seed priming are explored, elucidating the biochemical, physiological, and molecular changes that occur during seed priming, and the interactions between priming substances and seeds. The article also provides an in-depth analysis of the applications of seed priming, discussing its positive effects on seed germination, seedling vigour, stress tolerance, and its potential for sustainable agriculture. This review article serves as a valuable resource for researchers, scientists and faculties working in the field of seed technological research and progressive farmers who can adopt this technology for enhancing crop yield. This article provides insights into the techniques, mechanisms, and applications of seed priming for optimizing seed performance and enhancing crop productivity in diverse agricultural systems.

Effects of seed coating and priming with exogenous brassinosteroid on tobacco seed germination

ABSTRACT Brassinosteroid (BR) is a hormone known for its crucial role in seed germination promotion. However, there is a limited understanding of potential application in tobacco seed. In this study, we investigated various active ingredients for seed coating to enhance tobacco seed germination. It revealed that seed coating with 0.0500 ppm BR and priming with 0.01 ppm BR significantly increased seed germination rates, especially in low-temperature conditions. In addition, the combined use BR with priming and seed coating exhibited a substantial improvement in seed germination rates and promoted seedling growth. Through transcriptional analysis, it found that BR treatment regulates the expression of genes associated with DNA synthesis, cell wall organization and glucan metabolic process involved in seed dormancy and seedling growth. Overall, these results provide valuable insights into the utilization of seed coating and priming techniques, particularly with the inclusion of BR, to enhance tobacco seed germination and facilitate seedling emergence.

Seed priming: what's next?

Seed priming is a pragmatic enhancement technology to improve seed performance used from ancient to modern times. Priming accelerates and synchronises the germination of seeds across a wider range of temperatures, giving rapid and uniform stand establishment of crop plants, particularly for low vigour and dormant seeds. Further investigation is necessary to extend the utilisation of low-cost and effective priming agents to a broader spectrum of species and to enhance availability. Seed priming is a cost-effective solution for small farmers as it reduces production costs and leads to uniform picking and harvesting, thus adding value in terms of quality. It is essential to scale up these approaches at both farmer and industry levels, particularly in developing countries. The benefits of priming are attributed to various putative molecular mechanisms such as epigenetic control of priming, germination, and dormancy-related attributes. However, in different species and cultivars, it remains elusive and there is a paucity of studies on the long-term benefits of re-drying after priming. This in-depth review summarises aspects of priming techniques in a modern context.

Seed priming attenuates the impact of salt stress and enhances lettuce yields

Salt stress is a major factor that contributes to reduced lettuce productivity. Seed priming has emerged as a promising technique to improve crop stress tolerance. In this study, Romaine lettuce seeds were primed with calcium chloride (CaCl2), distilled water (hydro), and potassium nitrate (KNO3) to test their effectiveness in improving salt stress tolerance. Lettuce seeds treated with hydro, 50 mM CaCl2, and 0.5% KNO3 were exposed to 0 or 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl). Priming treatments significantly increased lettuce's fresh mass by 22%–61% under salt stress. Hydro-primed lettuce showed the most significant increase in root mass (109%), a 38% higher root length, a 35% increase in surface area, and a 25%–40% increase in volume, tips, forks, and crossings of roots. The hydro-primed lettuce had higher gas exchange rates than the non-primed control, followed by the KNO3- and the CaCl2-primed lettuce. Furthermore, hydro-primed seedlings exhibited the highest proline accumulation (105%) under salt stress. The accumulation of sugars (up to 50%) in hydro- and CaCl2-primed lettuce led to a 56% decrease in electrolyte leakage and membrane damage. The correlation network analysis of the traits revealed that hydro-primed seedlings exhibited a higher + ve/-ve edge ratio, which indicates their greater resilience to salt stress than other priming techniques. Priming of seeds before planting offers the potential for improving resilience to stress.

Breaking seed dormancy for sustainable food production: Revisiting seed priming techniques and prospects

Seed dormancy represents a pivotal challenge in seed germination, standing as a significant impediment to attaining SDG 2 - the zero-hunger goal. This dormancy arises from a range of environmental stressors, including restricted water conditions, temperature fluctuations, and light exposure. Consequently, the disruption of seed dormancy assumes paramount importance to ensure consistent germination and the cultivation of high-quality crops. Seed priming, an approach involving the treatment and desiccation of seeds, serves to augment pre-germination metabolism and expedite the germination process. Traditional priming methods encompass hydro-priming, halo-priming, hormonal-priming, and osmo-priming, each contributing to enhanced seed germination. Recent strides in priming technology have yielded even more effective outcomes concerning germination, germination timing, and seedling vigor. Novel approaches such as nano-priming (employing nanoparticle-infused solutions) and magneto-priming (involving magnetic fields) have surfaced, fostering uniform seed germination. Preeminent among these strategies is seed bio-priming, which not only alleviates seed dormancy but also augments nutrient uptake efficiency in germinating seedlings. This review paper delineates diverse priming methodologies applicable across a spectrum of crops, serving as an environmentally benign alternative to mitigate dormancy-linked predicaments and enhance plant growth. Additionally, we delve into the latest advancements in priming techniques and offer future perspectives. The central objective of this review article is to enhance comprehension of seed priming as a potent and invaluable tool for surmounting seed dormancy, consequently fostering sustainable global food production.

A comparative study on the role of conventional, chemical and nanopriming for better salt tolerance during seed germination of direct seeding rice

Salinity is one of the most significant risks to crop production and food security as it has a negative impact on plant physiology and biochemistry. The salt stress during the rice emergence stages severely hampers the seed germination and seedling growth of direct-seeded rice. Recently, nanoparticles (NPs) have been reported to be effectively involved in many plant physiological processes, particularly under abiotic stresses. To our knowledge, no comparative studies have been performed to study the efficiency of conventional, chemical, and seed nanopriming for better plant stress tolerance. Therefore, we conducted growth chamber and field experiments with different salinity levels (0, 1.5 and 3‰), two rice varieties (CY1000 and LLY506), and different priming techniques such as hydropriming, chemical priming (ascorbic acid, salicylic acid, and γ-aminobutyric acid), and nanopriming (zinc oxide nanoparticles). Salt stress inhibited rice seed germination, germination index, vigor index, and seedling growth. Also, salt stress increased the over accumulation of reactive oxygen species (H2O2 and O2•−) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. Furthermore, salt-stressed seedlings accumulated higher sodium (Na+) ions and significantly lower potassium (K+) ions. Moreover, the findings of our study demonstrated that, among the different priming techniques, seed nanopriming with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) significantly contributed to rice salt tolerance. ZnO nanopriming improved rice seed germination and seedling growth in the pot and field experiments under salt stress. The possible mechanism behind ZnO nanopriming improved rice salt tolerance included higher contents of α-amylase, soluble sugar, and soluble protein and higher activities of antioxidant enzymes to sustain better seed germination and seedling growth. Moreover, another mechanism of ZnO nanopriming induced rice salt tolerance was associated with better maintenance of K+ ions content. Our research concluded that ZnO NPs could promote plant salt tolerance and be adopted as a practical nanopriming technique, which might promote global crop production in salt-affected agricultural lands.

Economic feasibility of carrot (Daucus carota L) production in response to different seed priming techniques under deficit irrigation

The production and productivity of carrots can be significantly influenced by factors such as poor quality seed quality, lack of pre-sowing seed treatments, and improper irrigation management. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of various seed priming techniques on the early establishment, growth, and yield of carrot (Daucus carota L., Nantes variety) under different irrigation intervals in Gerado, South Wollo, Ethiopia. Four seed priming treatments (no priming, hydro priming with distilled water, halo priming with potassium nitrate, and hormonal priming with gibberellic acid) were combined with three irrigation intervals (4, 7, and 10 days). The experiment followed a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement, consisting of three replications. The main plots were assigned to the irrigation intervals, while the subplots were assigned to the seed priming techniques. The results showed that the interaction between priming techniques and irrigation intervals had a significant impact on yield parameters. Distilled water treatment under both the 7-day and 10-day irrigation intervals resulted in the highest marketable carrot root yields, reaching 33.73 tons per hectare and 30.63 tons per hectare, respectively. Furthermore, the combination of distilled water treatment and a 7-day irrigation interval showed the highest net benefit for carrot production (858,476.21 birr/15,579.42 USD). This treatment combination also demonstrated the highest marginal rate of return (4255.80 %), making it a recommended approach for economically viable carrot production in the study area and similar agro-ecological contexts.

Visual complexity in product design: How does the degree of elaborateness of the front‐pack image impact consumers' responses?

AbstractPrevious studies have documented the decisive impact of various product design elements on consumers' attitudes and decisions. However, research is missing on the impact of visual complexity. Using four studies that consider wine and perfume products, the present research manipulates visual complexity by focusing on the degree of elaborateness of front‐pack images. Using an affective priming task as an implicit technique, more positive automatically activated affective responses are shown for lower complexity designs (Study 1), in line with a processing‐fluency account. However, explicit measures show that higher complexity is associated with greater product evaluations (regarding esthetics, quality, prestige, trustworthiness, acceptable price, and purchase intention; Studies 2 and 3). In addition, more pronounced effects emerge for participants with higher sensitivity to design (Study 3). Finally, using an alternative implicit technique that does not involve very brief presentations of the products (implicit association test (IAT); Study 4), the association between higher complexity and product evaluation is also found under conditions of automaticity. Overall, this research provides insights into the diverging affective and cognitive effects of visual complexity. It suggests that the positive effect of lower complexity through higher processing fluency is restricted to responses that are affective and generated under conditions of automaticity that involve particularly low‐level processes. It also suggests that priming techniques based on very short presentations of the products' visuals may be unsuitable for examining responses to fairly complex concepts such as consumer products. On the whole, this research emphasizes that design complexity should receive more attention from consumer researchers and marketers.

God, Can I Give Up?: The Diverging Effects of God-Related Thoughts on Task Persistence in Chinese Buddhists and Taoists

ABSTRACT Previous research has indicated that religiosity and engagement in faith practices are associated with increased task persistence. However, in this study, we sought to challenge this long-standing assumption by demonstrating that priming God-related concepts can actually lead to reduced task persistence in Taoism, a religion emphasizing passivity, calmness, and inaction. To investigate this theoretical perspective, we conducted two experimental studies using different behavioral measures of task persistence (anagram task and mirror-tracing task) and diverse religious priming techniques (the scrambled-sentence task and religious reading task). In Study 1, when Chinese Taoists were first reminded of God and then completed an unsolvable anagram task purported to measure the maturation of verbal abilities, they exhibited lower levels of task persistence than those in the neutral prime condition. In Study 2, we found that Taoist participants exposed to God-related primes spent less time on tracing a difficult geometric figures, indicating lower levels of task persistence. Across two studies, we replicated prior findings that exposure to God representations increased task persistence in Chinese Buddhists, who belong to a non-Abraham religious group. These results provided the first experimental evidence that activating thoughts of God may have divergent effects on task persistence in members of different religions.

Optimization of Seed Priming Techniques for Seed Enhancement in Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

Seed invigoration treatments are crucial for enhancing germination and seedling growth, particularly under adverse environmental conditions. Various techniques, such as hydropriming, seed hardening, osmopriming, and pre-sowing dry heat treatments have been proved to improve seed quality. Sunflower is an important oilseed crop, however, its area is now confined to specific niches and therefore any efforts to increase its production and bring back its glory are highly welcome. Sunflower crop is highly susceptible to environmental stresses further limiting its cultivation. Hence identification and standardization of suitable techniques to improve the germination capacity and planting value of sunflower especially under stress conditions is the need of the hour. The present study is taken up in aged and fresh seeds of two sunflower hybrids viz., DRSH-1 and GK-2002 to standardize hydropriming, thermo priming and pre-chilling treatments so as to the enhance planting value when sown under sub optimal conditions. It was found that hydropriming for 16 hrs, thermopriming for 6hrs at 35oC and pre chilling for 7 days at 10oC showed highest improvement in the seed quality parameters like germination percentage, seedling vigour indices I and II, field emergence and speed of germination. These findings offer promising avenues for improving seed quality and viability in sunflower.

Thinking Styles and Creativity: The Mediating Role of Psychological Adjustment in College Students.

The observation and cultivation of university students' creativity have always been of enormous concern to the Chinese government. The present research delved into the influence of three dimensions of the Chinese thinking style (Interconnection, Change, and Contradiction) on creativity and the mediating role of psychological adjustment in college students. Specifically, Study 1 investigated the relationship between university students' thinking styles and creativity through self-reported questionnaires. The results revealed that the thinking style of interconnections had a significant positive effect on creativity among university student groups, while the change dimension significantly negatively affected creativity. The relationship between the dimension of contradiction and creativity did not show significance. Study 2 manipulated thinking style by priming techniques, priming university students' thinking styles of interconnections (Study 2a) and change (Study 2b), and verified the mediating role of psychological adjustment between thinking styles and creativity. Aside from replicating the findings of Study 1, the results showed that university students' psychological adjustment mediated the positive effect of interconnections on fluency and the negative effect of change on fluency. These results and findings can provide a theoretical and practical reference for our government to cultivate university students' creativity.

Enhancing Germination and Seedling Vigour of Interspecific F1 Hybrid Chilli Seeds through Priming with KNO3 and GA3

India is called a home for spices and also involved in the export. Chilli is an indispensable spice, essentially used in every Indian cuisine due to its pungency, taste, appealing odour and flavour. Quality seed is a key component for the successful agriculture, where the main objective is each seed should germinate and produce a vigorous seedling which ensures higher seed yield, productivity and also better storability to achieve good yield in the coming season. To achieve all the above said traits, the seed technologists have developed seed enhancement techniques. Seed enhancement techniques are post-harvest treatment of seeds to enhance the seed germination and seedling growth by facilitating the delivery of seeds with other materials at sowing time. This enhancement technique includes hydration treatments like seed priming and seed encapsulation like seed pelleting, which impacts significantly on seedling emergence and establishment. In this experiment study was conducted different priming treatments, seeds primed with KNO3 @ 1%, 2% and 3% and seeds primed with GA3 @ 50 ppm, 100 ppm and 150 ppm, the seeds treated with KNO3 @ 1% showed highest germination percentage, root, shoot, seedling length, seedling dry weight and seedling vigour index I and II which was followed by GA3 @ 50 ppm. Acknowledge of proper priming techniques in order to improve the germination in the seeds.

Effect of different seed priming techniques on endogenous nutrient accumulation and grain vitamin contents in soft and hard wheat species

Effect of different seed priming techniques on endogenous nutrient accumulation and grain vitamin contents in soft and hard wheat species

Effects of hormonal and magneto-priming on seed germination traits of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) seeds were tested to discover how different priming techniques affected their germination rates, a pot experiment was conducted by the combination procedures for seed priming with magnetic fields (magneto-priming) and hormonal priming seed with gibberellic acid (AG3) or ascorbic acid (AsA). Final germination percentage (FGB), mean germination time (MGT), germination rate index (GRI), coefficient of the velocity of germination (CVG), mean daily germination (MDG), peak value (PV), and germination value (GV) are all included as germination metrics. Among the two durations of exposure time to magneto-priming used, the significantly highest FGB, GRI, CVG, MDG, PV and GV were reported in the primed with the time duration 1 h (MP2), significantly lowest MGT for MGT in days. Whereas among the two hormonal primings used, GA3 recorded the highest increases upon the unprimed seeds for FGB, GRI, CVG, MDG, PV, and GV, in addition, significantly lowest MGT for MGT in days. However, when magnetic seed is combined shows the highest increase rates compared to the control treatment for time exposure for 1 h (MP2) with GA3 or AsA in all studied traits, in addition to the lowest rates decrease in MGT. Overall, the findings imply that seed priming by magnetic field and hormone priming via GA3 or AsA may be promising and practical priming techniques because of their favorable impacts on some physiological sorghum characteristics. Keywords: Wheat, physiological parameters, gibberellic acid, UV-C radiation, hydro-priming.

Fruit yield and yield-related traits of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) moench] genotypes as influenced by different seed priming techniques in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Okra is a commercially important vegetable crop that grows in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate parts of the world, but its productivity is hindered by a lack of improved cultivars and delayed and erratic seedling emergence in the field. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed priming treatments on okra genotypes' seedling emergence and fruit yield. In this experiment, Clemson spineless, Arka Anamika, SOH701, 240,207, and 240,586 okra genotypes were primed with tap water, 50% cow urine, 200 ppm GA3, and 0.5% KH2PO4 as treatments, and dry seed of each genotype was used as a control. The experiment was conducted in Dire Dawa by irrigation in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. GenStat software was used to analyse all the data collected in this experiment. Genotype and seed priming treatments significantly affected phenology, growth, fruit yield, and yield-related traits, and their interactions affected the above traits, except for days to seedling emergence and fruit number per plant. Genotype Clemson spineless (5.13 days) and seed primed with GA3 (4.6 days) had the shortest days to 50% seedling emergence, and genotype 240,586 primed with KH2PO4 produced the highest fruit yield per hectare (37.78 t ha−1). So, farmers in the study area are advised to use genotype 240,586 with KH2PO4 seed priming to increase fruit yield. However, research conducted at one site should be repeated at multiple sites in order to make recommendations that are relevant to the country.