Seed Priming for Mitigating Salinity Stress Effects in Plants: A General Review

Abstract

Salinity is a significant abiotic stressor that inflicts considerable harm on agricultural fields and plants. Factors such as global warming, improper irrigation practices, excessive fertilization, drainage issues, inappropriate tillage and cultivation methods contribute significantly to the emergence of salinity problems in agricultural lands. When faced with stressors, plants employ various mechanisms to ensure their survival. Consequently, salinity stress adversely affects seed germination, leads to stunted plant growth, reduces yield, results in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), diminishes chlorophyll content, elevates proline levels, promotes the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and impacts osmoprotectants like glycine betaine. Salt stress not only induces osmotic stress and ion toxicity but also disrupts plant nutrient uptake. Today, numerous approaches are available to mitigate the detrimental impacts of stressful conditions and one such method is seed priming, which encompasses various techniques. This review delves into the adverse effects of salinity on plants and examines the role of seed priming processes in ameliorating these harmful consequences.