HOW THE GERMINATION PERFORMANCE AND SEEDLING ESTABLISHMENT UNDER ABIOTIC STRESSES ARE IMPROVED BY SEED PRIMING ?

Abstract

One of the most promising treatments carried out with the intent of reducing the time needed between sowing and the seedling emergence, and to increase seed tolerance to adverse conditions during seed germination and seedling establishment is the osmoconditioning, also called priming. This review reveals major changes showed in abiotic-stressed plants as function of seed priming treatments, with a must approach about physiological and biochemical changes promoted by seeds priming. Many studies cited in this review have reported improvements in seed physiological quality and seedling vigor by seed priming under abiotic stresses conditions and its has been related with repair and build-up of nucleic acids, increased synthesis of proteins, osmotic adjustment mechanisms, repair of membranes and reduced lipid peroxidation, resulting from enhanced antioxidative activities. However, further studies are necessary to explain how the physiological and biochemical changes caused by seed priming improve the plant adaptations to environmental stressful conditions.