title: Seed Priming with Polyethylene Glycol Induces Physiological Changes in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Seedlings under Suboptimal Soil Moisture Environments.
abstract: Osmopriming with PEG has potential to improve seed germination, seedling emergence, and establishment, especially under stress conditions. This research investigated germination performance, seedling establishment, and effects of osmopriming with PEG on physiology in sorghum seedlings and their association with post-priming stress tolerance under various soil moisture stress conditions. Results showed that seed priming increased the environmental range suitable for sorghum germination and has potential to provide more uniform and synchronous emergence. Physiologically, seed priming strengthened the antioxidant activities of APX, CAT, POD, and SOD, as well as compatible solutes including free amino acid, reducing sugar, proline, soluble sugar, and soluble protein contents. As a result, seed priming reduced lipid peroxidation and stabilized the cell membrane, resulting in increased stress tolerance under drought or excessive soil moisture environments. Overall, results suggested that seed priming with PEG was effective in improving seed germination and seedling establishment of sorghum under adverse soil moisture conditions. Osmopriming effectively strengthened the antioxidant system and increased osmotic adjustment, likely resulting in increased stress tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Innovation Center, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia, United States.
authors.forename: Jialin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia, United States.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Department of Innovation Center, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Yanqiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Innovation Center, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Innovation Center, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Innovation Center, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Zhipeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Innovation Center, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Jianqiu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D055864:Droughts; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D045868:Sorghum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols