title: Molecular processes induced in primed seeds-increasing the potential to stabilize crop yields under drought conditions.
abstract: Environmental stress factors such as drought, salinity, temperature extremes and rising CO2negatively affect crop growth and productivity. Faced with the scarcity of water resources, drought is the most critical threat to world food security. This is particularly important in the context of climate change and an increasing world population. Seed priming is a very promising strategy in modern crop production management. Although it has been known for several years that seed priming can enhance seed quality and the effectiveness of stress responses of germinating seeds and seedlings, the molecular mechanisms involved in the acquisition of stress tolerance by primed seeds in the germination process and subsequent plant growth remain poorly understood. This review provides an overview of the metabolic changes modulated by priming, such as the activation of DNA repair and the antioxidant system, accumulation of aquaporins and late embryogenesis abundant proteins that contribute to enhanced drought stress tolerance. Moreover, the phenomenon of "priming memory," which is established during priming and can be recruited later when seeds or plants are exposed to stress, is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, ul. Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland. Electronic address: wojtylal@amu.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Wojtyla
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, ul. Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland. Electronic address: katarzyna.lechowska@amu.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lechowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, ul. Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland. Electronic address: szymon.globus@ibb.waw.pl.
authors.forename: Szymon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubala
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, ul. Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland. Electronic address: garnczar@amu.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garnczarska
mesh_terms: D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D055864:Droughts; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D014867:Water
keywords: Aquaporin; DNA repair; Dehydrin; Phytohormone; Priming; Stress