International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.5, 242-256 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 248 In tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), seed priming, particularly with PEG, enhanced root development and ionic balance under salt stress, while reducing oxidative and osmotic damage in root tissues (Habibi et al., 2025). In turnip (Brassica rapa L.), selenium priming at 100 μmol/L increased seed germination, biomass and photosynthetic activity under salinity stress by upregulating antioxidant gene expression and reducing levels of ROS-related markers (Hussain et al., 2023). These findings support the use of seed priming as a practical and adaptable tool to enhance salinity tolerance in horticultural crops, especially during germination and early growth stages. 4.3 Heat stress Seed priming has been explored as a strategy to improve thermotolerance by stabilizing cell membranes, enhancing antioxidant defenses, and protecting key proteins involved in stress response (Chakraborty and Dwivedi, 2021). In spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), osmopriming with CaCl2 and PEG6000 significantly improved germination rates at elevated temperatures. Trials with three cultivars showed up to 50% higher germination at 20 °C in primed seeds compared to controls, while additional biopriming with Azospirillum brasilense did not provide further benefits (Breit et al., 2025). In lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), priming with a combination of plant growth regulators (GA3, ABA and ethylene) enhanced germination under heat stress (30 °C) by promoting endo-β-mannanase activity and weakening endosperm resistance, resulting in faster and more uniform seedling emergence (Park et al., 2022). Similarly, in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.), osmopriming with CaCl2 and hormopriming with salicylic acid improved germination energy, seedling vigor and physiological performance under high temperature, supporting their use in enhancing thermotolerance in leguminous vegetables (Tamindžić et al., 2023).The results confirm that seed priming is a practical and effective approach to mitigate heat stress in thermosensitive horticultural species, particularly during the critical stages of germination and early growth. 4.4 Cold stress Under chilling stress, seed priming has emerged as a promising strategy to alleviate damage by stabilizing cellular membranes, activating antioxidant defense mechanisms, and enhancing metabolic preparedness for stress conditions (Hussain et al., 2016). Zinc seed priming significantly enhanced spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) germination rate and total emergence under chilling conditions (8 °C), with evidence of enhanced Zn uptake and root translocation contributing to early seedling development (Imran et al., 2021). In chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), seed priming with GA3 improved emergence and reduced chilling injury under low temperatures, with effects on water retention, electrolyte leakage and early growth varying by cultivar and GA3 dose (Aziz and Pekşen, 2020). Seed priming demonstrates notable versatility and effectiveness as a pre-sowing strategy to enhance cold tolerance in horticultural crops. By modulating key physiological and biochemical processes, such as membrane stability, antioxidant activity, nutrient uptake, and hormone signaling, it enables seedlings to better withstand chilling stress during early developmental stages. Customizing priming agents and protocols to specific crop species and environmental conditions can therefore significantly enhance germination performance and seedling vigor under low-temperature stress. To complement the case studies described above, Table 1 summarizes the most relevant applications of seed priming under different abiotic stress conditions in horticultural crops, highlighting the priming agents used, target crops, and observed benefits.
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