Unrealized Potential of Seed Biopriming for Versatile Agriculture

Abstract

Seeds are the crucial input in agriculture as most of the world food crops are grown from seeds and they are circulated at large scale in international trade. However, many plant pathogens can be seed transmitted, and seed distribution is an extremely capable way of introducing plant pathogens into fresh areas as well as a means of endurance of the pathogen between growing seasons. In past decades, chemicals are widely used for seed treatment as a potent approach towards disease control; however, rising concern about their negative impact on the environment and human health minimizes their use and promotes biological control for plant pathogens. Biopriming is a currently popular approach of seed treatment which includes inoculation of seed with beneficial microorganisms (biological aspect) and seed hydration (physiological aspect) to protect the seed from various seed- and soilborne diseases. Biopriming treatment is able to incite changes in plant characteristics and facilitate uniform seed germination and growth associated with microorganism inoculation. Seed priming and osmo-priming are commonly being used in many horticultural crops to amplify the growth and uniformity of germination. However, it may be used alone or in combination with biocontrol agents to advance the rate of seed emergence and minimize soilborne diseases. On the other hand, some biocontrol agents are used as seed dressers and are able to colonize the rhizosphere, helping seeds to resist various abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, low fertility and heavy metal stress, etc. Therefore, biopriming is becoming a viable alternative for inorganic chemicals.