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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 12 No. sp4 (2025): Recent Advances in Agriculture by Young Minds - III

Impact of seed priming on heat stress mitigation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.9730
Submitted
31 May 2025
Published
17-11-2025

Abstract

Heat stress is one of the most critical challenges in wheat cultivation, particularly under late sowing, where rising temperatures directly reduce productivity and threaten food security. Identifying simple and affordable strategies to safeguard yields is therefore urgent and essential. This experiment evaluated six wheat varieties across three consecutive growing seasons using nine different seed priming approaches. The results consistently demonstrated that seed priming enhanced crop establishment, plant vigour and yield under heat-stressed conditions. Among the varieties, GW 366 showed the highest tolerance, while seed priming with salicylic acid @ 50 ppm proved to be the most effective treatment. Together, this combination delivered significantly higher yields and improved seed quality compared to untreated controls. Its benefits were attributed to multiple physiological mechanisms: preservation of chlorophyll and photosystem II activity, improved dry matter remobilization to grains, enhanced antioxidant defence, increased accumulation of Osmo protectants such as proline and modulation of ethylene production to maintain photosynthetic efficiency under stress. This study confirms that seed priming with salicylic acid (50 ppm) is a low-cost and scalable method to mitigate heat stress in wheat. For farmers, this practice can translate into yield gains of up to 10-15 %, which, at a regional scale, may contribute by giving additional revenue and reduce the economic risks associated with late sowing. Environmentally, the method is safe, does not require additional inputs and promotes sustainable intensification of wheat production. These findings offer a practical breakthrough for ensuring food security and resilience in wheat-based farming systems under changing climates.

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