Nano priming for boosting growth and resilience in crops under abiotic stresses

Abiotic stresses pose a substantial threat to agricultural productivity worldwide. This necessitates innovative approaches to enhance crop resilience under adverse conditions. Seed priming has emerged as a simple, eco-friendly, and effective technique to improve seed performance and seedling growth under stress. Recently, nanoparticle-based seed priming or 'nano-priming' has shown particular promise in augmenting abiotic stress tolerance in plants. In this review paper, we have explored the effects of nano-priming on seed germination and plant responses under various abiotic stress conditions. We also delved into the crosstalk between nano-priming and resistance to abiotic stresses they provide. A comparison between conventional methods of seed priming and nano-priming and different mechanisms modulated by nano-priming to improve the germination process and tolerance to abiotic stresses are also investigated. We have concluded that nano-priming is a very promising solution to improve plant growth and various processes including improved germination rates, enhanced seedling growth, and increased stress tolerance. Despite these positive outcomes, our understanding of the precise mechanisms underlying nano priming mediated mitigation of stresses remains limited, with specific gaps in knowledge concerning its efficacy under heat stress conditions. We emphasize the necessity of further research to elucidate the molecular and physiological mechanisms involved, investigate diverse nanoparticle types, and assess their long-term environmental implications.