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Role of non-microbial biostimulants in regulation of seed germination and seedling establishment

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Abstract

The application of biostimulants from natural origin represents one of the most innovative and promising strategies to promote plant growth and improve crop productivity. The biostimulants have the potential to release dormancy and enhance seed germination of many plant species by altering the physiological processes in seeds even under abiotic stress. The seed application of biostimulants has been considered as a simple, beneficial and sustainable technique to enhance crop productivity. An understanding of non-microbial biostimulants-induced seed germination, dormancy release and seedling establishment mechanisms may help to improve crop productivity. However, the impending mechanisms involved in the regulation of seed germination and seedling establishment by non-microbial biostimulants are still elusive. In this review, the possible mode of action of various non-microbial biostimulants in seed germination and the seedling establishment under optimal and sub-optimal conditions has been discussed. Furthermore, the gaps in utilizing the full potential of these biostimulants are also addressed.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

AMT :

Ammonium transporter gene

ARF :

Auxin response factor

AUX1 :

Auxin influx carrier protein

APx:

Ascorbate peroxidase

CaAlg:

Calcium alginate

CAT:

Catalase

CuZnSOD:

Copper-zinc-superoxide dismutase gene

DHAR:

Dehydroascorbate reductase,

DPPH:

2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl

GA:

Gibberellic acid

GA20ox:

GA 20-oxidase gene

GlyI:

Glyoxalase I

GlyII:

Glyoxalase II

GOPX:

Guaiacol peroxidase

GSH:

Glutathione

GST:

Glutathione S-transferase

GSSG:

Glutathione disulphide

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase

GR:

Glutathione reductase

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

IAA:

Indole-3-acetic acid

JA:

Jasmonic acid

KAR1 :

Karrikinolide

MGT:

Mean germination time

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

MDHAR:

Monodehydroascorbate reductase

MnSOD :

Manganese superoxide gene

NaCl:

Sodium chloride

NAD+ :

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

O2•− :

Superoxide radical anion

•OH:

Hydroxyl radical

1[O2]:

Singlet oxygen

ONOO− :

Peroxynitrite

PAL:

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase

PH:

Protein hydrolysates

pmH+-ATPase:

Plasma membrane H+-ATPase

POX:

Peroxidase

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SA:

Salicylic acid

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

SW:

Smoke–water

TMB:

Trimethylbutenolide

TIP3.1:

Tonoplast intrinsic protein

VCL:

Vermicompost leachate

WEHS:

Water extractable humic substances fraction

Z:

Zeatin

ZR:

Zeatin riboside

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Acknowledgements

The University of KwaZulu-Natal and the National Research Foundation, South Africa as well as the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Czech Republic via the European Regional Development Fund-Project “Plants as a tool for sustainable global development” (CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000827) are thanked for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Shubhpriya Gupta, Manoj G. Kulkarni, Ervin Balázs & Johannes Van Staden

  2. Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Faculty of Science, Palacký University & Institute of Experimental Botany AS CR, V.V.I, Šlechtitelů 11, 78371, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Karel Doležal

  3. Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Šlechtitelů 11, 78371, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Karel Doležal

  4. Department of Biological Resources, Centre for Agricultural Research, 2 Brunszvik Str, 2462, Martonvasar, Hungary

    Ervin Balázs

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  3. Manoj G. Kulkarni
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SG, KD, EB and MGK conceived the research idea. SG wrote the manuscript. JVS, KD, EB and MGK contributed in editing the manuscript. JVS supervised the research and is the corresponding author. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Johannes Van Staden.

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Gupta, S., Doležal, K., Kulkarni, M.G. et al. Role of non-microbial biostimulants in regulation of seed germination and seedling establishment. Plant Growth Regul 97, 271–313 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-021-00794-6

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