Boosting Rice Yield and Stress Tolerance with PGR-Based Seed Priming

PGR-Based Seed Priming: A Breakthrough for Higher Rice Yields and Stress Resilience

Rice, the staple food for more than half of the world’s population, is traditionally cultivated through transplanting, a water-intensive and labor-demanding method. In contrast, direct-seeded rice (DSR) requires less water and labor but often suffers from lower yields due to drought stress, high temperatures, and poor seed establishment.

A recent study explores how plant growth regulator (PGR)-based seed priming can transform rice cultivation by improving germination, growth, physiological traits, and grain yield under both traditional and DSR methods.

What Is Seed Priming and Why PGRs?

Seed priming involves soaking seeds in water or chemical solutions before sowing to trigger metabolic processes that boost germination and early growth. When combined with plant growth regulators (PGRs) such as gibberellic acid (GA₃), salicylic acid (SA), and triacontanol, priming offers additional benefits:

Faster and uniform germination
Stronger seedlings with better root and shoot growth
Enhanced stress tolerance against drought and heat
Higher yields with improved water efficiency

Key Findings from the Study

Improved Germination and Seedling Vigor
- GA₃-primed seeds achieved 100% germination and the highest seedling vigor index (1260) compared to untreated controls.
- SA priming also boosted shoot length and stress tolerance mechanisms.
Higher Growth Rates and Physiological Performance
- Transplanted rice generally outperformed DSR in growth traits.
- However, primed seeds in DSR significantly improved leaf area index, crop growth rate, and chlorophyll content.
Boosted Yield and Water Efficiency
- Transplanted rice with GA₃ priming achieved the highest grain yield of 4.95 t ha⁻¹, while untreated DSR recorded only 3.49 t ha⁻¹.
- Primed DSR seeds yielded 20–25% more than unprimed controls, demonstrating water-saving potential without major yield loss.
Enhanced Antioxidant Defense
- PGR priming increased the production of antioxidants like SOD, POD, and CAT, which protect plants from oxidative stress under drought conditions.

Why This Matters for Rice Farmers

Water-Saving Agriculture: DSR with PGR priming saves up to 35% irrigation water while maintaining competitive yields.
Stress-Resilient Crops: Improved root growth and antioxidant activity help rice plants withstand drought and heat stress.
Sustainable Productivity: Farmers can reduce labor costs and achieve higher economic returns with minimal inputs.

Conclusion

PGR-based seed priming—especially with gibberellic acid (GA₃) and salicylic acid (SA)—offers a cost-effective, eco-friendly solution for boosting rice germination, growth, and yield under both direct-seeded and transplanted conditions.

With climate change and water scarcity threatening global food security, this simple yet powerful technique could transform rice farming into a more sustainable and resilient system for the future.

Reference

Saeed, Y., Aurangzaib, M., El-Beltagi, H.S. et al. Improving growth and physicobiochemical attributes of rice via PGR-based seed priming: a comparative study of establishment methods. CEREAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-025-00723-7