Abstract

A crop seed which is viable can germinate soon it gets necessary conditions for germination, except when it’s in a state of dormancy. Apart from the physiological dormancy, the critical limiting factors for seed germination and better seedling establishment are the abiotic stress. Moisture (water potential) stress is the leading one. Germination and seedling establishment are vital stages in subjected to abiotic stress. Among many of the techniques implemented to minimize germination and related problems are the different priming techniques. A seed can be primed with water, organic extracts, different salt solutions and hormones. Phytohormones act and interact to affect many processes in the plant life cycle among these are the germination process. These hormones can be synthesized artificially. They are used as a treatment for seed priming and other process. GA, auxins and cytokinin are the major ones used in hormonal seed priming techniques used to increase germination of seeds under dormant and abiotic stress conditions.

Keywords: Phytohormones; Stress; Dormancy; Germination