**5. Conclusions and future prospects**

**Physical treatments Mode of application Plant species Effects References**

Chickpea (*Cicer arietinum*)

Lettuce (*Lactuca sativa*)

*culinaris*)

*lycopersicum*)

Pea (*Pisum sativum*)

Marigold (*Tagetes*)

*mays*)

Bitter gourd (*Momordica charantia*)

Pea (*Pisum sativum*)

Radish (*Raphanus sativus*)

Increase in plant length, increased photosynthesizing property of plant

Improved growth and final

Improved growth of the plant, increased stem length and total mass. Increased root length

Stimulating effect on the first

stages of growth

The results suggest that magnetic field treatments of French marigold seeds have the

potential to enhance

Induced chilling stress tolerance primarily by

phenology, allometry, agronomic traits and yield

components

plasma

seedlings

germination, early growth and biochemical parameters of

improving stand establishment,

Improved emergence, growth, yield and yield related parameters

60% in the sprout lengths of radish exposed to oxygen RF

The germination rate was increased by 30% whereas no change was seen in the seeds treated at higher pressure relative to control for the same

treatment time

Improved germination [158]

yield

[156]

[157]

[30]

[159]

[118]

[60]

[61]

[41]

[41]

Magnetized water (0.32 T), 20

60 New Challenges in Seed Biology - Basic and Translational Research Driving Seed Technology

120 mT (rms) for 3 min, 160 mT (rms) for 1 min, and 160 mT

125 and 250 mT for 1, 10 and 20 min, 1 and 24 h and continuous

25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 mT for 3

25, 50, and 75 mT for 15, 30 and

Seeds were coated with tetra fluoride (CF4) or octa deca fluoro

Seeds were coated with tetra

octadecafluorodecalin (ODFD)

45 min each

decalin (ODFD)

fluoride (CF4) or

150 mT for 3 min Maize (*Zea*

150 mT for 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 min Lentil (*Lens*

160 mT MF strength for 1 min Tomato (*Solanum*

ml of water daily

(rms) for 5 min.

exposure

min

Magnetically treated

water

Non-uniform magnetic field

Magnetic seed stimulation

Magnetic seed stimulation

Magnetic seed stimulation

Magnetic seed stimulation

Magnetic seed stimulation

Low-temperature cold Plasma Treatment

Low-temperature cold plasma treatment

fields

Stationary magnetic

Seed enhancements have a wide range of commercial applications from improved crop stands through better germination rates and seedling vigour effective in crop stress management, and improved crop yields together with efficient use of resources such as fertilizers, water and seeds. Sustainable crop production requires the adoption of low-cost and environment friendly seed enhancement techniques. Biological seed enhancement with bacteria and fungi is one of the most appropriate techniques in disease control and growth promotion which can be exploited by seed industry.

The biochemical pathways by which these techniques affect different processes regulating growth and development need to be elucidated.

Longevity of primed seeds during storage remains a problem, which needs to be re-addressed, and work should be extended on other physical or biological seed treatments for their storability.

Nutrient priming with micronutrients not only help to overcome seedling constraints but can also be applied as a complementary approach for biofortification to harvest grains high in Fe, Zn and Mn. Priming invokes stress tolerance and improves performance of varieties containing QTL for stress tolerance such as Swarna containing Sub1 for submergence tolerance and IR74 containing Pup1 for high phosphorus uptake. The integration of molecular approaches with seed enhancement may significantly contribute to seed vigour and results may be delivered to the next generation of seed.
