A single seed treatment mediated through reactive oxygen species increases germination, growth performance, and abiotic stress tolerance inArabidopsisand rice

Hydroxyl radical (center dot OH) is considered to be the most damaging among reactive oxygen species. Although a few studies have reported on its effects on growth and stress adaptation of plants, no detailed studies have been performed using center dot OH in germination and early seedling growth under abiotic stresses. Here we report a single seed treatment with center dot OH on germination and seedling growth ofArabidopsisand rice under non-stressed (ambient) and various abiotic-stressed conditions (chilling, high temperature, heat, and salinity). The treatment resulted in faster seed germination and early seedling growth under non-stressed conditions, and, interestingly, these effects were more prominent under abiotic stresses. In addition,Arabidopsisseedlings from treated seeds showed faster root growth and developed more lateral roots. These results show a positive and potential practical use for center dot OH in model and crop plants for direct seeding in the field, as well as improvement of tolerance against emerging stresses.