Osmopriming with CaCl₂ improves wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production under water-limited environments

This 2-year field study investigates the potential of seed priming to mitigate losses caused by drought stress at different phenophases of wheat. Wheat seeds were soaked either in distilled water or in aerated solution of CaCl₂ (ψs -1.25 MPa) for 18 h to accomplish hydropriming and osmopriming, respectively. The soil moisture was maintained at 90-100% field capacity (well-watered) or 45-50% field capacity at vegetative (vegetative drought) and reproductive (terminal drought) phases. Allometric traits leaf area index, leaf area duration, and crop growth rate were initially more affected by vegetative drought; however, terminal drought was more severe at later stages. Drought at both phenophases, especially terminal drought, impaired the entire yield-related traits of wheat; however, osmopriming compensated the drought-induced losses up to a certain extent. Osmopriming improved the wheat grain yield, economic benefits, and allometric traits under vegetative and terminal drought as well as well-watered conditions. It is recommended that the physiological, biochemical, and genetic mechanisms of osmopriming must be explored to find more valuable insights for improving wheat productivity.