Abstract: Seed priming is a low-cost, short-duration, and environmentally friendly plant priming technique. As a key pretreatment strategy, it enhances seed germination and plant stress resistance by precisely regulating seed hydration status and physiological activity. Plant priming technology based on seed priming plays a significant role in reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, thereby promoting sustainable agricultural development. This review systematically introduced the origin, current progress, and future directions of plant priming technology, with a focus on establishing a multidimensional classification system based on the target organ, priming method, and priming agent type. It also summarized modern priming techniques and illustrates their notable effects through concrete examples, including improvements in seed germination rate, seedling uniformity, and plant stress tolerance. Moreover, this article delved into the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms underlying priming-induced stress tolerance, including the regulation of material and energy metabolism, activation of antioxidant and osmoregulatory systems, and involvement of epigenetic modifications. Furthermore, plant priming technology was expected to integrate with emerging technologies, advancing toward precision and intelligence, and thus providing new perspectives for seed technology and smart agriculture.

Key words: plant priming, seed germination, abiotic stress, stress tolerance, molecular mechanisms