Stress Priming
nounPronunciation: /stres ˈpraɪmɪŋ/
A pre-conditioning process where plants exposed to mild, non-lethal stress stimuli develop enhanced defensive capacity and more rapid stress responses to subsequent, more severe stress challenges. Priming involves epigenetic modifications and faster induction of stress-response genes without apparent growth penalty.
Plain English
Training plants with mild stress so they respond faster and stronger when exposed to severe stress later.
Etymology & History
Usage
"Drought priming of seedlings significantly improved subsequent drought tolerance through faster ABA-dependent gene activation and improved water-use efficiency."
Style guide notes: Specify priming stimulus type (drought priming, heat priming) when possible; use 'stress memory' only when discussing long-term epigenetic effects.
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Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
How does stress priming improve plant stress tolerance?
Mild stress exposure triggers epigenetic changes and chromatin modifications that accelerate defense gene transcription during subsequent severe stress.
Can stress priming be applied in agricultural production systems?
Yes, controlled priming using mild water stress, temperature fluctuations, or chemical elicitors can enhance crop performance under field stress conditions.
Why Test Candidates on This?
Increasingly important in crop improvement and applied stress physiology research; relevant to sustainable agriculture applications.
Required skill level: Mid