Optimising castor (Ricinus communis L.) plant performance: novel approaches for coping with abiotic stress via seed treatment and foliar application

Abstract

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is an essential nonedible oilseed crop that contains high amounts of oil and unique fatty acid known as ricinoleic acid. It has various uses in the chemical industry. Currently, it is grown in rainfed areas where marginal lands, characterised by either drought or salinity, negatively impact seedling emergence, crop establishment, and overall productivity. To overcome this hurdle and ensure the sustainability of crops under stress conditions, simple techniques such as seed priming can be employed. In addition, the availability of nutrients and nutrient uptake by plants are lower under such conditions, and foliar applications of different nutrients can be employed to provide nutrients to increase seed yield. Furthermore, the production of interspersed staminate flowers in pistillate lines is a major problem that decreases genetic purity in hybrid seed production. To mitigate this problem and promote female tendencies, foliar application of plant growth regulators can be used. This review describes the effects of different stresses on seed germination, different seed priming techniques and potential strategies for increasing seed yield.