Seed priming is a simple, inexpensive, and effective pre-sowing technique that enables plants to better tolerate abiotic stresses, including high soil salinity, which is a major limiting factor in the establishment of halophytes for saline agriculture, as germinating seeds and early seedlings of many halophytes are sensitive compared to the mature vegetative stage. This article attempts to provide an overview of the research on the seed priming effects on halophyte seeds and subsequent seedlings/plants. Different physio-chemical and molecular processes, including the induction of priming/stress memory, which enhance salinity tolerance following seed priming, have also been discussed. This review also covers the aspects of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide (NO) signaling(s) that are activated as a result of seed priming. Finally, the limitations and prospects of seed priming to enhance the agronomic potential of halophytes for saline agriculture have been discussed.

Halophytes are naturally salt-tolerant plants with immense potential to become alternate crops for saline lands. While their economic benefits have gained increasing attention, often, the roles of halophytes in addressing different climate change-related issues are overlooked. Halophytes can be a renewable resource for clean ‘carbon-neutral’ energy by serving as biofuel or biogas feedstock, help in the sequestration of rising CO₂ as well as the phytoremediation of various pollutants, can be a good source of food and fodder thereby help in achieving food security in arid/saline areas, can help in protection and biodiversity conservation in various ecosystems, and can provide livelihood to poor local communities inhabiting barren lands. This review also attempts to highlight various usages of halophytes in connection with a global change perspective. However, there are still many challenges such as economic viability, customer preferences, environmental impacts, and scale-up challenges, which need further research, innovation, effective policies, and collaboration. In general, this review provides a synthesis of various biological, environmental, and socioeconomic aspects of halophytes to fully exploit the potential of halophytes for human welfare and combating global climate changes.

Aeluropus lagopoides is a perennial salt‐secreting halophyte grass with broad distribution and multiple economic potentials. While some information exists regarding its seed germination ecology, salt‐tolerance mechanisms, adaptations to field conditions, and population genetic diversity, little is known about physiochemical responses of its seeds collected from contrasting habitats. This study examined germination and physiochemical responses of A. lagopoides seeds from two contrasting coastal populations (Hawke's Bay and Manora) under varying thermoperiod, photoperiod, and NaCl treatments in controlled conditions. Fresh seeds from both populations were nondormant, with Hawke's Bay seeds showing 100% germination compared to 75% for Manora seeds under nonsaline conditions. Salinity significantly impacted germination, with Hawke's Bay seeds exhibiting greater salt tolerance, maintaining higher mean final germination and germination rate, while Manora seeds showed a decline in both parameters under increasing salinity. Ungerminated seeds from both populations recovered their germination after transfer from high salinity to water. Hawke's Bay seeds maintained stable mitochondrial respiratory activity and water uptake under salinity, whereas Manora seeds showed reduced mitochondrial activity and slight decline in water uptake. Additionally, H ₂ O ₂ levels increased in Hawke's Bay seeds under salinity, while remaining unchanged in Manora. Antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase and ascorbate peroxidase) decreased in both populations under salt stress, while nonenzymatic antioxidants (ascorbate and glutathione) were higher in Manora seeds under control conditions but decreased with salinity. These findings highlight significant population‐specific variations in germination of A. lagopoides seeds, their recovery, and physiological responses to salinity stress, which should be taken into consideration for ecological and conservation efforts in coastal areas .