A variety of agrochemicals, especially fertilizers, are applied indiscriminately by farmers across trapezoidal landscapes to increase productivity and satisfy the rising food demand. Around one-third of the populace in developing nations is susceptible to zinc (Zn) deficiency as a result of their direct reliance on cereals as a source of calories. Zinc, an essential micronutrient for plants, performs several critical functions throughout the life cycle of a plant. Zinc is frequently disregarded, due to its indirect contribution to the enhancement of yield. Soil Zn deficiency is one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies that reduces crop yield. A deficiency of Zn in both plants and soils results from the presence of Zn in fixed forms that are inaccessible to plants, which characterizes the majority of agricultural soils. As a result, alternative and environmentally sustainable methods are required to satisfy the demand for food. It appears that the application of zinc-solubilizing bacteria (ZSB) for sustainable agriculture is feasible. Inoculating plants with ZSB is likely a more efficacious strategy for augmenting Zn translocation in diverse edible plant components. ZSB possessing plant growth-promoting characteristics can serve as bio-elicitors to promote sustainable plant growth, through various methods that are vital to the health and productivity of plants. This review provides an analysis of the efficacy of ZSB, the functional characteristics of ZSB-mediated Zn localization, the mechanism underlying Zn solubilization, and the implementation of ZSB to increase crop yield.

The need for increased seed quality has become a priority necessary to face the current demand for high standards in the agricultural market. The various factors which contribute to the loss in seed quality, viability and vigour which can be either physical or physiological. Seed deterioration and ageing are considered as a force to reckon the depletion in food reserve, increased fat acidity, increased enzyme activity and membrane permeability. Quality and viability of seed during storage processes chiefly depends upon the initial status of the seed health and the manner in which it is stored. Achieving appropriate techniques can help to curtail the current agricultural crisis leading to expose of healthy plantlets in farming sector. This research review attempts to summarize and enlighten the various aspects of seed related features such as viability, ageing and deterioration.

Salinity stress poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity, particularly in regions with limited freshwater resources. Seed priming with ascorbic acid has emerged as a promising technique to enhance salinity tolerance in various crops. This study investigates the efficacy of ascorbic acid seed priming in mitigating salinity stress in mungbean. Seeds were primed with different concentrations of ascorbic acid and exposed to saline conditions during germination and early growth stages. Parameters such as germination percentage, seedling growth, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activity were assessed to evaluate the impact of ascorbic acid priming on salinity tolerance. Results demonstrated that ascorbic acid priming significantly improved germination percentage, seedling growth, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activity under saline conditions compared to non-primed seeds. The effectiveness of ascorbic acid priming showed concentration-dependent effects, with higher concentrations providing greater mitigation of salinity stress. Pearson correlation analysis revealed associations among various traits, offering insights into their interdependencies, which warrant further validation and mechanistic understanding. Traits showing positive loading in the first two principal components were identified as pivotal for screening and future research purposes. These findings underscore the potential of seed priming with ascorbic acid as a sustainable strategy to enhance salinity tolerance in mungbean and other crops. This approach contributes towards food security and promoting agricultural sustainability in saline-affected regions. Graphical Abstract