Salinity is a serious abiotic stress that limits crop production and food security. Micronutrient
application has shown promising results in mitigating the toxic impacts of salinity. This study
assessed the impacts of zinc seed priming (ZSP) on the germination, growth, physiological and
biochemical functioning of sorghum cultivars. The study comprised sorghum cultivars (JS-2002 and
JS-263), salinity stress (control (0 mM) and 120 mM)), and control and ZSP (4 mM). Salinity stress
reduced germination and seedling growth by increasing electrolyte leakage (EL: 60.65%), hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2: 109.50%), malondialdehyde (MDA; 115.30%), sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl) accumulation
and decreasing chlorophyll synthesis, relative water contents (RWC), total soluble proteins
(TSPs), and potassium (K) uptake and accumulation. Nonetheless, ZSP mitigated the deleterious
impacts of salinity and led to faster germination and better seedling growth. Zinc seed priming
improved the chlorophyll synthesis, leaf water contents, antioxidant activities (ascorbate peroxide:
APX, catalase: CAT, peroxidase: POD, superoxide dismutase: SOD), TSPs, proline, K uptake and
accumulation, and reduced EL, MDA, and H2O2 production, as well as the accumulation of toxic
ions (Na and Cl), thereby promoting better germination and growth. Thus, these findings suggested
that ZSP can mitigate the toxicity of salinity by favoring nutrient homeostasis, antioxidant activities,
chlorophyll synthesis, osmolyte accumulation, and maintaining leaf water status