Sulfur dioxide promotes wheat seed germination under drought stress and regulates antioxidant metabolism in wheat

With the drastic changes in global climate and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, abiotic stress poses a significant threat to future food crop production and is a major contributor to crop yield reduction (Ahmad et al., 2010). Wheat, one of the world's primary food crops, is susceptible to both abiotic and biotic stresses at all stages of its growth and development. Numerous studies have indicated that drought stress severely limits the growth and productivity of wheat (Xue et al., 2014; Faran et al., 2019). Therefore, understanding the effects of drought stress on wheat grain germination and developing strategies to mitigate the inhibition of germination caused by drought are crucial for enhancing wheat yield.