Ultrasound technology restores germination potential and seedling vigor in artificially aged seeds

Seed longevity and quality are crucial for agricultural sustainability, as aging negatively affects germination and seedling vigor. Prolonged storage and unfavorable environmental conditions promote oxidative stress, leading to lipid peroxidation, enzyme inactivation, and reduced antioxidant capacity. This study explored ultrasound technology as a novel, eco-friendly approach to counteract these aging-induced effects in pea ( Pisum sativum ) and turnip ( Brassica rapa L.) seeds. Seeds underwent artificial aging followed by ultrasound treatment (19.8 kHz, 200 W, 7.5 min), a process proposed to enhance seed coat permeability, water uptake and gas exchange through cavitation-induced physical effects, thereby facilitating metabolic reactivation, potentially involving modulation of hormone-regulated germination pathways. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed distinct clustering of aged and ultrasound-treated seeds, indicating enhanced germination performance, antioxidant activity, and enzymatic defenses. Post-ultrasound treatment, germination rates increased significantly, by 340% in pea and 38% in turnip, compared to aged controls. Additionally, both species exhibited a 69% improvement in germination value, while turnip seeds showed faster germination. At the biochemical level, ultrasound increased chlorophyll content (57% in pea and full restoration in turnip) and reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, reflecting reduced oxidative damage. Moreover, antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), alongside total antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays), were generally enhanced after ultrasound treatment and, in some cases, restored to levels comparable to non-aged seeds. These findings suggested that ultrasound treatment alleviates the seed aging effects by improving membrane integrity and redox homeostasis, thereby mitigating age-related physiological and biochemical deterioration. Consequently, ultrasound treatment emerges as a promising priming strategy for enhancing seed vigor, germination uniformity, and early seedling establishment under aging stress conditions. • Ultrasound improves germination in aged pea and turnip seeds by up to 340% and 38%. • Treatment reduces oxidative damage and MDA levels in aged seeds and seedlings. • Ultrasound treatment restores antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT) to levels observed in non-aged seeds. • Ultrasound improves chlorophyll and carotenoids in seedlings from aged seeds. • A scalable, eco-friendly method for reviving seed vigor and crop establishment.