*3.5. Priming Effect of SPM on Cr Contents and Mineral Nutrients under Cr Stress*

Under Cr alone treatments, the Cr accumulation was more pronounced in roots than shoots of both rice cultivars in seed priming with water under Cr stress. The Cr augmentation was reduced significantly in both shoots and roots in seed primed with SPM under Cr exposure. Micro- as well as macro-nutrients' (Na, Mg, K, P, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn) uptake and translocation imbalance were observed under Cr toxicity compared to their controls. The decrease was more noticeable in roots than shoots of both CY927 and YLY689 cultivars (Tables S3 and S4). The uptake of Cr was greater in YLY689 as compared to the CY927. Under Cr exposure, seeds primed with SPM remarkably enhanced the Mn, Zn, Cu, P, Fe, and K in both roots and shoots of both cultivars. Moreover, SPM treatment modulated the uptake of Na inside both roots and shoots of rice cultivars (Tables S3 and S4). These outcomes revealed that seed priming with SPM restricted the Cr uptake, accumulation and translocation inside rice plants' parts and further improved the macro- and micro-nutrient balance mandatory for plant development.
