# Wood Distillate Enhances Seed Germination of Chickpea, Lettuce, and Basil
## 1 Introduction  
Seed germination, the fundamental process regulating plant propagation, is the bedrock of biodiversity conservation and the linchpin of productive agriculture. Irregular or suboptimal germination reverberates across the agricultural landscape, resulting in uneven seedling growth and substantial financial losses, findings underscored by extensive research [1]. In the relentless pursuit of optimizing germination, with an unwavering commitment to both uniformity and celerity, seed priming has emerged as a new technique poised to redefine agricultural practices [1, 2]. This technique represents the hydration of seed levels, a balance that creates conditions conducive to the vital metabolic processes required for germination while limiting root emergence. The results achieved with seed priming are very interesting: primed seeds emerge from the soil with unprecedented speed, show vigorous growth patterns, and achieve early flowering--a feature of paramount importance especially in regions besieged by recurring drought conditions. Moreover, in an epoch marked by heightened environmental consciousness and mounting concerns over the ecological footprint of synthetic chemical applications, this technique assumes the mantle of a sustainable and ecologically responsible alternative. It serves as a powerful means to ameliorate plant stress, elevate overall plant vitality, and mitigate the environmental repercussions associated with conventional agricultural methods. Significantly, seed priming presents itself as a pragmatic, cost-effective methodology replete with a plethora of benefits. It stands as a reliable avenue for ensuring synchronized seed germination, enhancing seedling emergence rates, and nurturing seedlings imbued with heightened resilience. Most significantly, this approach contributes to a reduction in excessive chemical fertilizer usage, amplifies crop yields, and instills systemic resistance in plants--a confluence of advantages that seamlessly align with contemporary agricultural sustainability paradigms [3]. Different types of techniques are at our disposal, ready to expedite and enhance seed germination. Liquid and osmotic priming methods, celebrated for their well-established efficacy, have rightfully ascended to preeminence as the most widely embraced approach [4]. Furthermore, innovative pre-treatment strategies employing agents such as Si/As(III), sodium selenate, selenium, sodium nitroprusside, and even conventional commercial fertilizers have boldly demonstrated their efficacy in enhancing overall plant performance, particularly when confronted with the crucible of challenging environmental conditions. These include water scarcity, soil salinity, metal toxicity, and temperature fluctuations [5; 6; 7; 8; 9]. In the contemporary context, where environmental protection and the imperative of nourishing a burgeoning global population converge, the search for practical, ecologically conscientious alternatives to the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals is of paramount importance. Against this background, wood distillate (WD) emerges as an exceptionally promising solution, emblematic of the convergence of ecological responsibility and agricultural productivity. Wood distillate holds the transformative potential to reshape the agricultural paradigm, forging a sustainable coexistence between agriculture and the environment while simultaneously addressing the pressing challenges of food security and ecological responsibility in a rapidly evolving world. Wood pyrolysis, a pivotal thermochemical process, engenders the formation of two primary residual constituents: a solid phase recognized as biochar, and pyroligneous acid, a liquid component also known as WD [10].