• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.135-142
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• 2004

The objective of this study was carried out to determine which method is effective for improving seed germination in carrot and onion among osmotic or solid matrix priming. Seeds were osmotic primed with -0.5 MPa polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG) solution and solid matrix primed with Micro Cel E (seed, Micro Cel E, and water mixed with the ratio of 4.0：2.0：8.0 by weight for carrot, and the ratio of 4.0：1.2：5.0 for onion at $20^{\circ}C$ for 4 days). Seeds were rapidly absorbed water after osmotic priming and solid matrix priming treatment. The moisture content of solid matrix primed seeds was lower than that of osmotic primed seeds in carrot and onion. Osmotic priming and solid matrix priming did not influenced on increasing of percent germination, but $T_{50}$ of treated seeds was shorter than those of untreated seeds at four temperature regimes. The effects of osmotic or solid matrix priming in reducing the $T_{50}$ was greater when the seeds were germinated at $15^{\circ}C$ than at $25^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$ temperature. Solid matrix primed seeds germinated faster than osmotic primed seeds at all temperature in both carrot and onion. After priming, surface-dried seeds germinated faster than dried-back seeds in carrot and onion. Emergence speed of carrot and onion seeds was faster than untreated seeds by osmotic priming or SMP treatment although the final emergence percentage was not significantly influenced. On the other hand, early growth was not significantly influenced by osmotic priming or SMP treatment of carrot and onion seeds.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.433-440
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• 2003

Osmotic and solid matrix priming treatments enhanced germination performance. We compared osmotic with solid matrix priming to determine the more effective treatment for improving seed germination in pepper and tomato. Seed hydration was immediately observed after osmotic priming and solid matrix priming treatment. The moisture content of solid matrix primed seeds was lower than that of osmotic primed seeds in the two vegetable crops. Osmotic priming and solid matrix priming did not increased percent germination, but showed shorter number of days to 50% of the final germination percentage ($T_{50}$) compared with untreated seeds, regardless of germination temperature. $T_{50}$ value was reduced in osmotic or solid matrix primed pepper seeds about 6.0, 5.0, 4.6 and 4.0 days compared with untreated seeds at 15, 20, 25, and $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. While, that in tomato seeds was reduced about 3.3, 5.0, 4.6 and 4.0 days compared with untreated seeds at 15, 20, 25, and $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. The effectiveness of osmotic priming or solid matrix priming in reducing the $T_{50}$ was greater when the seeds were germinated at $15^{\circ}C$ than at temperature of higher than $20^{\circ}C$. Solid matrix primed seeds germinated faster than osmotic primed seeds at all temperature in pepper. However, there was no significant difference on the percentage germination between solid matrix and osmotic primed seeds in tomato. After priming, dried-bark seeds showed faster germination than surface-dried seeds in pepper. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in tomato. Emergence of pepper and tomato seeds was markedly enhanced by osmotic priming or SMP treatment although the final emergence percentage was not significantly influenced. On the other hand, early growth was not significantly influenced by osmotic priming or SMP treatment of pepper and tomato seeds.