Under low temperatures, seed germination of several species, including eggplant, watermelon, melon and tomato can be erratic or completely inhibited. Seed priming has been used to increase germination rate and seedling uniformity, mainly under unfavorable environmental conditions. Seeds of eggplant, cv. 'Ciça', watermelon 'Crimson Sweet', melon 'Top Net SR' and tomato 'Heinz 9425' were osmoconditioned. The methodology for seed priming was species-dependent. The osmotic solution, temperature as well as conditioning period varied among the species. After seed conditioning, seeds were washed and dried. Seeds were incubated in a germination chamber at low (10; 15; 15 and 17ºC for tomato, eggplant, watermelon and melon, respectively) and normal temperatures (20 and 30ºC for tomato and 25ºC for the other species). Low temperatures decreased germination percentage and germination rate. Primed seeds from all species had higher germination compared to unprimed seeds, especially in low temperatures. Priming may be used to improve germination performance of cucurbitaceous (watermelon and melon) and solancaeous (tomato and eggplant) seeds especially under low temperature.
Citrullus lanatus; Cucumis melo; Lycopersicon esculentum; Solanum melongena; seedling establishment; thermoinhibition
