Seed priming is a technique that involves the controlled hydration of seeds and has beneficial effects such as increased velocity and uniformity of seedling emergence and increased seed tolerance to unfavorable environmental conditions. We defined procedures for seed priming and verified seed performance at different temperatures using seed lots of C. Sativus cultivars Safira and Joia submitted to osmopriming (-0.1 and -0.2 MPa) to a seed moisture content of 29% for cv. Safira and 32% for cv. Joia. The effects of osmoconditioning were evaluated by percentage and speed of germination at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 ºC. The results indicated that seed osmopriming between sheets of paper towel moistened with -0.2 MPa polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution is efficient for cucumber seeds, affecting the speed of seed germination for almost every seed lot and temperature tested. Results were particularly good when seed from low-vigor lots were exposed to sub-optimal temperatures.
osmopriming; polyethylene glycol (PEG); performance; seed physiology
