The genus Physalis belongs to the Solanaceae family, with 110 species, of which 11 occur in Brazil. Physalis angulata L. stands out in the genus due to the presence of vitasteroids, especially physalins, found in roots, stems and leaves, showing antimicrobial, anticancer and immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the germination of osmotic priming treatment and non-primed seeds and the initial growth of P. angulata in saline environments. The seeds were subjected to priming (PEG 6000) and incubated in solutions with increasing concentration of NaCl (2, 4, 6, 10, 12, 14 and 16 dS m-1). Distilled water was used as control (0 dS m-1). The parameters evaluated were seed germinability, rate of germination, coefficient of uniformity and total dry mass of seedlings. A decrease in germinability and IVG was observed in both treatments. However, primed seeds showed higher tolerance of salt stress. Despite the significant reduction in dry mass with increasing salinity, priming as a pre-germinative treatment could be used to foster tolerance, since germinability was higher for primed seeds.
NaCl; dry mass; PEG 6000; salinity; rate of germination
