Seed priming was evaluated under different technologies including the immersion of seeds in solutions with oxygen supply, followed or not by drying processes. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of osmotic conditioning on systems with oxygen supply followed by drying on the germination and the vigor in carrot seeds, cv. "Brasilia". The seeds were submerged in 40mL distilled water and PEG 6000 solutions at 161,30 and 240,97g.L-1 corresponding, respectively, to the osmotic potentials of -0,4 and -0,8MPa, at 15ºC, with oxygen supply, during 12, 24 and 48 hours. The seeds were dried in an oven at 35ºC, with air circulation for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours and seed moisture content was determined. The effects of the osmotic conditioning and drying were evaluated by the germination test, first count of the germination test, seedling vigor classification, seedling length and mass and electrical conductivity. The seed moisture content decreased linearly with the time when submitted to the drying process. Osmoconditioning followed by seed drying did not affect the germination and contributed to increasing the seed vigor in relation to non osmoconditioned seeds.
Daucus carota L.; priming; seed moisture content
