Osmotic priming of seeds of crop species with polyethylene glycol as a means of enhancing early and synchronous germination at cool temperatures

Abstract

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions can be used to promote early and synchronous germination of seeds at cool temperatures. The determination of optimum priming levels is an essential prelude to proposed field trials. Priming with solutions of PEG (all at 10 °C) at −10 bars (1 bar = 100 kPa) for 6 days for maize, −10 bars for 2 days for wheat and barley, −10 bars for 1 day for sorghum, and −5 bars for 6 days for soybean has the maximum promotive effect. Air-drying of primed seeds reduces the advantages gained by priming; the longer the period of drying the greater the reduction.