The objective of this research was to study priming methods of eggplant seeds. Three seed lots of the Napoli cultivar were conditioned between paper towels )with 30, 60 and 90 mL of water at 15, 20 and 25 °C), and with PEG solutions (-0.5, -1.0, -1.5, and -2.5 MPa at 20 °C); following that, seeds were dried at 30 °C until water contents similar to original ones. The unconditioned (check) and conditioned seeds were evaluated in relation to water content, germination and vigor (speed of germination, accelerated aging, controlled deterioration and electrical conductivity). The most effective treatments (20 °C, with water or -0.5 MPa PEG) were again applied to other samples of same seeds which, together with the those of the check, were stored and evaluated through the same tests at 0, 60 and 120 days. Results showed that there is the possibility of conditioning eggplant seeds at 20 °C, between paper towels, with water or with solution of -0.5 MPa PEG 6000, followed by drying.
Solanum melongena L.; priming; germination; vigor
