The problems regarding carrot seeds performance in the field are constant justifying the use of techniques to accelerate germination and seedling emergence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two imbibition methods during priming on carrot seed germination and vigour.. Two seed lots of carrot, Brasília cultivar, were primed in PEG 6000 -1.0 and -1.2MPa solutions for 4 and 8 days, at 20º C, using two imbibition methods: paper towel moistened with the respective solutions and immersion in aerated osmotic solutions. Non-primed seeds were used as control. The seeds were submitted to the following tests: germination, first count, percentage and speed of seedling emergence in the field at 10 and 25 days after sowing and primary root length. Priming in PEG 6000 for four days was effective in increasing the percentage and speed of germination and seedling emergence in the field. For primary root length, priming in PEG 6000 -1.2 MPa aerated solution was superior to moistened paper treatment.
Osmotic conditioning; seed vigor; Daucus carota L
