Synchronization of germination of celery seeds

Abstract

SUMMARYThe effects of osmotic pre‐treatments on the germination response of celery seeds were studied in a series of experiments designed to optimize that treatment. The experimental variables were different osmotica (polyethylene glycol (PEG) or a mixture of potassium nitrate and tri‐potassium orthophosphate), levels of osmotic potential, temperature and duration of treatment. The rate and synchronization of germination were very significantly improved by many of these pre‐treatments but the maximum effects on cv. Lathom Blanching were obtained by treating the seeds with a solution of the salt mixture of c.–10 bars potential at 15 °C for 21 days. This treatment resulted in 50 % germination of the viable seeds within 1–4 days at a temperature of 20 °C compared with 13‐7 days from the untreated seeds. There were indications that the optimum pre‐treatment may vary somewhat between varieties and seed stocks. The results showed that the effects of the two osmotica on germination response were similar, thus enabling a technique to be developed for treating, with the salt solution, larger quantities of seed and germinating them prior to fluid drilling in the field.