EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PRIMING TREATMENTS ON SEEDS GERMINATION AND EARLY SEEDLINGS GROWTH OF TOMATO

Germination is one of the main stages of a plant's life cycle. Since seed hydration by imbibition is a prerequisite for \ngermination, seed priming techniques provide not only water that is absolutely necessary for the initiation of processes \nrelated to strict germination, but also additional physiologically effects due to the qualitative and quantitative \ncomposition of the solution used. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of some priming treatments \n(Hidropriming, ASFAC and Diatomaceous earth) on seeds germination and vigour of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum \nMill.) seedlings. The effects of treatments have been differentiated in terms of germination process characteristics and / \nor early seedlings growth, in close interdependence with the concentration of the substance used and especially in \nrelation with the effects of their chemical nature on physiological and biochemical processes. Tomato seeds priming \nwith ASFAC 0.5% assures some benefits on germination efficiency and early seedling vigour. Priming with diatomite \nmay improve seedling growth, in a concentration dependent manner. We appreciate the need to further studies to \ninvestigate more varieties, more treatments times and a wider range of concentrations.