等渗Ca(NO3)2和NaCl胁迫对黄瓜幼苗生长及渗透调节物质含量的影响

采用营养液培养方法,以耐盐性较弱的‘津春2号’黄瓜品种为试材,研究了等渗Ca(NO3)2和NaCl胁迫对黄瓜幼苗生长、根系电解质渗透率、根系活力、Na+和K+含量及渗透调节物质含量的影响。结果显示:(1)在84mmol.L-1 NaCl和56mmol.L-1 Ca(NO3)2等渗胁迫下,黄瓜幼苗鲜重和干重均显著下降,且NaCl处理下降的幅度大于等渗Ca(NO3)2处理。(2)NaCl主要通过对黄瓜根系的伤害来抑制植株生长,表现为根系活力下降、根系质膜透性增大、Na+大量积累、K+含量显著下降、Na+/K+明显上升,最终导致根冠比下降;而Ca(NO3)2处理对根系质膜透性、K+含量、Na+/K+的影响均小于NaCl胁迫,且根系活力和根冠比上升,但Ca(NO3)2胁迫后叶片含水量和渗透调节能力均小于NaCl胁迫。(3)NaCl胁迫条件下,黄瓜幼苗内渗透调节物质以可溶性糖为主,而Ca(NO3)2胁迫以可溶性蛋白为主。研究表明,NaCl胁迫对黄瓜幼苗的伤害大于等渗Ca(NO3)2,NaCl主要通过破坏根系质膜结构影响植株生长,而Ca(NO3)2主要通过引起地上部生理干旱来影响植株生长。     

等渗盐胁迫对番茄抗氧化酶和ATP酶及焦磷酸酶活性的影响

用Ca(NO3)2 80 mmol/L和NaCl 120 mmol/L等渗溶液处理番茄幼苗后,细胞质和叶绿体中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)的活性升高,并且NaCl胁迫的作用明显高于Ca(NO3)2胁迫.Ca(NO3)2处理提高了线粒体中SOD、CAT、APX的活性,而NaCl处理降低了它们的活性.根系质膜H -ATPase、液泡膜H -ATPase、焦磷酸酶(H -PPase)的活性和叶片丙二醛(MDA)及脯氨酸含量在两种盐胁迫后明显增加.NaCl处理对植株生长的抑制程度明显高于Ca(NO3)2处理.     

外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸对干旱胁迫下甘草种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

以药用植物甘草种子和幼苗为材料,在20%PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫条件下,测定了不同浓度外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)处理甘草种子的发芽势(Gv)、发芽率(Gr)、发芽指数(Gi)和活力指数(Vi)的变化,以及ALA处理幼苗叶片的质膜透性、丙二醛(MDA)含量、可溶性糖含量、游离脯氨酸含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性。结果显示:(1)在20%PEG-6000胁迫下,甘草种子萌发受到显著抑制,而各项萌发指标经过不同浓度的ALA进行恢复处理后均有明显提高,且均以10 mg.L-1ALA处理的各项指标值最大,其种子发芽势(75%)、发芽率(91%)比干旱胁迫对照显著提高了35%和30%,发芽指数(36.2)和活力指数(709.7)分别提高至干旱胁迫的2.6和3.5倍。(2)各ALA处理较对照均显著提高了干旱胁迫下甘草幼苗总生物量、可溶性糖的含量及脯氨酸含量,却显著降低了甘草叶片的MDA含量和质膜透性,同时显著提高了干旱胁迫下甘草叶片中的SOD、POD和CAT的活性,且以10 mg.L-1ALA处理后的酶活性最强。研究表明,适宜浓度(10 mg.L-1)的ALA能显著提高干旱胁迫下甘草种子的萌发能力,通过调节渗透调节物质含量和保护酶活性来有效减缓干旱胁迫对甘草幼苗的伤害,提高甘草种子及幼苗的抗旱能力。     

黄瓜砧用白籽南瓜对不同盐胁迫的耐性评价

采用营养液栽培,研究Ca(NO3)2和NaCl胁迫对黄瓜嫁接用砧木南瓜幼苗生长和抗氧化酶活性的影响,并用隶属函数法综合评价其耐盐性.结果表明:低浓度盐30 mmol·L-1Ca(NO3)2和等渗的45 mmol·L-1 NaCl处理促进砧木幼苗生长;高浓度盐60、120 mmol·L-1Ca(NO3)2和等渗的90、180 mmol·L-1NaCl胁迫下,各砧木幼苗的生长和抗氧化酶系统均受到不同程度的抑制,其中,‘青砧1号’的盐害指数最小,生物量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性的下降幅度以及相对电导率的上升幅度均小于其他砧木.高盐Ca(NO3)2胁迫下,各砧木SOD、POD和CAT酶活性均高于等渗的NaCl,而盐害指数和相对电导率低于NaCl,表明Ca(NO3)2对砧木南瓜幼苗生长的危害小于NaCl.4个砧木品种的耐盐性顺序为‘青砧1号’＞‘佐木南瓜’＞‘丰源铁甲’＞‘超霸南瓜’.     

不同BR施用方式诱导黄瓜幼苗对Ca(NO_3)_2胁迫抗性的研究

为探讨外源油菜素内酯(brassinosteroid,BR)诱导黄瓜幼苗对Ca(NO3)2胁迫抗性的效果,研究了3种外源BR施用方法(0.01mg·L-1 BR浸种、0.1mg·L-1 BR喷叶及其二者结合施用)对Ca(NO3)2胁迫(60mmol·L-1)下黄瓜幼苗生长、生理活动以及光合作用的影响。结果表明:(1)3种外源BR方法处理后,Ca(NO3)2胁迫下的黄瓜幼苗株高、茎粗、展开叶片数、叶面积、干重含水量均显著提高,同时其叶片游离脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量上升,过氧化物酶活性提高,而其丙二醛(MDA)含量趋于无Ca(NO3)2胁迫对照的水平;(2)外源BR处理还提高了Ca(NO3)2胁迫下黄瓜幼苗的净光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度,却抑制了Ca(NO3)2胁迫下胞间CO2浓度的升高。研究认为,适宜浓度的外源BR浸种和喷叶处理均可有效增强黄瓜幼苗渗透调节能力,降低细胞膜质过氧化伤害程度,提高抗氧化酶活性和光合效率,从而表现出对Ca(NO3)2胁迫的抗性,并以操作简便、用量极低的0.01mg·L-1 BR浸种方法效果最佳。     

La(NO3)3浸种对NaCl胁迫下红小豆幼苗生长的影响

采用向1/2Hoagland营养液中按一定比例添加中性盐(NaCl)模拟盐胁迫的方式,研究了La(NO3)3浸种对盐胁迫下红小豆(Phaseolus angularis)幼苗生长的影响.结果表明:(1)与对照组相比,盐胁迫不同程度地降低了红小豆幼苗的株高、叶面积、地上部分鲜重、总根数及根系活力、根苗SOD、POD、CAT活性等,明显增加了根苗MDA含量水平.(2)使用适当浓度的La(NO3)3浸种可以提高对照组和盐处理组红小豆的株高、叶面积、总根长、总根数、叶绿素、根活力及SOD、POD和CAT活性,也可以显著降低根苗MDA含量水平,且大多表现出在盐胁迫下变化幅度高于正常处理.La(NO3)3浸种有利于缓解盐胁迫带来的不良影响.(3)低浓度的La(NO3)3浸种处理能够提高红小豆幼苗的耐盐性,缓解盐胁迫伤害,而高浓度处理则加剧了盐胁迫伤害.30 mg/L La(NO3)3浸种对提高红小豆幼苗耐盐性的效果最好.     

外源Ca(NO_3)_2对NaCl胁迫下番茄幼苗生理特征的影响

以番茄品种'农城906'和"毛粉802'幼苗为材料,利用Hoagland基础培养液,研究在150 mmol/L NaCl胁迫下外源10、20、30和40 mmol/L Ca(NO3)2对番茄植株盐胁迫的缓解作用.结果显示,(1) NaCl胁迫显著降低了2个品种幼苗地上和地下部分干重、叶片叶绿素含量和根系活力,增加了幼苗的可溶性糖含量、细胞膜透性和MDA含量,同时使其CAT、POD、SOD活性显著降低;(2)添加20 mmol/L Ca(NO3)2能够有效提高盐胁迫条件下幼苗的地上和地下部干重,缓解叶绿素的降解和根系活力的下降,增加幼苗体内可溶性糖含量,降低叶片质膜透性和MDA含量,增强幼苗体内POD、CAT等细胞保护酶活性,但随着Ca(NO3)2浓度的继续增加,这种缓解作用逐渐减小.研究表明,一定浓度的外源Ca(NO3)2能有效缓解NaCl对番茄幼苗的生长和生理伤害,在一定程度上增强番茄幼苗对盐胁迫的耐受力,并以20 mmol/L Ca(NO3)2对NaCl胁迫的缓解效果最佳.     

不同基因型紫苏耐盐性比较研究

以不同基因型紫苏为材料,研究150 mmol/L NaCl胁迫对紫苏种子萌发,幼苗生长及其生理指标的影响.结果显示:(1)盐胁迫下,不同基因型紫苏种子发芽率和发芽势均比对照显著降低,种子发芽指数、活力指数等发芽指标下降;不同基因型紫苏幼苗地上部和地下部干重均有不同程度降低,高油1(Y1)、紫野1(Z1)、紫野2(Z2)、紫野3(Z3)和紫野4(Z4)幼苗组织含水量均比对照显著降低,且幼苗存活率低而盐害指数显著高于其他基因型品种.(2)盐胁迫下不同基因型紫苏幼苗根系活力均比对照显著降低,其中Y1降幅最大,紫野6(Z6)和紫野7(Z7)降幅较小,可溶性糖含量均比对照显著提高.基因型Y1、Z1和Z2幼苗中MDA含量显著高于对照,表明其膜脂过氧化程度较高.(3)基因型苏引1(S1)、Z6、Z7、紫野8(Z8)、紫野9旱(ZY9)和紫野10(Z10)幼苗叶片中SOD、CAT和POD活性均显著高于对照,Y1、Z1、Z2、Z3和Z4幼苗中SOD和CAT活性与对照差异不显著,且Y1、Z2和Z4幼苗POD活性较对照显著降低,表明其抗氧化能力较差.研究发现,基因型S1、Z6和Z7在盐胁迫下其种子发芽能力、耐盐能力及幼苗渗透调节能力和活性氧清除能力均较强,表现出较强的耐盐性;基因型Y1、Z1、Z2、Z3和Z4受盐胁迫影响较大,为盐敏感基因型;Z8、Z9、ZY9和Z10为中等耐盐性基因型.     

种子大小和干旱胁迫对辽东栎幼苗生长和生理特性的影响

在温室内遮阴条件下,设置80%、60%、40%和20%田间持水量(对照、轻度、中度和重度干旱)4个处理,研究种子大小和干旱胁迫对盆栽辽东栎幼苗生长和生理特性的影响。结果表明: 大种子(3.05±0.38 g)幼苗的单株叶面积、总干质量和根冠比在所有处理均显著大于小种子(1.46±0.27 g)幼苗,前者的株高、基径、叶片数、比叶面积、相对生长率和净同化率等生长参数在轻度、中度和重度干旱处理均不同程度大于后者。大种子幼苗叶片过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性均高于小种子幼苗,前者叶片丙二醛(MDA)、可溶性蛋白、游离脯氨酸含量和叶绿素总量在部分干旱处理显著大于后者。除根冠比外,其他生长参数均随干旱胁迫增强逐渐减小,重度干旱处理大、小种子幼苗总干质量分别比对照降低19.4%和20.0%。POD、CAT和SOD活性均随干旱胁迫增强先升后降,在中度干旱处理,大、小种子幼苗POD活性分别显著高于对照126.7%和142.1%,CAT活性分别显著高于对照170.0%和151.9%。在重度干旱处理,大、小种子幼苗MDA含量分别显著高于对照86.5%和68.9%。可溶性蛋白、游离脯氨酸含量和叶绿素总量均随干旱胁迫增强先升后降,在中度干旱处理,大、小种子幼苗可溶性蛋白含量分别显著高于对照320.7%和352.7%。辽东栎大种子幼苗可依赖其生长和生理方面的优势比小种子幼苗具有更强的干旱耐受性,在退化次生林人工辅助实生更新中应优先选用抗逆性更强的大种子幼苗。     

一氧化氮调节盐胁迫下小麦幼苗根部质膜H+-ATPase和焦磷酸酶活性提高耐盐性

采用外源一氧化氮(NO)供体硝普钠(SNP)研究了NO对盐胁迫下小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)幼苗耐盐性的影响.结果表明,0.1 mmol/L SNP处理显著缓解了1 50 mmol/L NaCl胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制效应,包括水分丧失以及叶绿素降解,从而提高了小麦幼苗的耐盐性.进一步结合1 mg/mL血红蛋白处理则显著逆转了SNP诱导的上述效应;利用亚硝酸钠和铁氰化钾作为对照也证实了NO对小麦幼苗耐盐性的专一性调节作用,并可能与NO对小麦幼苗根部质膜H -ATPase和焦磷酸酶活性诱导有关.此外,尽管NO显著提高了盐胁迫下小麦幼苗根部细胞质膜H -ATPase和焦磷酸酶的ATP水解活性,但是对跨膜H 转运则没有明显影响.应用外源CaSO4和EGTA处理也证实,Ca2 可能在NO诱导的质膜H -ATPase和焦磷酸酶活性的提高过程中起信号作用.另外,分析盐胁迫下小麦幼苗根部Na 和K 含量的变化也发现,NO对Na 含量没有明显影响,但是却显著提高了K 水平和K /Na 比,这可能也是NO提高小麦幼苗耐盐性的原因之一.     

Physiological and enzymatic activity of pepper seeds (Capsicum annuum) during priming

Pepper ( Capsicum annuum L. cv. Keystone Resistance Giant 3) seeds were monitored during priming to determine if seed treatments which accelerate the rate of germination could be correlated with specific physiological changes within the seeds. Pepper seeds primed with −0.90 and −1.35 MPa NaCl solutions at 23°C for 18 days did not completely equilibrate with the osmotic potential of the priming solution. Seed respiratory rates indicated that priming extends the lag phase of germination following imbibition. Soluble protein levels increased 115% in primed seeds, and the uptake and incorporation of [¹⁴C(U)] labelled amino acids into the acid insoluble fraction increased throughout the priming treatments. Alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1, anaerobic metabolism), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.44, pentose phosphate pathway) activities remained stable throughout the priming treatment, but were higher after 6 days. than the water-imbibed controls. Aldolase (EC 4.2.1.1. glycolysis) and isocitrate lyase (EC 4.1.3.1, glyoxylate cycle) activities increased with imbibition and were 61 and 56% (respectively) higher in primed seeds as compared to the water-imbibed controls after 12 days. Treatment with the −0.90 MPa NaCl solution was more effective than the −1.35 MPa solution in improving the rate of germination, yet there were no significant differences between the protein concentrations or enzyme activities of the two priming treatments. However, the incorporation of labelled amino acids into pepper seeds was significantly higher in the −0.90 MPa priming treatment.     

亚精胺浸种对渗透胁迫下白三叶子萌发及淀粉代谢的影响

以‘拉丁诺’白三叶为材料,用0、10％、15％、20％（W/V）即的聚乙二醇（PEG-6000）溶液模拟干旱条件,研究亚精胺fSpd）浸种对渗透胁迫下白三叶种子萌发和淀粉代谢的影响。结果表明,在PEG渗透胁迫下,白三叶种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、胚芽及胚根鲜重和胚根长度均显著（P〈0．05）降低,淀粉水解为糖类的速率减慢;与蒸馏水浸种相比,0．05mmol．L-1 Spd浸种处理显著（P〈0．05）提高了在渗透胁迫条件下种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、胚芽及胚根鲜重、干重和胚根长度,同时大幅提高了α-淀粉酶、β-淀粉酶及（α＋β）．淀粉酶总活性,降低了淀粉含量,增加了还原糖和葡萄糖含量。说明Spd浸种提高了白三叶种子在渗透胁迫下的萌发能力和幼苗生长的环境适应性,这可能与增强种子体内淀粉酶活性,加速淀粉水解为还原糖和葡萄糖,为种子萌发和幼苗早期生长及时提供充足能量有关。     

一氧化氮供体硝普钠浸种缓解盐胁迫对小麦种子萌发的抑制作用

以小麦品种‘德抗961＇为材料,用NO供体硝普钠（SNP）浸种研究外源NO对盐胁迫下小麦种子萌发的影响.结果表明：0.06 mmol/L的SNP浸种24 h后对盐胁迫下小麦种子发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数和吸胀速率的下调都有显著缓解作用;SNP浸种对盐胁迫下α-淀粉酶的活性无明显影响,但能显著提高盐胁迫下β-淀粉酶的活性;进一步研究表明,SNP浸种预处理对盐胁迫下的α-淀粉酶同工酶变浅的条带有所恢复（尤其是条带3）,同时使盐胁迫下变浅的β-淀粉酶同工酶的条带有明显的恢复（尤其是d、e、f、g）.并且SNP能显著降低盐胁迫下小麦地上部分和根中的Na^＋含量,提高其K＋含量,从而使K^＋/Na^＋显著提高.以上结果表明：SNP浸种预处理提高盐胁迫下小麦种子的萌发,主要是通过提高β-淀粉酶的活性来实现的.     

Establishing the large scale osmotic priming of onion seeds by using enriched air

Onion seeds were primed in polyethylene glycol solutions (PEG) (-1.5 MPa) for 14 days at 15°C on filter paper and in bubble columns containing 50 g seed litre^-1 PEG using air or enriched air (75% O₂/25% N₂) to aerate and suspend the seeds. Compared with untreated seeds, priming seeds in bubble columns using enriched air increased the percentage seed germination but it did not when air was used, or when seeds were primed on filter paper. Mean germination times (t_m) were significantly reduced in all cases but the reduction was greatest using enriched air and least using air. The spread of germination times was significantly reduced only for seeds primed in enriched air. Drying seeds following priming reduced the percentage germination compared with untreated seeds, but only significantly for those primed in bubble columns using air. Drying also increased the mean germination times by 1.5 to 1.8 days (relative to primed seed which had not been dried). Seeds primed in enriched air were least affected. This increased time is that typically required for water re-imbibition after drying. Priming with enriched air followed by drying gave the same number of normal seedlings as untreated seeds.     

NaCl胁迫对茄子嫁接幼苗叶片抗坏血酸和谷胱甘肽代谢的影响

以Torvum Vigor为砧木,栽培品种苏崎茄为接穗,研究NaCl胁迫对茄子嫁接苗和自根苗抗氧化物质含量和H2O2产生及清除酶活性的影响.结果表明;(1)NaCl胁迫可诱导叶片中H2O2的产生,导致膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)的积累,嫁接苗叶片中H2O2和MDA的含量显著低于自根苗.(2)在NaCl胁迫下,嫁接苗叶片中谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性上升,自根苗则下降;NaCl胁迫促进了嫁接苗还原型抗坏血酸(AsA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)的合成,嫁接苗叶片中AsA和GSH的含量显著高于自根苗.由此认为,茄子嫁接苗耐盐性优于自根苗的原因之一在于嫁接苗保持较快的AsA-GSH循环,从而保证GSH和AsA的再生以减轻氧化损伤.     

水引发对油松种子和幼苗的生理效应及其作用机理

为了解决油松种子在直播造林中发芽率低、幼苗抗旱性差的问题,研究了油松种子水引发的方法及引发对其种子和幼苗的生理效应,并对水引发后幼苗的抗旱机理进行了探索。结果表明:油松种子水引发的最佳条件为10℃,闭光条件下分批给种子加水,加水总量为种子初始质量的30%,引发10 d。水引发可显著(P0.05)降低种子的半数发芽天数和硬实率,显著提高种子的发芽指数、最终发芽率和活力指数;水引发种子的可溶性糖及可溶性蛋白含量相比对照也得到提高。水引发可增加油松幼苗的茎粗、鲜重及根长,降低其相对苗高;并极显著(P0.01)提高了幼苗过氧化氢酶、过氧化物酶和根内脱氢酶活性,降低了游离氨基酸含量。干旱胁迫下,引发种子的幼苗脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量分别高于对照39.6%、118.9%,丙二醛含量低于对照93.4%,均达极显著水平。综合分析认为,水引发提高了种子可溶性糖及可溶性蛋白含量为种子萌发提供了保障,从而提高了种子发芽率,并通过增强幼苗抗氧化酶活性、降低丙二醛含量,进而增强幼苗抗氧化系统的功能,最终明显提高其抗旱性。     

Effects of seed priming with ascorbic acid to mitigate salinity stress on three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars.

In this study, the effect of seed priming using ascorbic acid (ASA) on three commercial wheat cultivars i.e., Punjab-2011, Faisalabad-2008, and Ujala-2016 under salinity stress in both homogenous and heterogeneous environments has been investigated. It revealed that different levels of salinity have significantly reduced the growth attributes like percent germination, germination index, radical & plumule length, seed vigor index (In-vitro), seedling length, fresh & dry weight, and total chlorophyll content (In-vivo) with subsequent treatments. Salinity stress was induced by using NaCl in three different concentrations (100, 150, and 200 mM). Seeds of the three cultivars primed with 50, 100, and 150 mg/L ascorbic-acids have not only improved percent germination but also considerably reduced germination time and increased germination index (GI) indicating the potential for tolerating saline conditions. Seedling growth (seedling length, Fresh weight, and dry weight) of seeds primed with 50, 100, and 150 mg/L (ASA) was significantly higher than other non-primed seeds under the prevailing saline conditions. Hormonal priming with different concentrations of ascorbic acid was effective, nevertheless, the best results were obtained with 100 and 150 mg/L (ASA) concentrations. We concluded that the delay in germination and seedling growth was mainly due to excessive Na⁺ accumulation in the seeds of wheat cultivars. On the other hand, seed priming with various concentrations of ascorbic acid has proved to be effective in inducing salt tolerance in terms of germination parameters, seedling characteristics, and chlorophyll retention in the three local commercial wheat cultivars.     

Advantageous and Detrimental Effects of Osmotic Pre-Sowing Treatment on the Germination Performance of Agrostemma githago Seeds

Dormant and after-ripened seeds of Agrostemma githago (corn-cockle)were pretreated in polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG) solutions attemperatures which would have allowed germination if the seedshad been imbibed in water, viz. 4?C or 20?C for after-ripenedseeds, and 4?C for dormant seeds. Pretreated seeds germinatedfaster than untreated seeds. The maximum decrease of the T₅₀(time to 50% germination) was 66%. Furthermore, pretreated seedswere capable of germination at supra-optimal temperatures whichotherwise had inhibited germination completely (20?C for dormantseeds and 30?C for after-ripened seeds). The percentage germinationat a supra-optimal temperature was considerably higher whenthe seeds had been primed at a temperature at which they developedmore extension power. The advantageous effects of the osmotic pretreatment were lessthan might be expected when the osmoticum had inhibited onlycell elongation. This was largely, if not fully, due to a generaldetrimental effect of osmotic stress and not to a selectiveinhibition of the processes which occur during the pregerminativephase in preparation for growth. Thus, during priming seedscomplete all or almost all processes which occur in water-imbibedseeds prior to radicle emergence. Key words: Agroatemma githago, dormancy, germination, germination performance, osmotic stress, priming     

The effects of re-use of polyethylene glycol priming osmotica upon the development of microbial populations and germination of leeks and carrots

Three batches of leek seeds were osmotically primed successively in the same polyethylene glycol solution in a bubble column at a seed concentration of 100 g/litre for seven days at 15°C. Three batches of carrot seeds were similarly primed in a separate solution for six days at 15°C. The concentration of microorganisms in the solutions increased rapidly during priming of the first seed batch for both seed types, but increases during priming of the second and third batches were small. The seeds were the main source of the microorganisms; priming reduced the numbers of colonies of filamentous fungi and increased those of bacteria and yeasts. The priming treatments improved the percentage germination of the three seed batches of primed carrots and reduced the mean time to germination in both species and the mean time to emergence in compost. Percentage emergence was not affected by priming except in the third batch of primed carrot seed. The presence of large numbers of microorganisms in the priming solutions did not greatly affect seed performance when the same osmoticum was used three times with leeks and twice with carrots. Priming did not affect the number of abnormal seedlings.