Synchronization of germination of celery seeds

The 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.