The effect of two priming techniques: hardening (prehydration treatment) and solid matrix priming (SMP) was studied on the seeds of two parsley varieties (Cukrowa and Berlińska) in 3-year laboratory experiments. On the images obtained from scanning electron microscope (SEM) there is a parsley embryo developing during germination up to the moment of radicle emergence. On the surface of primed seeds, in particular using the hardening method, lateral cracks are visible. The respiratory activity of primed seeds was similar to that of non-primed in the period of initial 24 h of germination, but significantly higher after 48 h. As compared to non primed seeds solid matrix priming significantly increased the percentage and the speed of germination. Nevertheless, pelleting reduced the positive effect of priming on the germination ability, without affecting the germination speed. After 18 months of storage, the vigour of primed seeds, particularly through hardening, had significantly decreased.

As parsley seed vigour is known to be low, a 3-year field study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of seed priming and pelleting. Hardening and solid matrix priming (SMP) were applied to two varieties (Cukrowa and Berliñska). Both methods of seed pre-sowing treatment increased the percentage, speed and synchrony of seedling emergence. Due to seed pre-treatment the original root yield of cv. Cukrowa increased by 6.45 to 7.09 t/ha and that of cv. Berliñska by 2.44 to 5.48 t/ha, depending on the priming technique. Pelleting of primed seeds negatively affected seed vigour as compared to the primed non-pelleted seeds.Keywords: parsley seed; pelleting; priming; emergence; root yieldThere are three characteristic indices of field emergence: percentage, speed and synchrony. The percentage of parsley seedling emergence ranged from 13.6 to 49.6% depending on climatic conditions. Field emergence of parsley does not start sooner than 2.5 weeks after sowing and lasts for 3 weeks at least (Soko³owska et al. 1994), and sometimes even for 60 days (Rabin et al. 1988). The relation between seed quality and yield is not often obvious. The latter may depend on the impact of seed quality on crop establishment. According to Te Krony and Egli (1991) the effect of seed vigour on yield is higher in plants with shorter vegetation period and in those harvested during the vegetation phase, e.g. lettuce, carrot. The effect of seed vigour on biological yield is low, but it is high on commercial yield because of an additional effect of seed vigour on the variability of morphological parameters of plants. Taking into consideration the low seed vigour of parsley an attempt was made to determine the effectiveness of different pre-sowing treatments of parsley seeds on seedling emergence and root yield. MATERIAL AND METHODSThree-year field experiments were conducted with two varieties Cukrowa and Berliñska. Pre-sowing treatment techniques included the following combinations: non-pelleted seeds = control, hardening, SMP A, SMP B primed seeds. Two methods of priming were employed: hardening (prehydration treatment) and solid matrix priming (SMP) with two different solid substances: substance A chemically inactive ceramic rubbles with granule diameter of 33.5 mm and chemically active substance B of 23.5 mm granule diameter (Podlaski et al. 2003). Pelleting was applied to control, hardened and SMP B treated seeds. The field experiments were conducted in random blocks in four replications on Experimental Farm Zelazna co Skierniewice. The seeds were sown in the second half of April each year, except in 1996 when sowing had to be repeated on May 16 th because of pouring rains. Cereals were forecrops each time. Plants were cultivated according to the recommendations given by Bejo Zaden Polska. Each year two separate experiments were conducted: 1. To estimate field emergence 125 seeds were sown with Wintersteiger sowing machine on 3.2 m. The emerged seedlings were counted every second day and marked by putting a tag to each seedling so as t...