Germination of carrot seed primed and pelleted with several ingredients

Carrot seeds are small and the distribution in the field by seeders is generally very difficult. Seed pelleting has been used to improve sowing and consequently the stand establishment. Pelleted seeds generally present lower germination rate than raw seeds from the same seed lot. Seed priming has been used to increase germination rate of several species. Various binder materials for seed pelleting were evaluated and the relation between the osmoconditioning and germination of pellet seeds verified, using 'Alvorada' carrot cultivar. The pellet was obtained through a mixture of equal parts of microcelulose and sand as filling materials, five binder materials were also evaluated: bentonite, methocel, opadry, rhoximat and arabic guru. Part of the pelleted seeds received an external coat treatment (iriodin). Raw seeds were included as control. In another study, seeds were primed in in aerated solution of polyethylene glycol, dried and then pelleted. Rhoximat and opadry showed better characteristics as binder materials presenting pellets with smooth surface. uniform and excellent external appearance. In general, seed pellets showed a slight decrease of the germination rate and total germination compared to raw seeds, with greather differences for pellets finished with iriodin. Primin, enhanced the germination rate of palleted carrot seeds.