Treatment of carrot seeds with growth regulators

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the treatment of carrot seeds (Daucus carota L.), cv. Brasília, with growth regulators on the seedling vigor and metabolic changes in the seeds. Three growth regulators were used: gibberellic acid (AG₃), kinetin and ethrel. The conditioning was made at 25^oC and the seeds were dried at environmental conditions at 12% seed moisture. Germination, first count of germination, seed chemical composition, alfa-amilase activity and chlorophyl a+b in the plants were evaluated in laboratory. Emergence and speed emergence index, dry matter weight and height of the seedlings were evaluated in greenhouse. The AG₃ and ethrel accelerate the seed metabolism and increase the emergence and speed of emergence; the ethrel and kinetin cross out the increase of the seedlings height caused by AG₃; the kinetin causes little effect on the vigor of the seeds, but affects highly the seed metabolism; and the growth regulators accelerate the seed metabolism in higher proportion that the vigor.