Agricultural University – Plovdiv AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES Volume 17 Issue 44 2025

DOI: 10.22620/agrisci.2025.44.012
Effect of hot water priming on the sprouting of carrot (Daucus carota L.) seeds

Ursulla Ukamaka Emeghara1 (ORCID NUMBER: 0000-0003-3684-1525),

Charles Moses Emmanuel2, Olugbenga Omotayo Alabi3*
1Federal College of Forest Resources Management Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
2Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Nigeria
3University of Abuja, Nigeria

*Corresponding author: omotayoalabi@yahoo.com

Abstract
Seed priming alleviates environmental problems such as water and salinity stresses, hence
improves seed germination and subsequent growth. This study was conducted to examine the effect of
hot water priming on the sprouting of carrot (Daucus carota L.) in the Southern Guinea Savannah. The
study was conducted at the Crop Production Department Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Ibrahim
Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (Latitude 9o06” and Longitude 6o57). The experiment was laid
in completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. The treatments include T1 (control),
T2 (25°C and T3 50°C). Evaluated germination traits include germination percentage, germination
speed, mean germination time, mean daily germination, peak germination value and germination value.
Results showed that there were significant differences among treatments (p ≤ 0.05) on germination
percentage, peak value, mean daily germination (MDT) and seedling length. Moreover, there were no
significant differences in the germination speed, mean germination time and germination value (p >
0.05). The result of the experiments revealed that priming improved most of the measured parameters
of carrot seed over the unprimed one. Priming carrot seeds at 50°C provide higher germination
percentage, peak value, mean daily germination and seedling length.
Keywords: priming, carrot, hot water, germination, sprouting

INTRODUCTION demanding circumstances, the emergence and

establishment of carrot seeds are sometimes
Seed priming involves treating seeds slow and erratic.
before sowing to improve their physiological In many vegetable and agronomic crops,
responses, enhance germination rates, and seed priming has greatly improved seed vigor,
promote uniform sprouting (Farooq et al., producing consistent and fast germination and
2019). Hot water priming, where seeds are seedling emergence. It can improve vitality
soaked in warm water for a specific period, especially under demanding conditions such as
helps soften the seed coat, improves water excessive temperatures, little water availability,
uptake, and stimulates early metabolic activities and salinity (McDonald, 2020). In both tropical
in the seed. Studies suggest that this method can and temperate climates, a major abiotic
break seed dormancy and promote faster and constraint is insufficient crop stand
more uniform germination in various crops, establishment. Many elements are involved,
including carrots (Bradford, 2016). For direct- including poor quality of seeds, inadequate
seeded vegetables, and especially for carrots, a seedbed preparation, delayed planting, poor
quick and consistent field emergence is essential sowing methods, abiotic stresses including
for improving yield and product quality. Under drought, severe temperatures, salinity, and

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adverse soil conditions (e.g., crusting). Such which improves crop emergence rates,
restrictions can be reasonably overcome by seed accelerates crop development, reduces crop
priming. duration, and increases both production and
Carrot (Daucus carrota L.) cultivation output so influencing their livelihoods. Pre-
often faces challenges related to poor sowing treatments like seed priming can thus
germination and uneven sprouting, primarily greatly improve the speed and synchronizing
due to the hard seed coat and dormancy issues ability of germination, hence reducing crop
inherent in carrot seeds. These factors can lead duration, boosting performance, and raising
to delayed germination, low seedling yields in challenging environments (Bennett et
emergence, and ultimately reduced crop yield, al., 1992). Carrots (Pelluzio et al., 1999;
especially in environments where optimal Balbinot & Lopes, 2006) among other vegetable
growing conditions are not consistently seeds have shown positive results from priming.
available (Bradford, 2016). Farmers and Still, for some crops the positive effects of
growers frequently struggle with achieving priming are more noticeable under field stress
uniform seed germination, which negatively conditions, including very low and high
impacts field establishment and reduces the temperatures (Demir & Oztokat, 2003;
overall productivity. Bittencourt et al., 2004).
Conventional methods of enhancing The main objective of this study was to
carrot seed germination, such as mechanical determine the effect of hot water priming on the
scarification or chemical treatments, can be sprouting of carrot (Dacus carrota L.) seeds.
labor-intensive, costly, or environmentally
detrimental (Farooq et al., 2019). In this study, MATERIALS AND METHODS
alternative pre-sowing treatments like seed
priming have been explored as effective and The experiment was carried out at the
sustainable approaches to improve seed Crop Production Laboratory, Faculty of
performance. However, despite the potential Agriculture, IBB University, Lapai, Niger State.
benefits of hot water priming in promoting The experimental site is situated on latitude
faster and more uniform sprouting, its specific 9o4’6’’N and longitude 6o34’24”E in the
effects on carrot seeds remain underexplored, Southern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria with
particularly in determining the optimal water mean annual temperature ranging between 21oC
temperature and soaking duration required to and 36.5oC. The materials used for the
maximize germination success (Singh et al., experiment include: Petri dish, tissue paper,
2020). watering bottle, measuring ruler. Carrot seeds
Thus, there is a need to investigate were obtained from seed vendor in Minna
whether hot water priming can effectively known for seed quality. The study was laid in a
overcome the limitations associated with carrot Completely Randomised Design (CRD) and
seed germination and establish a practical, cost- each treatment was replicated in triple. Each
effective solution for enhancing early crop replicate consisted of 100 seeds. Various seed
growth. This study seeks to address the problem treatments that were applied, included: Control
of poor carrot seed germination by evaluating (no treatment) - The untreated seed were only
the effectiveness of hot water priming as a rinsed with distilled water prior to the
simple, eco-friendly technique that could germination test to remove debris and dirt.
significantly improve sprouting rates and crop Priming with Water - The carrot seeds
establishment. underwent priming with hot water. The
Farmers can benefit from a simple, low- temperature was set at two levels (25°C or
risk, low-cost intervention called priming, 50°C), while the soaking period was set at 5

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minutes. For each treatment, thirty seeds were Data Collection

immersed in 100 ml beakers containing water at Observations were made based on the
the corresponding temperature in a water bath number of days for germination required for the
with controlled temperatures for five minutes. first count, germination percentage, germination
Treated seeds were removed from the water and speed, mean germination time, mean daily
surface-dried. Seeds were air-dried for 5 hours germination, peak value and germination value.
before initiating the germination test.
Daily and Cumulative germination count
Germination Test The seeds showing a radicle growth were
Seeds from each treatment group were classified as germinated. Daily data on seed
subjected to a standard germination test germination were recorded. The final
according to Baskin et al. (2019) under germination percentage was determined based
controlled conditions of temperature and on the total number of germinated seeds. The
moisture. Germination percentage, germination daily germination percentages were aggregated
speed, and different characteristics was to calculate the cumulative germination
recorded. percentage for each treatment.

Germination Speed
Germination speed was calculated as described by Aldhous (1972), and Djavanshir & Pourbeik (1976):
Final Germination Percentage
Germination Speed =
Days of Completion of Germination

Mean Germination Time (MGT) Data Analysis

Mean germination time was calculated by the Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used
formula given by Ellis & Roberts (1981) to determine significant differences among
(n1 × d1) + (n2 × d2) + (n3 × d3) treatments. Post-hoc comparison tests such as
MGT = Least Significant Difference (LSD) was used to
Total Number of Seeds Germinated
identify specific treatment effects.
Where: n= number of germinated seed and
d = number of days RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Mean Daily Germination (MDG)
The Mean daily germination was calculated by The germination speeds of carrot are
the formula given by Czabator (1962) presented in Table 1. The result revealed that
there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in
Total Number of Germinated Seeds
MDG = the germination speed of carrot as influenced by
Total Number of Days hot water priming. However, priming carrot
Peak Value (PV) seeds with hot water at 50°C had the highest
Peak value was calculated by the following germination speed, followed by priming with
formula given by Czabator (1962). hot water at 25°C and lastly control.
Highest Seed Germinated
𝑃V = Effect of hot water priming on the Mean
Number of Days
Germination Time of carrot
Germination Value (GV) The result revealed that hot water
Germination value was calculated by the treatment does not have any significant (p >
formula given by Czabator (1962). 0.05) effect on the mean germination time of
GV = PV × MDG carrot seeds. The result also revealed that

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priming carrot seeds at 50°C had the highest

mean germination time while control had the Effect of hot water treatment on Mean Daily
least. Germination of carrot
The highest mean daily germination of
Effect of hot water priming on Germination Daucus carota L.seeds occurred with seeds
percentage of carrot primed in hot water at 50°C, followed by those
The cumulative germination percentage soaked in 25°C hot water for 5 minutes, while
(GP) of Daucus carota L. seeds indicated a the control exhibited the lowest mean daily
substantial difference in germination percentage germination. No significant differences (p >
(GP) among the pretreatment seeds, with the 0.05) were observed between the mean daily
highest GP (76.76%) achieved in seeds primed germination of seeds soaked in 25°C and 50°C
with hot water at 50°C, exhibiting less non- hot water.
germinated seeds relative to the majority of
other treatments. Hot water priming at 25°C Effect of hot water treatment on Germination
resulted in a germination rate of 70%, far Value of carrot
surpassing the control group, which exhibited a The germination data indicated significant
rate of 53.3%. Nonetheless, there was no variation in seed germination values among the
notable difference in germination percentage treatments. The germination value of Dacus
between seeds primed with hot water at 50°C carota L. was highest for seeds immersed in
and those at 25°C at a 5% probability level. 50°C hot water, followed by 25°C, and then the
control group. Nevertheless, there were no
Effect of hot water priming on Peak value of significant differences (p > 0.05) among
carrot treatments.
The maximum peak value (PV) was
achieved in seeds primed with hot water at 50°C Effect of hot water treatment on the seedling
in comparison to other pre-sowing treatments. length (cm) of Daucus carota L.
Untreated seeds (Control) exhibited a The seedling length of carrot as
significant difference at the 5% probability level influenced by hot water treatment is presented
compared to treated seeds, although Dacus in Table 1. The result revealed that there were
carota L. seeds primed with 25°C hot water significant differences in the seedling length.
showed no statistically significant difference (p The seeds soaked in 50°C hot water supported
> 0.05) from those primed with hot water at longer carrot seedling followed by seeds soaked
50°C; the control group recorded the lowest in 25°C hot water, while control had the least
peak value. seedling length.

Table 1. Effect of hot water priming on the Germination parameters of Carrot (Daucus carota L.)
Treatment Germination Mean Germination Peak Mean Daily Germination Seedling
Speed Germination Percent Value Germination Value (GV) length
(GS) Time(MGT) (GP) (PV) (MDG) (Number) (cm)
(%/time) (days) (%) (((seeds/day) (seeds/day)
Control 8.58a 7.09a 53.33b 1.39b 0.89b 1.88a 4.31b
25℃ 9.03a 8.89a 70.00a 2.00a 1.17ab 2.01a 4.83a
50℃ 11.96a 9.22a 76.67a 2.34a 1.47a 2.80a 4.89a
SE± 1.583 1.998 9.526 0.300 0.163 0.560 0.059
Legend: Means with same letters(s) along the column are not significantly different at 5% probability
level using LSD.

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This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cucumber and carrot. The average seedling
hot water priming on the germination of carrot length varied between 4.31 cm and 4.89 cm.
seeds. The results indicated a significant (p < This outcome corresponds with the findings of
0.05) difference in germination percentage, Eisvand et al. (2011), who indicated that hydro
peak value, mean daily germination, and priming treatment enhanced both shoot and root
seedling length; however, no significant length of seedlings in two carrot cultivars
differences were observed in germination speed, compared with hormonal treatments.
mean germination duration, and germination
value. The maximum germination speed of CONCLUSIONS
11.96 was seen in carrot seeds primed with hot
water at 50°C for 5 minutes, while the minimum By reducing the time needed for
speed of 8.5 was noted in control carrot seeds. germination and seedling emergence, priming
Sung (2019) showed that seed priming led to an improves seed performance and simultaneously
increase in antioxidants such as glutathione and increases the uniformity of germination in
ascorbate, which enhance germination speed by unfavorable climatic conditions. The studies
reducing lipid peroxidation activity. showed that, over the unprimed one, priming
Completing pre-germination metabolic treatment enhances most of the measured
processes, which prepare the seed for radicle characteristics of carrot seed. For germination
protrusion, is most likely the reason for early percent, peak value, mean daily germination and
emergence of primed seeds. plumule length, priming carrot seeds at 50°C
Hot water priming at 50°C resulted in the shows to be beneficial. Based on the findings of
most favorable mean germination time, so the study, hence it is advised that seed growers
priming techniques improve the germination should prime their carrot seeds prior sowing
rate of carrot seeds. The present results support since the technique is simple, cost effective and
the findings of Selvarani (2011) who reported affordable for carrot seed growers to overcome
that hydro-priming carrot seeds with 45°C hot the problems of poor crop emergence and
water improves radicle protrusion percentage, establishment under unfavorable environmental
lowers days to 50% germination, lowers days to conditions.
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