When germination beds of carrot seeds were treated with either 0.01M or 0.05M concentrations of Ca(No_3)_2, CaSO_4, MgSO_4, K_2SO_4 and KH_2PO_4, an acceleraion in the germination rate was observed in the groups treated with 0.01M KH_2PO_4 and 0.05M MgSO_4, and 0.05M Ca(NO_2)_3. In earlier work by the author with acetone a similar result was observed and reported. The pH range in these experiments was maintained between 5.0 and 6.0. It was found that the groups treated with 0.05.M K_2SO_4, 0.05M Ca(NO_3)_2, 0.05M MgSO_4, 0.01M KH_2PO_4, 0.01M Ca(NO_3)_2 germinated earlier than the control group. The acceleration of the germination rate varied with the inorganic compounds used in the following descending order; 0.01M KH_2PO_4, 0.05M Ca(NO_3)_2, 0.05M K_2SO_4, 0.05M CaSO_4 and 0.05M KH_2PO_4.
As a result of these expriments, it occurs to the author that in the germination of carrot seeds some inorganic compounds appear to activate the osmotic function of carrot seeds causing acceleration in the germination rate.
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