Prechilling (3-5℃) peanut seeds of different vigor will improve seed germination and promote seedling growth

Prechilled seeds had higher percent germination and vigor index. The promotive effect of prechilling is better in low-vigor seeds than in high-vigor seeds. Prechilling was more effective when seeds germinated at superoptimal or suboptimal temperature. The beneficial effect of prechilling increases when the time of prechilling extends from 5 to 13 days. The incorporations of (~3H)-UTP into RNA

(~3H)-TTP into DNA and (~3H)-leucine into protein in excised embryos were increased after prechilling treatment. The amount of ATP from treated embryonic axis was larger than that from untreated ones. It is likely that the increase in metabolic activities is the biochemical basis of prerbilling in raising the seed vigor.