Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is an important food crop; however, its productivity reaps considerable effects from poor seed germination and challenging climatic conditions. Although pre-sowing seed treatment with biological stimulants has proven effective, this approach has not yet reached studies in Kazakhstan, highlighting the relevance of this research. The concerned study aimed to determine the effect of hydropriming with complex biological preparations on seed germination energy and rate, resistance to fungal pathogens (Alternaria dauci and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Сarotae), biochemical characteristics, plant morphometric parameters, and carrot root yield. The study comprised six treatments, including the control with four replications, carried out during 2024–2025. The results revealed the pre-sowing treatment of carrot seeds with complex biological preparations accelerates plant growth and development through the formation of uniform and viable seedlings. Likewise, pre-sowing treatment enhances resistance to both abiotic and biotic stresses and contributes to a 1.5–2-fold reduction in using plant protection products. Improvements in laboratory and field parameters manifested with an increase in germination (6.3%–15.15%) and proportion of healthy seedlings (11.71%–20.61%), along with a simultaneous increase in productivity (18.34%–30.55%) and improved quality indicators compared with the control.
Carrot (D. carota L.), hydropriming, complex biopreparations, germination, fungal diseases, plant morphological traits, productivity, quality, Southeastern Kazakhstan
Carrot (D. carota L.) seed treatment with complex biological preparations considerably increased the germination and germination energy, enhanced resistance to fungal pathogens, accelerated plant growth and development, and improved productivity and root quality.