Th e results of studying the eff ects of sunfl ower seed priming with an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid (A),
tocopherol (T), and glutathione (G) performed prior to accelerated ageing and a cold test are presented in this paper.
Germination, the percentage of abnormal seedlings, and the lengths of both roots and shoots were monitored. Th e
results showed that the cold test caused a drastic drop in germination, an adverse eff ect on the shoot length, an increase
in the percentage of abnormal seedlings, and no eff ect on the root length. Germination of seeds primed with the solution
of A, T, and G (A+T+G) on which the cold test was then performed did not diff er from seed germination of the control.
Moreover, seed priming with the А+T+G solution of antioxidant substances prior to the cold test annulled the adverse
eff ect of the cold test on shoot length, as well as on the percentage of abnormal seedlings. Seed priming with the А+T+G
solution of antioxidants did not aff ect root length. Accelerated ageing resulted in a statistically signifi cant decrease in
seed germination and root length, but neither shoot length nor the percentage of abnormal seedlings was aff ected by
accelerated ageing. Th e obtained results show that seed priming with the solution of antioxidant substances performed
prior to accelerated ageing had a positive eff ect on the length of both roots and shoots. Seed priming with the solution
of antioxidant substances performed prior to accelerated ageing did not aff ect germination, but it did increase the
percentage of abnormal seedlings. Th e eff ect of antioxidant solution priming on the vigor of sunfl ower seeds exposed to
the cold test was signifi cantly more pronounced than that on seeds exposed to accelerated ageing.