pines constitute an important economic species for the lumber and paper industries in the boreal region (galloway, 1986). current seedling production, dependent on the availability of high quality seed, may be considered adequate. however, better understanding of seed biochemistry and physiology may result in the development of better seed, and consequently healthier, more uniform, and perhaps stress tolerant seedlings. based on past efforts (ackerman and farrar, 1965; santon, 1970, fraser, 1974; fleming and lister, 1984), we have undertaken an investigation of pine seed priming and its effect on several physiological and metabolic parameters of a single seed-lot. the technique explored may provide a method to decrease germination time and increase synchrony of those seeds germinating, resulting in more economical seedling production. the following is an overview of literature dealing with knowledge pertinent to the study of seed priming physiology and germination. pine seeds consist of a thin seed coat encasing a thick haploid megagametophyte surrounding a small embryo (bewley and black, 1978). most gymnosperm storage seed cells contain lipid deposits in addition to protein bodies. the high energy stores needed for initial seedling growth are found, for the most part, in the parental megagametophyte tissue and the mechanisms involved in their depletion during seedling growth have been of interest to many researchers, and is discussed below.