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Seed priming with salicylic acid (SA) has been described as a method with potential to improve seed germination under unfavorable conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate the ability of seed priming with SA to attenuate the impact of water restriction during germination and early seedling growth of tomato. Seeds were subjected to different concentrations of SA (0, 25 and 50 µM) and sowed on substrates at different percentages of the water holding capacity (20, 30, 40 and 100%). The following variables were evaluated: germination, first count of germination, germination speed index, shoots/root length and dry mass, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and catalase activities, contents of hydrogen peroxide and of malondialdehyde. Water restriction significantly decreased the variables related to germination and seedling performance. Despite increasing germination speed and seedling development when combined with well-irrigated conditions, priming with SA negatively impacted those characteristics under water deficit conditions. That was through increases in superoxide dismutase activity and H2O2 accumulation. Thus, it was concluded that seed priming with SA does not improve tomato seed germination and early seedling growth under water deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]