Three experiments were conducted in 1998 to deternine the response of four flue-cured tobacco cultivars to seed priming. Experiments were conducted in tobacco transplant greenhouses (float systems) at two locations (Raleigh, NC and Duplin County, NC) to determine the effect of priming on the rate of seedling emergence, the incidence of negative geotropism (spiral roots), and percent usable transplants. A third experiment was conducted in the laboratory to determine germination rate of primed and nonprimed seeds at two temperatures (18°C and 25°C). Primed and nonprimed seeds from common seed lots were provided by Gold Leaf Seed Company for cultivars K-326, K-346, NC-71. and NC-72. Significant priming X cultivar interactions were observed in the greenhouse experiments. Faster seedling emergence was observed with primed NC-71 and NC-72 seeds as compared to nonprimed seeds. However, slower seedling emergence and a higher incidence of spiral roots was observed when K-326 and K-346 seeds were primed. A significant priming X cultivar X temperature interaction for germination rate was observed in the laboratory. Priming did not affect the germination rate of K-326 at either temperature and K-346 at 18°C. A slight increase in germination rate was observed with primed vs. nonprimed K-346 at 25°C. Priming improved germination rate of NC-71 and NC-72 at both temperatures. Nonprimed NC-71 and NC-72 seeds germinated faster at 18°C than at 25°C. Germination rate was increased for both primed and nonprimed K-326 and K-346 at 25°C as compared to 18°C.