Laboratory and field experiments were conducted on seed soaking (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 or 24 h), seed priming (100, 200, 300 or 400 ml nutrient solution and Riverum), Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG) 10000 (4, 8, 12 or 16 g) L -1 of deionized water) and hydro-priming along with fungicide (Ridomil MZ 72 WP) on pearl millet cultivars viz. 18-BY, MS-2, DBR-3 and MH-7077 at Agronomy Department, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar, and Cereal Crops Research Institute, Pirsabak, Nowshera, Pakistan, during 2004, 2005 and 2006. The objectives of the study included water absorption estimation by the seed in unit time, seed soaking and osmotica concentrations response to germination parameters, fungicide efficacy for downy mildew (DM) control and performance of primed seed in the field on yield and yield components. Seed moisture absorption increased enormously during the first 3 h of soaking and declined thereafter. Seed soaking for 6 h enhanced germination, radicle and plumule growth while, lowest germination and shortest radicle and plumule were observed for 24 h soaking. PEG 10000 @ 12 g, Riverum or nutrient solution @ 300 ml L -1 of deionized water gave the highest germination, radicle and plumule growth. In field experiment seed priming enhanced germination, emergence, flowering, leaf area, leaf area index, tiller number plant -1 , plant height, maturity and head length. Heavier grains and more grain, stover and biological yields were recorded for primed seed than non-primed. The cultivars tested showed differential response to various attributes. MH-7077 was the earliest in flowering and maturity. Cultivar 18-BY recorded the highest leaf area, leaf area index and head length. The highest grain number head -1 , grain weight, grain yield and harvest index was observed in MH-7077. The cultivar MS-2 excelled in tiller number plant -1 , plant height, stover and biological yield. Seed priming with PEG 10000 @ 12 g, nutrient solution or riverum @ 300 ml L -1 diionzed water in MH-7077 may be used for higher grain production. Ridomil was effective in controlling DM disease. The DM disease score was lower in hydro- primed seed than non-primed but higher than osmo-primed seed plots.