In the presented work attempts have been made to explore effectiveness of the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) seeds priming process in relation to seed quality and environmental conditions. This study was conducted in three different field stations in the years 2013-2015 using two lots of sugar beet seeds of the variety Janosik that differed in their level of vigour. In the laboratory and phytotron experiments, pelleted and non-pelleted seeds were used while in the field experiments only pelleted seeds were used. Seed priming was carried out using two patented technologies based on the solid matrix priming method. The results of this study indicate that pelleting can reduce both seed viability and rate of germination, especially in the early stages. Both priming methods positively influenced seed germination ability and speed. The efficiency of priming was higher in seeds with lower vigour than those with higher vigour. It follows that priming seeds, especially those with lower vigour is particularly efficient. As a result, seed loss during treatment can be reduced. The obtained data indicate that priming reduces the differences in germination and the course of emergence caused by different levels of seed vigour and germination conditions. The higher vigour of seeds caused by priming was associated with the acceleration of leaf development and the increase in plant dry matter during the growing season. As a result, seed priming contributes to a significant increase in the technological yield of sugar. It should also be noted that the average weight of single root is less variable during harvesting.
Unfavourable growth conditions significantly determine the yield of crop plants. Intraspecific competition is a condition in which plants compete with each other for environmental resources. An excessive density contributes to increased competition within species, which results in disruption of photosynthesis process. According to this idea, experiments were conducted to investigate the photosynthetic response of potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants to excessive congestion. Two potato varieties of different earliness classes (Vineta and Satina) were used to evaluate the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus based on chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence measurements under stress conditions. Changes in Chl contents of the tested plants were also analysed. In relation to intraspecific competition, we can conclude that the Vineta variety was less sensitive to this stress factor. In contrast, the photosynthetic apparatus of the Satina variety showed less efficient functioning under these conditions. In this study, the application of Chl fluorescence was presented for the first time in order to analyse the effects of intraspecific competition in plants.
During 2012-2015, the seed vigour of 54 commercial sugar beet varieties was evaluated. In addition, correlations among different methods of determining seed vigour and the potential impact of low vigour on the quality traits of seeds and root yield were investigated. The chosen seed vigour indicators were field emergence (early and final count), emergence course in a phytotron under controlled conditions (early and final count, mean time of emergence, emergence uniformity) and germination ability under stress conditions regarding substrate moisture and air temperature. The most effective vigour indicators were field and phytotron emergence (early count), mean time of emergence and germination ability under stress conditions. Final field and phytotron emergence constituted weak indicators of seed vigour. Low seed vigour decreased root yield by 3.2 t/ha (4.8%) compared to high seed vigour. Lower yields were caused by slower and less uniform field emergence.
Background: This study determined the effects of two solid matrix priming methods on changes in the characteristics of two lots of the same variety of sugar beet fruits that differ in the level of vigour. Results: Seed treatment within each level of vigour did not significantly affect helium and apparent density, total pore volume and total porosity. However, there was a tendency to increase porosity due to priming. This is probably why seed priming significantly increased mesopore diameter in both high and low vigour seeds. These changes increased the water content in the pericarp and the seeds and increased the water potential during germination. The high level of electrical conductivity of the fruit extracts was associated with low seed vigour. Low vigour resulted in higher humidity of the pericarp and decreased seed moisture and was also associated with lower water potential of the pericarp and seeds. Conclusions: A significant difference in the water content in the pericarp and seeds was indicative of imbibition and problems with water flow between these centres, which resulted in a low water diffusion coefficient of the pericarp. This low water diffusion coefficient was correlated with the prolongation of the seed germination time.
The effects of the physicochemical characteristics of pellets, when applied to sugar beet seeds originating from ten seed companies, on the germination of pelleted seeds were assessed. The most significant factor was the force necessary to break the pellet, which was found to positively correlate with pellet's abrasion resistance, and negatively with pellet's water resistance. Pellets dissolved in water, characterized by low water resistance, negatively affected germination under the conditions of excess water in the filter paper. A low water potential of pellets inhibited seed germination, particularly with the shortfall of water in the germination medium. The water flow between the pellet and the pericarp was of much importance for germination. Under the conditions of the shortfall and excess of water in the germination medium, the physicochemical properties pellets had a greater effect on the drawing of water, and on the water flow between the pellet and the seeds, than under the optimum moisture conditions. Organic pellets were characterized by a greater ability to absorb water than mineral or organic-mineral pellets. The pellets varied in their chemical composition, with the greatest variation (over ninety-fold) relating to pellet's copper content. The following values exhibited low variety: Zn, Mn, and Pb. It can be concluded that pellet's cracking force and water resistance are the basic parameters of pellet quality, and the swelling ability of pellets is determined by their organic or monaural composition. K e y w o r d s: swelling ability, total porosity, water potential, water content
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