Impact of sugar beet seed priming using the SMP method on the properties of the pericarp

Abstract

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.

Evaluation and Production of Indoor-Grown Microgreens for Tropical Kitchen Garden

“…Beetroot was the last to germinate, this might be because of the nature of beet seeds. The seedball consisting of multigerm are wrapped in a woody pericarp having impervious sclerenchyma that restricts water and oxygen uptake by the enclosed seeds Chomontowski and Podlaski (2020). Germination percentage, shoot length and vigor index were found to be maximum in radish with 98.15 %, 7.45 cm and 733.53 respectively.…”

Solid Matrix Priming: An Effective Technique Used for Improvement in Seed Emergence, Vigor and Seedling Growth of Vegetable Crops

“…SMP priming increased seed emergence of broccoli and cauliflower in suboptimal conditions (10-15 o C) by enhancing activities of ROS scavenging enzymes peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase under low temperature stress (Ling-Yun al., 2022). Priming of low vigor sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) seed using zeolite as water carrier enhances germination speed, time, early plant growth and increases leaf development under low temperature and non-optimal humidity (Chomontowski et al, 2020b). The presence of different hydrolytic enzymes and growth promoting hormones in vermicompost improved seed germination and seedling growth in onion (Allium cepa) primed seeds under temperature stress (Muhie et al, 2020a).…”

The Use of Multispectral Imaging and Single Seed and Bulk Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Characterize Seed Covering Structures: Methods and Applications in Seed Testing and Research

“…Species containing germination inhibitors in the seed coat (for example sugar beet) undergo different treatments during processing to remove these inhibitors. The inner pericarp layer contains crystals of chemical compounds in the sclerenchyma cells [61], and the crystals dissolve in water during washing. This process alters the outer surface structure of sugar beet seed [2].…”

“…Due to their sensitivity to water uptake, damaged seeds may result in heterogenous field performance, and there is also evidence from soybean, sweet corn and maize that the damaged seeds are more likely to produce abnormal seedlings [61].…”