Enhancing germination and vigor of sugar beet seeds through priming treatments under ambient storage

Objective: Sugar beet is primarily cultivated from seeds, and one of its main challenges is the low germination rate caused by seed dormancy due to seed coat coverage. Seed priming is an effective method to overcome dormancy and enhance both germination percentage and speed. However, storing primed seeds reduces their longevity and accelerates deterioration. Therefore, determining the duration of priming effects during ambient storage is important. This study aimed to improve germination and seed vigor of sugar beet seeds and evaluate the storability of primed seeds.Methods: The experiment was conducted in ۲۰۲۵ at the Seed Science and Technology Laboratory of Hamyaran Keshavarz Company in Zarand, Kerman, Iran. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with seven priming treatments (۰.۲% nano-urea for ۱ hour, ۰.۳% seaweed extract for ۱ hour, ۲۰ ppm gibberellic acid for ۲۴ hours, hydroelectropriming with a current of ۱۵ V for ۲ minutes, hydropriming for ۱۲ hours, electropriming with a current of ۲۰ V for ۲ minutes, and ۲۰ ppm gibberellic acid for ۱ hour), along with the control treatment, each replicated four times with ۱۰۰ seeds per replication.Results: Nano-urea (۰.۲%), hydroelectropriming (۱۵ V for ۲ minutes), and seaweed extract (۰.۳%) had the largest positive effect on germination and seed vigor. The beneficial effects of priming significantly declined during storage, affecting germination, seed vigor, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase. Hydroelectropriming and nano-urea demonstrated the best seed viability retention over three months of storage.Conclusion: Hydroelectropriming (۱۵ V, ۲ min) and nano-urea priming (۰.۲%, ۱ h), as innovative and environmentally friendly methods, are recommended to maximize germination and vigor while preserving seed storability for three months, supporting sustainable sugar beet production.

کلیدواژه ها:

Sugar beet ، Seed dormancy ، Seed Priming ، Germination rate ، Seed vigor