The structure of pericarp affecting germination of sugar beet seed
2001
Podlaski, S.Z. (Warsaw Agricultural Univ., Warsaw (Poland). Chair of Plant Breeding and Seed Science)
The sugar beet pericarp is made up of 3 layers. In the first layer there are large single crystals of chemical compounds. In the second layer the crystals are smaller and form crystal clusters. In the pericarp water extract potassium, sodium and magnesium dominate among cations and oxalate, nitrate and phosphate ions are predominant among anions. After dissolving in water, chemical compounds are responsible for the appearance of a low osmotic potential extract in the pericarp. It slows down water flow between the pericarp and the seed. A good indicator of osmotic potential of fruit water extract is the measurement of electroconductivity of water extract. Potassium present in water extracts in the pericarp stimulated the growth of the hypocotyl while sodium and potassium slowed down the growth of the radicle. A high contents of chemical compounds in the pericarp delayed the beginning of seed germination. The ability of seed germination was decreased only in case of the shortage of water in germination medium. The pericarp density varied from 0,6 to 1.1 gram per cubic centimeter and depended on the degree of pericarp abrasion. The pericarp density affected the total and differential porosity.
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