The influence of genetic and environmental factors on the germination of sugar beet seed

Abstract

SummaryTwenty-four sugar-beet plants were cut into quarters, planted and allowed to produce fruit under varying fertilizer and irrigation treatments. Studies on the germination rates of these clusters showed that there were marked genetic differences between the clones. Wetting the seeds continually by overhead irrigation, to simulate heavy rainfalls markedly decreased the rate of germination, apparently by delaying the onset of maturity. Immature clusters from early harvests of plants which were not irrigated also showed a decreased germination capacity. The fertilizer treatments in this experiment were less important as a source of variation than the clonal and irrigation components. The results may be related to the presence of germination inhibitors in the clusters but there may be important changes in the embryos of the seeds themselves.