ISHS Acta Horticulturae 198: Symposium on the Timing of Field Production of Vegetables
IMPROVING STAND ESTABLISHMENT IN LETTUCE (LACTUCA SATIVA) THROUGH SEED PRIMING AND SOIL AMENDMENTS |
| Authors: | D. Seale, D.J. Cantliffe |
| Abstract:
During the early fall in Florida prevailing environmental conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall make it difficult to establish uniform stands of lettuce. It has been established that seed priming is one method by which seed of several species can be germinated under non-optimal environmental conditions (such as temperature stress). Soil amendments have also been employed to improve stand establishment where soil crusting has been a problem. In the present experiments seed priming (primed in 1% K3PO4 with or without 100 ppm BA for 20 hours at 15°C) and soil covers (plug-mix, GrowSorb, or soil) were used to improve lettuce stand establishment under field conditions. Seeds which were primed with BA had higher and more uniform germination than non-treated seeds. Seeds covered with soil amendments also produced higher yields and more uniform stands than seeds covered with soil. | |
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