ISHS Acta Horticulturae 198: Symposium on the Timing of Field Production of Vegetables
IMPROVING ESTABLISHMENT OF VEGETABLE CROPS BY OSMOTIC SEED TREATMENTS |
| Authors: | P.A. Brocklehurst, J. Dearman, R.L.K. Drew |
| Abstract:
Osmotic seed priming has now been tested on a wide range of vegetable seed species. Some recent results are presented, which illustrate the beneficial effects of priming on crop establishment in the field. Priming is also shown to benefit the production of seedlings for transplanting. Seed priming increased plant weights, as a consequence of earlier seedling emergence; studies under controlled conditions showed that seedling relative growth rates were not affected by priming. Further beneficial effects were obtained by combining plant growth regulators with the osmotic solution. Preliminary results also indicate that primed onion seeds may be dried and stored for at least 18 months with no significant loss of the beneficial effects of treatment. | |
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