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Quantification of differences in germination behaviour of pelleted and coated sugar beet seeds using X-ray Computed Tomography (X-ray CT)

Blunk, Sebastian; Malik, Ali Hafeez; de Heer, Martine I.; Ekblad, Tobias; Fredlund, Kenneth; Mooney, Sacha J.; Sturrock, Craig J.

Authors

Sebastian Blunk

Ali Hafeez Malik

Martine I. de Heer

Tobias Ekblad

Kenneth Fredlund

Sacha J. Mooney

Craig J. Sturrock



Abstract

Seed enhancement technologies i.e. priming, pelleting and coating have been extensively9 used throughout the last century to improve crop yield and to reduce losses associated with pest infestation. However, until recently, it has not been possible to non-destructively assess the effect of seed enhancement technologies belowground due to the opacity of soil. Using X- ray Computed Tomography (X-ray CT) we undertook a 4D visualisation of the germination process of four different sugar beet seed enhancement treatments (untreated / naked, coated, pelleted and pelleted + coated) in soil. The aim of this study was to improve the understanding of the germination process in the natural environment of the seed to inform future soil management and seed enhancement processes. Using X-ray CT we were able to quantify the germination and establishment process of different seed enhancement technologies in soil non-destructively for the first time. We observed a delay in seedling growth posed by the addition of a physical barrier, i.e. the seed coating. However, an enhanced radicle growth rate was observed in pelleted, as well as pelleted and coated seeds, after overcoming the physical barrier. The disadvantage posed by the addition of seed coating was overcome after four days of seedling growth. Further work should focus on refinements to the type and composition of the pelleting which we observed to have a retarded effect on seed germination.

Citation

Blunk, S., Malik, A. H., de Heer, M. I., Ekblad, T., Fredlund, K., Mooney, S. J., & Sturrock, C. J. (in press). Quantification of differences in germination behaviour of pelleted and coated sugar beet seeds using X-ray Computed Tomography (X-ray CT). Biomedical Physics and Engineering Express, 3(4), https://doi.org/10.1088/2057-1976/aa7c3f

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 28, 2017
Online Publication Date Jul 18, 2017
Deposit Date Jun 30, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express
Electronic ISSN 2057-1976
Publisher IOP Publishing
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 3
Issue 4
DOI https://doi.org/10.1088/2057-1976/aa7c3f
Keywords x-ray CT, sugar beet, seed germination, 4D quantification
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/873205
Publisher URL http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2057-1976/aa7c3f/meta

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