Submitted to: Salt and Water Stress in Plants Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 21, 1998
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract: Emergence and establishment of sugarbeet stands is problematic for most areas of the United States and many parts of the world. Biotic and abiotic stresses contribute to poor stands, however it is unclear which are the more important factors. In the field, seed germination is likely influenced by a number of stresses simultaneously. Examining each possible source of stress in isolation will be required to develop plant breeding and selection schemes directed at particular stresses. In this report we examined sugarbeet varieties and breeding lines for their germination behavior in submerged liquid cultures. Results suggest that varieties, or more precisely seedlots, differ in their germination potential when germinated under water. Unexpectedly, germination in dilute hydrogen peroxide stimulated germination in aqueous solutions, presumably due to an increase in available molecular oxygen.