Influence of internal structure of sugar beet seeds determined by x-ray method on plant development in field conditions

Abstract

Highly variable quality is characteristic of sugar beet seeds due to varying size-mass characteristics. There are many reasons for the occurrence of this phenomenon; they are genetic and biological features of culture, soil-climatic conditions, technologies and methods of seed production, etc. Determination of sugar beet seed quality by the traditional way of accelerated germination in laboratory conditions prevents the further study of plants’ development and productivity. In addition, the methods of pre-sowing preparation of sugar beet seeds are based on differences in their size and mass characteristics. They do not take into account the internal structure of the seeds. The use of the method of microfocus migratory radiography makes it possible to identify hidden seed defects quickly and establish the biological and economic significance of the anomalies of the embryo and other elements of the seed. The conducted studies on the definition of the satisfaction of the seeds showed that the number of normally developed seeds in the MS forms was 81.4-83.4%, in pollinators - 82.6-90.9%, non-sprouting seeds up to 9.5 and 17.4%, respectively. Seeds with a sign of more than 50% of the shell detachment formed weakened plants and small root vegetables during the cultivation. A similar picture was typical for the cultivation of plants from multi-grain seeds (clashes) of pollinators. High temperatures, mass deflection of root rot, and root wilt increased the number of retarded plants by the middle of the growing season.