The bulk priming of leek seeds —the influence of oxygen-enriched air

Abstract

The effects of different priming treatments on germination and emergence characteristics and early plant growth of leek seeds were investigated. The use of enriched air (75% O 2, 25% N 2) in the stirred bioreactor priming method shortened the priming time to 5 days (compared with 7 days required using air) by increasing the oxygen uptake rate of the seeds and thus speeding up the metabolic processes within the seeds responsible for priming effects. Overall, all the processed seeds (both, primed only and primed and dried-back) showed a significant decrease of the mean germination time by comparison with controls as assessed by the International Seed Testing Association rules (ISTA test). In trials in soil, the mean emergence times of treated seed were significantly lowered compared with controls. The spread of emergence times (expressed as T 5-95) and mean fresh plant weights were also significantly improved for these seeds. Priming of leek seeds offers the possibility of improvement in plant establishment and can be beneficial to the grower.