Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION: Seed-processing technologies such as polishing and washing enhance crop seed quality by limited removal of the outer layers and by leaching. Combined, this removes chemical compounds that inhibit germination. Industrial processing to deliver high-quality commercial seed includes removing chemical inhibitors of germination, and is essential to produce fresh sprouts, achieve vigorous crop establishment, and high yield potential in the field. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. altissima Doell.), the main sugar source of the temperate agricultural zone, routinely undergoes several processing steps during seed production to improve germination performance and seedling growth. Germination assays and seedling phenotyping was carried out on unprocessed, and processed (polished and washed) sugar beet fruits. Pericarp-derived solutes, known to inhibit germination, were tested in germination assays and their osmolality and conductivity assessed (ions). Abscisic acid (ABA) and ABA metabolites were quantified in both the true seed and pericarp tissue using UPLC-ESI(+)-MS/MS. Physical changes in the pericarp structures were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We found that polishing and washing of the sugar beet fruits both had a positive effect on germination performance and seedling phenotype, and when combined, this positive effect was stronger. The mechanical action of polishing removed the outer pericarp (fruit coat) tissue (parenchyma), leaving the inner tissue (sclerenchyma) unaltered, as revealed by SEM. Polishing as well as washing removed germination inhibitors from the pericarp, specifically, ABA, ABA metabolites, and ions. Understanding the biochemistry underpinning the effectiveness of these processing treatments is key to driving further innovations in commercial seed quality.
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Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
Polishing and washing of sugar beet fruits both had a positive effect on germination performance and seedling phenotype
- Taxon
- sugar beet
Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgarise1 - Treatment
- polishing and washinge1
- Outcome
- germination performance and seedling phenotypee1
- Direction
- positive effecte1
- Comparator
- unprocessede4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“We found that polishing and washing of the sugar beet fruits both had a positive effect on germination performance and seedling phenotype, and when combined, this positive effect was stronger”
e4“Germination assays and seedling phenotyping was carried out on unprocessed, and processed (polished and washed) sugar beet fruits”
Claim · model-written summary
Combined polishing and washing of sugar beet fruits gave a stronger positive effect on germination and seedling phenotype
- Taxon
- sugar beetBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarise1
- Treatment
- polishing and washinge1
- Outcome
- germination performance and seedling phenotypee1
- Direction
- strongere1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“We found that polishing and washing of the sugar beet fruits both had a positive effect on germination performance and seedling phenotype, and when combined, this positive effect was stronger”
Claim · model-written summary
Mechanical polishing removed the outer pericarp (fruit coat) tissue of sugar beet fruits
- Taxon
- sugar beetBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarise1
- Treatment
- mechanical action of polishinge2
- Outcome
- outer pericarp (fruit coat) tissuee2
- Direction
- removede2
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“We found that polishing and washing of the sugar beet fruits both had a positive effect on germination performance and seedling phenotype, and when combined, this positive effect was stronger”
e2“The mechanical action of polishing removed the outer pericarp (fruit coat) tissue (parenchyma), leaving the inner tissue (sclerenchyma) unaltered”
Claim · model-written summary
Polishing and washing removed germination inhibitors ABA, ABA metabolites and ions from the sugar beet pericarp
- Taxon
- sugar beetBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarise1
- Treatment
- Polishing as well as washinge3
- Compound
- ABA, ABA metabolites, and ionse3
- Outcome
- germination inhibitorse3
- Direction
- removede3
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“Polishing as well as washing removed germination inhibitors from the pericarp, specifically, ABA, ABA metabolites, and ions”
e1“We found that polishing and washing of the sugar beet fruits both had a positive effect on germination performance and seedling phenotype, and when combined, this positive effect was stronger”
The same questions in other papers
processing · growth · Beta vulgaris (beet)Positive and negative results
4 papers in the same direction as this paper · 2 in the opposite direction
- positive
- negative
- negative
3 papers more in this group
See all 7 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.