Emergence of Sugar Beet Seedlings at Low Soil Temperature following Seed Soaking and Priming

Seedling emergence from primed and nonprimed sugar beet seed (Beta vulgaris L.) was studied for 3 years under field conditions near Kimberly, Idaho, and compared with germination or emergence under controlled laboratory conditions. Maximum seedling emergence did not vary with seed treatment in spite of low field soil temperatures. Time to 50% of maximum emergence was significantly less for seed primed with polyethylene glycol 8000 than for nonprimed seed in only 1 of 3 years. Seed soaked in 30C water for 24 h performed similarly to nontreated seed in the field, but their maximum emergence was significantly improved compared with primed seed in one of two laboratory experiments. Time to 50% of maximum germination was improved by priming with or without a warm water soak in one of the two laboratory experiments.