Enhancing germination and vigor of sugar beet seeds through priming treatments under ambient storage

Objective: Sugar beet is primarily cultivated from seeds, and one of its main challenges is the low germination rate caused by seed dormancy due to seed coat coverage. Seed priming is an effective method to overcome dormancy and enhance both germination percentage and speed. However, storing primed seeds reduces their longevity and accelerates deterioration. Therefore, determining the duration of priming effects during ambient storage is important. This study, aimed to improve germination and seed vigor of sugar beet seeds and evaluate the storability of primed seeds.
Methods: The experiment was conducted in 2025 at the Seed Science and Technology Laboratory of Hamyaran Keshavarz Company in Zarand, Kerman, Iran. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with seven priming treatments (0.2% nanourea for 1 hour, 0.3% seaweed extract for 1 hour, 20 ppm gibberellic acid for 24 hours, hydroelectropriming with a current of 15 V for 2 minutes, hydropriming for 12 hours, electropriming with a current of 20 V for 2 minutes, and 20 ppm gibberellic acid for 1 hour), along with the control treatment, each replicated four times with 100 seeds per replication.
Results: Nano-urea (0.2%), hydroelectropriming (15 V for 2 minutes), and seaweed extract (0.3%) had the largest positive effect on germination and seed vigor. The beneficial effects of priming significantly declined during storage, affecting germination, seed vigor, and activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase. Hydroelectropriming and ano-urea demonstrated the best seed viability retention over three months of storage.
Conclusion: Hydroelectropriming (15 V, 2 min) and nano-urea priming (0.2%, 1 h), as innovative and environmentally friendly methods, are recommended to maximize germination and vigor while preserving seed storability for three months, supporting sustainable sugar beet production.