EFFECT OF LASER- AND HYDROPRIMING OF SEEDS ON SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN SUGAR BEET

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-sowing seed treatments on some agro-physiological parameters of sugar beets. The selected seed treatments were laser stimulation, hydropriming and a combination of hydropriming and laser irradiation. The impact of the stimulation of seeds was analysed by determining the acid phosphatase activity, concentration of phosphate and photosynthetic pigments in leaves as well as the nutrient status and some yield parameters of the roots. The plants were assayed four times during the growing period. The experiment showed that the priming methods had a relatively small effect on both the level of orthophosphate and total phosphorus concentration. On the other hand, the plants raised from seeds both hydro- and laser-primed preserved a more stable level of phosphates during the whole growing season than the other plants. The highest activity of acid phosphatase was observed in younger plants and among different seed treatment, plants grown from non-primed seeds and laser-primed seeds showed the highest enzyme activity. In later growth stages, enzyme activity lowered considerably. Considering the effect of different seed treatments, a significant increase in enzyme activity was observed in plants emerged from hydroprimed or laser stimulated seeds. In addition, an increase in chlorophylls occurred in plants emerged from hydroprimed seeds and from hydro- and laser-primed ones. Seed stimulation had a positive effect on the potassium content, particularly in leaves of sugar beet, and on some yield parameters of the roots. Concluding, the effect of pre-sowing seed stimulation (priming) was visible during the entire growing season. Out of the examined seed treatment methods, hydropriming alone or in combination with laser radiation caused the highest alterations in the assayed parameters.