Seed Production and Processing

Abstract

Sugar beet cultivation is highly dependent on the supply of high quality seed as carriers of specific and requested varietal characteristics. Seed production of the biennial sugar beet is conducted in two main phases: the production of small beet plants (stecklings) in the first year of vegetative growth and seed production in the second year after the bolting and flowering of vernalized plants.Optimal conditions for sugar beet seed production are mainly found in regions with a Mediterranean climate. Parental lines in hybrid seed production are specifically handled to ensure a high level of varietal purity and seed quality. Particular post-harvest processing steps and techniques are well integrated to select seed lot fractions with the best quality and the highest field emergence potential. Additionally, seeds are covered by specifically developed pellets to support their placement in sugar beet fields and to act as carriers for plant protection agents. During the last few years an increasing amount of seeds were also subjected to pre-treatments in order to further improve seed quality characteristics for optimal plant establishment in sugar beet production fields.

From Emergence to Flowering: Four Beet (Beta vulgaris ssp.) Cultivars’ Phenological Response to Seed Priming

“…Vernalization refers to the plant's requirement of low temperatures during the rosette stage for the induction of flowering. The range (0-15 • C) and duration (5-20 weeks) of low temperatures play an important role in the extent of vernalization [6][7][8][9][10]. If the extent of vernalization is insufficient, the plant can be devernalized by temperatures above 15 • C immediately following vernalization [11,12].…”

“…Generally, flowering of beets occurs over 3-4 weeks. The duration of this stage can affect the range of maturity levels among the harvested seeds [3,8].…”

“…The purpose of this common technique is to improve the development of side branches, more homogeneous flowering, enhanced synchronization of flowering, and reduced plant height. This technique is usually carried out during the bolting stage by hand or mechanically to improve seed production [3,8].…”

Study on inheritance of seed technological characteristics in sugar beet

“…Although the beet root crop for sugar production is grown in only one season in the first year, sugar beet requires a second year after a period of cold temperatures (vernalization) for reproduction and seed production (Kockelmann et al 2011). Maximum sugar yield in sugar beet requires high yielding varieties, optimum plant establishment after sowing and good agricultural practices.…”

“…Maximum sugar yield in sugar beet requires high yielding varieties, optimum plant establishment after sowing and good agricultural practices. Sugar beet growers therefore demand seed with the highest germination ability and vigour to ensure an early and high level of field emergence (Biancardi et al 2010;Kockelmann et al 2011). All of the effort in sugar beet seed production is directed towards meeting the requirements of high quality seed.…”