Osmotic priming of onion seeds - the possiblity of a commercial-scale treatment

Osmotic priming of onion seeds - the possiblity of a commercial-scale treatment

1976

A:PS

A technique is described for the osmotic priming of seed lots of onion and for storage without loss of pretreatment effect or viability for short periods. The seed is treated in a slurry of polyethylene glycol 6000 and vermiculite and stored at constant temperature for a predetermined period. Washed seed can then be stored in an airtight container at 5-7 C for up to 4 weeks without loss of total viability or treatment effect. Disadvantages of the system include a tendency for seeds to sprout during the later stages of storage and the problem of separating seed from the vermiculite after treatment. Possible solutions and avenues for further study are suggested. [AS]

v.5:207-214, SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE

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