Effect of presowing hydration treatment on DNA replication activity in the embryo of sugar-beet [Beta vulgaris L.]

The effect of presowing hydration treatment on DNA replication activity in the embryo of three sugar beet cultivars was studied using flow cytometry. The treatment protocol consisted of soaking the seeds for 2 hours in tap water and then for 2 hours in 0.2% NaOH solution. After drying, a slurry treatment with Oxafun T was applied. The applied treatment was aimed at removing soluble inhibitors from the pericarp and to control of damping off. Seedling length vigour index (SLVI), germination capacity and the relative proportions of the DNA replication stages were determined in untreated and treated seeds. Hydration treatment increased seed performance, in particular the vigour index. A higher G2/G1 ratio was noted for treated seeds than the untreated ones, which suggests that cells of the former seeds had entered the synthetic phase of the cell cycle. A positive correlation was found between the G2/G1 ratio and laboratory test parameters (SLVI and germination capacity).