title: Effects of steckling weight and planting density on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) monogerm seed yield and qualitative traits.
abstract: In order to determine the effects of steckling weight and planting density on sugar beet monogerm (Cv. 9597) seed quantitative and qualitative characteristics, this experiment was carried out in Ardabil Agricultural Research Station-Iran (38 degrees 30'N and 48 degrees 30'E) during 2 years (2002-2003). In the study, steckling weight (main-plot) in three levels including 100, 100-200 and 200-300 g and planting density (sub-plot) in three levels including 40, 50 and 60 cm were used in a split-plot experiment based on the RCBD (Randomized Complete Blocks Design) with 5 replications. The measured characteristics were morphological and qualitative (velocity and uniformity of germination) characters, seed size distribution and monogerm seed percentage. According to the results of the experiment, the effect of planting density on the auxiliary branches No. and seed yield was significant at the probability levels of 1 and 5%, respectively. Seed yield increased by 43% as planting density was increased from 65 x 40 to 65 x 60 cm. The increase in steckling weight led to the increase in standard seed portion (with 3.5-4.5 mm in diameter), germinable standard seed yield (11%) and decrease in germination velocity and germination uniformity; and increase in planting density was accompanied by increase in > 4.5 mm seed percentage, velocity and uniformity of germination and decrease in germinable standard seed yield. Eventually, the highest seed yield (1208 kg ha(-1)) was obtained by using steckling weight of 200-300 g and planting density of 65 x 60 cm.
authors.affiliation: Sugar Beet Seed Institute (SBSI), P.O. Box 31585-4114, Karadj, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed Sadeghzadeh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hemayati
authors.forename: Daryoush Fatollah
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Taleghani
authors.forename: Shima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahmoradi
mesh_terms: D027461:Beta vulgaris / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D018525:Germination; D012639:Seeds