LEAKAGE OF CATIONS FROM A CARROT SEED LOT

The leakage of potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium from carrot seeds (Duke OE 370 Notabene) was analysed at different seed/soaking water ratios (1/30 to ½).

There was a linear relationship between seed cation concentration and seed/water ratio as well as between seed potassium contents and solution potassium concentration.
The losses of potassium and calcium were of the same magnitude (0.13–0.22 and 0.13–0.24 meq/g dry weight for seed/water ratios of ½ to 1/30) and much higher than the losses of sodium and magnesium (0.02–0.03 and 0.3–0.06 respectively). Corresponding values on a percentage basis were 32–54 (K), 50–81 (Na), 9–17 (Mg) and 17–31 (Ca).

By help of a soaking equilibrium solution of different concentrations it was possible to attain the same potassium contents of treated seeds as that of untreated at a potassium contentration equal to 2.3 % potassiumnitrate or thus in the same range as solutions used for osmotic treatments.

Seed Research in Horticulture

G.A. Granqvist

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1987.215.29