FLUID DRILLING OF PRE-GERMINATED SEEDS: PROGRESS AND POSSIBILITIES

The uncontrollable factors in the field environment which affect seed germination can be eliminated by the sowing of pre-germinated seeds in a protective fluid carrier.
Emergence of the seedlings has been shown to be much more rapid with the majority of vegetable crops studied and the number of seedlings established has been more predictable.
With certain species particular problems of seed germination can be overcome with important implications for crop production practices.
For example with celery the light requirement for germination of certain cultivars necessitates a transplanting system of production but by pre-germinating the celery seeds under optimum conditions fluid drilling enables the germinated seeds to be drilled directly into the field.
By providing optimum conditions for germination high temperature dormancy of seeds of lettuce cultivars can be overcome and fluid drilling enables seedlings to be established even with high soil temperatures so maintaining a continuity of production.
Pre-germinated tomato seeds can be fluid drilled into soils earlier in the season when the seedlings will continue to grow at much lower temperatures than those required for germination thus providing the possibility of cheaper and earlier production.
The potential for creating a stable ‘packaged’ environment around the pre-germinated seed by the incorporation of nutrients, fungicides and insecticides into the carrier gel is discussed, together with other implications arising from the technique.

Symposium on Seed Problems in Horticulture

P.J. Salter

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1978.83.32