Improvement of sugar beet seed germination characteristics using priming with Multi-Walled Carbon Nano Tubes (MWCNTs)

In this study, the effect of nanohydropriming using Multi-Walled Carbon NanoTubes (MWCNT) on improving the germination and growth of sugar beet seed, in comparison with hydropriming, was studied. Accordingly, hydropriming with water and nanohydropriming with three concentrations of water-based colloidal MWCNT,s as the carbon nanotube concentrations (0, 10, 20 and 40 ppm), four priming time and two primed seed storage time as treatments in a completely randomized design with three replications were applied in vitro for sugar beet variety Pars. Characters including germination rate, germination percentage, root length, shoot length, fresh weight, dry weight, and vigor were measured. Results showed that differences between treatments for all traits were significant at alpha 1%. Analysis of variance and comparison of hydropriming group against nanohydropriming showed a significantly improved germination rate, germination percentage and seedling vigor of sugar beet variety Pars in nanohydropriming. The mean comparison showed that the nanohydropriming significantly improved traits germination speed, germination percentage and seedling vigor of sugar beet variety in comparison with hydropriming. In addition, the results of data grouping within multi-walled carbon nanotubes showed that the germination traits were significantly improved at concentration of 40 ppm of carbon nanotubes at the 18 hours priming time, and 60 days storage after priming. Accordingly, with respect to the direct and indirect benefits of sugar beet seed priming, treating seeds of Pars variety with carbon nanotubes 40 ppm for 18 hours and 60 days before planting is recommended.