Selection for Cold Tolerance and Low Temperature Germination in Sugar Beets

Germination in Sugar Beets R. R. WOOD Introduction The development of varieties of sugar beets capable of germination from seed at low temperatures, together with the ability to withstand frost after establishment of the plant in spring and resistance to early freezing damage in fall, now appears to be entirely possible. The apparent advantages of such types in temperate climaxes is fairly obvious, but perhaps will bear repetition: (a) lengthening of the effective growing season in both spring and fall, (b) prevention of replanting or loss of fields due to frost damage in seedling stage, (c) indications of association of cold resistance with greater sucrose content ( l ) 2 . This latter advantage is probably not too obvious from superficial examination of the problem but if the preliminary evidence is supported by later investigations, the value of such selection is greatly enhanced. Low Temperature Germination It was mentioned in a previous publication (1) that preliminary investigations indicated wide variations between sugar beet varieties in ability to germinate from seed at low temperatures. The differences obtained were highly significant statistically and have been substantiated by subsequent investigations. Table 1 gives germination percentages obtained in a later trial and also some information as to whether or not that portion of the