Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Revitalizing spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) seed germination through steeping and mechanical seed coat abrasion
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Kose Emrah, Demir Ibrahim, Turer Nazli Ilke Eken, Kadioglu Neslihan, Muhie Seid Hussen
Research Articles | Published: 02 March, 2026
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Keywords: Seed priming, Germination enhancement, Seed vigour, Physical dormancy, Seed technology
Abstract
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) seed germination is often limited by the physical barrier of the seed coat and the presence of germination inhibitors. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of steeping (ST) and seed coat abrasion (SCA) on the germination and seedling emergence of spinach under both field and controlled conditions. The experiment was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, optimal treatment conditions were identified using a single seed lot. Steeping was performed for 60, 120, 180, and 240 min, while seed coat abrasion was conducted for 60 min at 50, 70, 90, and 140 rotations per minute, and for 120, 180, and 240 min at 90 rotations per minute using a cup lined with emery paper. The best performing treatments were 60 min of steeping (ST60) and 60 min of abrasion at 90 rpm (SCA60 + 90). In the second stage, these treatments were applied to ten different seed lots. Both ST60 and SCA60 + 90 improved seedling emergence by up to 20% in field conditions and by 7% (ST60) and 12% (SCA60 + 90) under controlled conditions compared to the control. Overall, ST60 increased germination by an average of 7.3%, while SCA60 + 90 increased it by 6.9%. In conclusion, steeping and mechanical seed coat abrasion are simple, cost effective, and scalable techniques that can enhance spinach seed germination and have strong potential for commercial seed enhancement applications.
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Author Information
Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey