TECHNOLOGY OF PRE-SEEDING TREATMENT OF WHEAT KERNELS WITH SOLUTIONS OF INORGANIC AND ORGANIC SUBSTANCES
Wheat kernels in the absence of water are in the state of induced dormancy. However when kernels are saturated with water (45-50%) at favorable temperature (15-25°С) and oxygen availability, they can sprout actively. On the 2nd day wheat kernels may be conditionally divided into two groups: unsprouted and sprouted kernels. The research objective was to study the effect of various concentrations of inorganic and organic compounds on the growth and development of wheat sprouts, and to develop a technology of pre-seeding treatment of wheat seeds to increase grain crops yields. It has been revealed that low and high antioxidant concentrations affect kernel sprouting. The range of concentration of biologically active substances both activating as inhibiting wheat kernel sprouting has been defined. It is proposed to use dihydroquercetin to increase sprouting rate, vegetative weight and sprout weight. The treatment takes 24 hours at low concentrations of bioactive substances, and it takes as long as 0.5-1.5 hours for wheat kernels swelling in the solutions with high concentrations of bioactive substances. The use of high concentrations of bioactive substances reduces the time of kernels swelling and renders an effect of kernel sprouting activation and accelerating their growth and development.