SEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

HILLARY MOSES OMONDI OTIENO

REG. NO. A56/70473/2013
[Link]. AGRONOMY

TERM PAPER: SEED TESTING

METHODS
 SEED TESTING METHODS
INTRODUCTION
Seed testing refers to the analysis of some
important physical parameters and physiological
qualities of a seed lot, and not a genetic quality,
which measure the potential performance of seed
lot under optimal conditions with the standard
design which can be subjected to statistical
analysis.
These testes can be simple or standard and there
usage varies depending on the stage of seed (Lars
Schmidt, Danida Forest Seed Centre, 2000)
 Stages and types of testing methods
source: Lars Schmidt, Danida Forest Seed Centre. 2000. Guide
to Handling of Tropical and Subtropical Forest Seed.
Harvest Processing Before storage During
storage
Simple tests Maturity, health Health (cutting
(cutting test) test)
Moisture content Moisture content
(moisture meter) (moisture meter)
Purity (screening)

Standard tests Seed weight Viability/germin

Purity -ability

Moisture content Moisture

(oven method) content

Viability/germinati
on (TTZ, X-ray,
germination etc.)

Special tests Health test Health test

(Vigour) Vigour
 Sampling from the seed lot
Sampling refers to the process of taking a small
representative of the whole seed lot.
Sample must be as representative as possible;
high homogeneity.|
• Methods of sampling;
1) Mixing and division. Every sample thoroughly
mixed and process repeated 2-3 times (Willan,
1985) and
2) Tiers (Lars Schmidt et al., 2000; ISTA, 1998).
working sample should be as representative as
possible and minimum depends on seed size.
Illustration…..
SEEDLOT

PRIMARY SAMPLE

COMPOSITE
SAMPLE

SUBMITTED
SAMPLE

WORKING
SAMPLE
 TYPES OF SEEDLOT TESTS
1. Seed purity test
Seed purity refers to the cleanliness of the seed.
• Determines the need for further cleaning and
improves sowing.
• Also determines seed price (Lars Schmidt et al.,
2000).
• Percentage Purity = [(Weight of pure seed (g))/
(Total weight of working sample (g))]*100.
• Has no information about seed viability.
2. Seed weight test
It is the number of seeds per their total weight.
Can be in: number of seeds per Kg or 100g for
small seed or in weight (g) for 1000 seeds.
Relatively high seed weight is correlated with rapid
germination and good seedling establishment
(Griffin 1972; Sorensen and Campbell 1993).
3. Moisture content test

Proportion of seed occupied by water.

M.C.=[(weight of grains before drying- weight of grains

after drying)/(weight of grains before drying)] x 100.
 4. Germination and viability test
• Viability is a measure of the percentage of seeds
that are alive after storage.

• High viability gives high plant population in the

field/nursery(Abram J. Bicksler, 2011).

• Germination is the emergence and development

of the seedling to a stage where the aspects of its
essential structures indicate whether or not it is
able to develop further into a plant under
favourable conditions in the soil’ (ISTA, 1996).
 Germination test is limited under
I. when the seed under test has viability less
than 3-5 weeks, which most advance tests
take. This means that the seed shall have lost
the viability before the end of the test.
II. when germination is depressed by deep
seated dormancy.
III. when germination test result is required very
fast especially for the seeds that take several
days or months to germinate.
NB/ Viability test is always superior over
germination test.
a) Cutting test
• Seeds are cutting longitudinally through the
embryo. Soaking in water facilitates cutting.
Seeds with firm, white or light green, healthy
looking embryo are deemed viable (Bonner et al.
1994). While mpty, insect-damaged, under-
developed or showing other distinct signs of
damage are unviable.

b) Hydrogen peroxide test

• Seeds are pre-soaked in H2O2 for 8-12HRS then
incubated for 7days. Development of radicle
indicates viable seed (Bhodthipuks et al. (1996).
c) Tetrazolium method
• The procedures, reactions and conditions that
bring about the reaction is complex (Yu and
Wang,1996).
• Seeds are preconditioned, cover removed and
then soaked in water at 30oC; dissected
longitudinally and then stained with TTZ at
recommended conc; then incubated in the dark
at right temp. seeds are then rinsed with distilled
water several times and immersed in
lactophenol 1-2hrs.
• Viable tissues stain bright red. Pink and very
dark red stains are indicative of dead tissue.
 d) X-radiography
• Quick test to differentiate empty, under-developed,
insect or physically damaged seeds from
morphologically intact and healthy seeds by the
aid of X-rays (ISTA 1996).
• is fast and appropriate for viability test for
recalcitrant seeds which are short-lived.
e) Excised embryo test
• Involves aseptic surgical extraction of embryo
from the seed-coat and possible endosperm, then
put on a wet filter or blotting paper and incubated
in ger-mination cabinets at 20-25°C. Radical
formation is a sign of a viable seed
 5. Germination test
• Involves direct test of the seed’s ability to
germinate under optimal germination conditions
of temperature, moisture and light.
• Methods involved are:
a) top of paper method (Abram J. Bicksler, 2011),
b) between paper method (Rao et al., 2006),
c) rag doll method (Douglas et al., 2003),
d) sand germination method.
 6. Seed Health Test
• To determine the presence of plant seed borne
pathogens like Alternaria, Fusarium, Penicillium,
Aspergillus and Rhizopus spp.
• Tests are:
a) visual examination (naked eye, lenses or
microscope)
b) blotter test(for fungal growth)
c) agar plate method (seeds are surface sterilized
then incubated; used for seedborn disease
pathogens eg bacteria and fungu).
 Conclusion
• Seed testing is very important and basic activity in
seed production that increase seed saving efficacy
and help to empower famers in the saving and
planting of important genetic diversity.
• Wide array of methods is available for testing, from
simple to complex, seed depending on time period,
resources and knowledge available.
• The viability of seeds by conducting a seed
germination test is an important way to deduce the
quality of seeds, to determine the efficacy of seed
storage methods, and to help one plant the proper
amount of seeds.
 REFERENCES
Abram J. Bicksler, Ph.D. 2011. Testing Seed Viability Using
Simple Germination Tests.
Douglas, J. L., J. M. Grabowski, and L. E. Daughtry. 2003.
"How to use a ragdoll test to estimate field germination."
Plant Solutions for Conservation Needs. Plant Note #5.
Available: [Link]
[Link]/GA/PMC/JLW/[Link].
ISTA 1998. ISTA Tropical and sub-tropical tree and shrub
seed handbook (Poulsen K.M., Parratt, M.J. and Gosling,
P.G., eds.). International Seed Testing Association (ISTA).
Zurich, Switzerland.
Enescu, V. 1991. The tetrazolium test of viability. In:
Tree and shrub seed handbook, chapter 9.
International Seed Testing Association ISTA. Zurich.
 REFERENCES CONT,…..
Lars Schmidt, Danida Forest Seed Centre. 2000. Guide to
Handling of Tropical and Subtropical Forest Seed.
Rao, N. K., J. Hanson, M. E. Dulloo, K. Ghosh, D. Nowell,
and M. Larinde. 2006. Handooks for Genebanks No. 8:
Manual of Seed Handling in Genebanks. Rome:
Biodiversity International.
Yue-Luan, Hor. 1993. Seed testing for selected tropical trees
in ASEAN region. Re-view Paper No. 2. ASEAN -
Canada Forest Tree Seed Centre Project. Muak Lek,
Thailand.
ISTA. 1996. International Rules for Seed Testing, Rules
1996. International Seed Test-ing Association (ISTA).
Seed Science and Technology 24 (supplement). Zurich,
Switzerland.
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