University of

Southeastern
Philippines
College of Education
Obrero Campus, Davao City

A COMPILATION OF GARDEN DOCUMENTATION AND WRITTEN REPORT

ENTITLED SECURING AND TESTING SEEDS

In Partial Fulfillment of the Course Introduction to Agriculture and Fisheries

SUBMITTED TO:

PROF. JUANITA BAGTILAY

SUBMITTED BY:

BALA, ARLENE
BOLO, NEIL JOHN
BULE, HEACHELLE
CAVAN, CHARLES IAN
DELA CERNA, KIESHAINE MARIE
GRENIEN MICHELLE
LORESTO BLESSEDEE
MATUBANG, ROEL JR.
MONASQUE, LISLIE MAE
ORMO, SHENNEY ANNETTE
PENARANDA, RALPH IAN
TOROCTOCON, HONEY BEBS

DECEMBER 2019
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 SECURING AND TESTING SEEDS

Living in a place full of bountiful crops is such a blessing hence, problems and
challenges faced by farmers raised up especially in seed. Every year, farmers are
facing an increasing problem of access to seeds. Standing in long queues, with cash in
hand (procured from private money lenders with great difficulty and high rate of
interest), and anxiety writ on their faces, farmers do not know if this method of seed
procurement is likely to be permanent or a temporary phenomenon.

Every year, they hope that the situation might change. Problems with seeds are
deep rooted, and extending these roots into new
areas. It is not just availability of seeds on time. It
is also not just about quality of seeds. Good
quality seeds, with good germination potential,
are becoming rare, as the number of hybrids are
increasing. On the other hand, prices of seeds
are increasing every year. So much so, farmers
are now shelling out 10-30 percent of per acre
investment on seeds alone, starting from zero.
Yet, they are not assured of good quality seeds.

The germinating potential of seeds is important among plant growers. This can
be determined by testing the seeds. Testing the seeds before they are planted prevents
waste, to ensure uniformity of plant growth, and facilitates plant grower’s cultivation and
early maturation of crops. If seeds are good, vegetable will be of good quality and there
will be a better yield.

But for those pioneering in the field of farming, how will

they know if they can have a good seed and a good
harvest? Let us first identify what is Seed.

What is Seed?

A seed is a basic part of any plant. The ovules after

fertilization, develop into seeds. A seed is made up of a
seed coat and an embryo. The embryo is made up of a
radicle, an embryonal axis and one (wheat, maize) or
two cotyledons (gram and pea). A seed is found inside
a fruit which converts into a new plant when we plant it.
Hence, the seed is the most important part.
Types of Seeds

A Seed is primarily of two types. The two types are:

 Monocotyledonous Seed
 Dicotyledonous Seed

Structure of a Monocotyledonous Seed

A Monocotyledonous seed, as the name suggests, has only one cotyledon. There is
only one outer layering of the seed coat. A seed has the following parts:

 Seed Coat: In the seed of cereals such as maize, the seed coat is membranous
and generally fused with the fruit wall, called Hull.
 Endosperm: The endosperm is bulky and stores food. Generally,
monocotyledonous seeds are endospermic but some as in orchids are non-
endospermic.
 Aleuron layer: The outer covering of endosperm separates the embryo by
a proteinous layer called aleurone layer.
 Embryo: The embryo is small and situated in a groove at one end of the
endosperm.
 Scutellum: This is one large and shield-shaped cotyledon.
 Embryonal axis: Plumule and radicle are the two ends.
 Coleoptile and coleorhiza: The plumule and radicle are enclosed in sheaths.
They are coleoptile and coleorhiza.

Structure of a Dicotyledonous Seed

Unlike monocotyledonous seed, a

dicotyledonous seed, as the name
suggests, has two cotyledons. It has
the following parts:

 Seed coat: This is the

outermost covering of a
seed. The seed coat has two
layers, the outer testa and the
inner tegument.
 Hilum: The hilum is a scar on the seed coat through which the developing seed
was attached to the fruit.
  Micropyle: It is a small pore present above the hilum.
 Embryo: It consists of an embryonal axis and two cotyledons.
 Cotyledons: These are often fleshy and full of reserve food materials.
 Radicle and plumule: They are present at the two ends of the embryonal axis.
 Endosperm: In some seeds such as castor, the endosperm formed as a result
of double fertilization, is a food storing tissue. In plants such as bean, gram and
pea, the endosperm is not present in the matured seed. They are known as non-
endospermous.

HOW TO SECURE YOUR SEEDS FOR BETTER YIELD CROPS?

What is Seed Security?

 Is defined as ready access by rural households, particularly farmers and farming

communities.
 To adequate quantities of quality seed and planting materials of crop varieties,
adapted to their agro-ecological conditions and socioeconomic needs
 The availability and access to seeds is of particular importance to farmers in
developing countries or areas frequently subject to droughts or other natural or
human disasters. Seed security is defined as ready access by rural households,
particularly farmers and farming communities, to adequate quantities of quality
seed and planting materials of crop varieties, adapted to their agro-ecological
conditions and socioeconomic needs, at planting time, under normal and
abnormal weather conditions. Initiatives to improve seed security need to be
based on a better understanding of them.

Seed Testing

 Is performed for a number of reasons, including research purposes or to

determine if seed storage techniques are functioning.
 To evaluate the quality of the seed lot being sold.
WHAT TO CONSIDER IN SELECTING SEEDS?

The following characteristics should be

observed:

 Damage Free

Seeds must be free from damage or

plant may not be enough to keep the
seed alive

 Good Germinating Ability

If seeds germinate and produce

healthy, strong plants, thy have
greater percentage of viability:
hence, they are capable of
producing good crop yield.

 Disease Free

Seeds which are free from diseases will

naturally produce better quality crops and
greater yield.

True-to-type

Seeds should be as strong and healthy

as the plant variety from which they
come.
Always make a point that the seeds are harvested from the best fruits of your plants.

TESTING SEEDS

3. SEED BOX METHOD

Seed box method is the process of germinating

your seedlings in one flat tray. Usually 3–4
inches deep.
 SAMPLING IN SEED TESTING LABORATORY

The seed samples received in the laboratory (submitted sample) are required to
be reduced to obtain working samples for carrying out various tests. A number of
methods are available for obtaining working samples.

Mixing and dividing of seeds

The main objective of mixing and dividing of seeds is to obtain the representative
homogenous seed sample for analysis by reducing the submitted sample to the
desired size of working sample.

Method of mixing and dividing

• Mechanical dividing

• Modified halving method

• Hand halving method

• Random cup method

• Spoon method

Mechanical method

The reduction of sample size is carried out by the mechanical dividers suitable
for all seeds except for chaffy and fuzzy seeds.

Modified halving method

 The apparatus consists of a tray into which is fitted a grid of equal sized cubical
cups open at the top and every alternate one having no bottom. After preliminary
mixing the seed is poured evenly over the grid. When the grid is lifted, approximately
half the sample remains on the tray. The submitted sample is successively halved in
this method until a working sample size is obtained.

Hand halving method

This method is restricted to the chaffy seeds. The seed is poured evenly on to a
smooth clean surface and thoroughly mixed into a mound. The mound is then
divided into 1/2 and each half is mound again and halved into 4 portions. Each of the
4 portions is halved again giving 8 portions. The halved portions are arranged in
rows and alternate portions are combined and retained. The process is repeated
until the sample of required weight is obtained.

Random cup method

This is the method suitable for seeds requiring working sample upto 10 grams
provided that they are not extremely chaffy and do not bounce or roll (e.g.) Brassica
spp. Six to eight small cups are placed at random on a tray. After a preliminary
mixing the seed is poured uniformly over the tray. The seeds that fall into the cup is
taken as the working sample.

Spoon method

This is suitable for samples of single small seeded species. A tray, spatula and a
spoon with a straight edge are required. After preliminary mixing, the seed is poured
evenly over the tray. The tray should not be shake thereafter. With the spoon in one
hand, the spatula in the other and using both small portions of seed from not less
than 5 random places on the tray should be removed.

TYPES OF MECHANICAL DIVIDERS