Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)

Madan Bhandari Memorial academy Nepal

Plant Breeding and Seed Production

Technology

Seed Sampling and Testing: Quality

assurance
A
G
R
O By
N
O
M
Y Govinda Raj Sedai
Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal
Urlabari, Morang
 Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)
Madan Bhandari Memorial academy Nepal
Seed sampling & analysis in seed testing laboratory
A representative composite seed sample as per procedure specified in
seed testing manual should be drawn by the representative of
certification agency soon after completion of seed processing.
This should be divided in to three parts, each equivalent to the weight of
recommended submitted sample.
One sample should be sent to notified seed testing laboratory,
the second to be handed over to the seed producer and
third to be retained by the seed certification agency as a guard
sample.
A
G The seed samples should be analyzed in the seed testing laboratory
R
O
promptly in accordance with the prescribed procedure and the analysis
N report should be delivered to the certification agency urgently,
O
M But not later than 30 days from the date of receipt of the samples unless
Y
the seed is subjected to such tests which require more time than the
normal test.
 Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)
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 Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)
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 Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)
Madan Bhandari Memorial academy Nepal

Seed sampling & analysis in seed testing laboratory

Laboratory testing consists of series of seed tests designed to
determine the quality seed. Before certification, seed lots are
subject to test to determine the quality of seeds.
1. Purity test
2. Germination or seed viability test and
3. Moisture content test.
Seed tests are conducted on small sample sizes (about 25 gm)
A
G so it is essential that the samples used for seed tests are
R
O representative of the lot and the samples should be drawn
N
O randomly from the seed lots.
M
Y
 Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)
Madan Bhandari Memorial academy Nepal

Seed sampling & analysis in seed testing laboratory

1) Purity test:
It denotes the percentage of seeds (by weight) belonging
to the variety under certification. It is calculated by
arithmetic method. Variety test determines the amount of
seeds of other varieties of the same crop in a seed lot.
The sample size should be large, and it can be conducted
by:
A
G
R
examination of seed in the laboratory,
O
N
examination of seedlings grown in a growth chamber or
O
M
green house and field plot tests or grow-out tests.
Y
 Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)
Madan Bhandari Memorial academy Nepal
2) Germination or seed viability test:
It is determined as percent of seeds that produce or likely to produce
seedlings under suitable environment which are test are two tests for
this purpose.
Germination test and
Tetrazolium chloride test
Germination test is conducted in the controlled condition; the result is
based on the percentage of seed that produce healthy root and shoot.
PRINCIPLE:
A A Colourless tetrazolium solution is used as an indicator producing in
G
R
living cells a red, stable and non diffusible substance named
O
N
Formazan. Thus, it is possible to distinguish the red coloured living
O tissues from the colourless dead ones and the seeds are classified into
M
Y viable and non-viable seed classes.
 Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)
Madan Bhandari Memorial academy Nepal

Germination Test

A
G
R
O
N
O
M
Y
 Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)
Madan Bhandari Memorial academy Nepal

Method:
Seed should be soaked in water overnight at room
temperature.
The water-soaked monocot seeds are then cut
longitudinally or laterally to expose the embryo. Seed
coats of dicots should be removed to facilitate the quick
penetration of tetrazolium.
After preparing the desired number of seeds. They should
A
G
be soaked in 1% tetrazolium solution of pH 6 to 7 and be
R
O
kept preferably in dark at about 30°C for 3-4 hours.
N
O
Temperature influences the reaction, e.g. An increase of
M
Y 5°C, within a temperature range of 25-45°C, reduces
staining time by one half (Moore,1985)
 Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)
Madan Bhandari Memorial academy Nepal
Methods of determining seed vigour
1. Physical test method: Seed size, seed density, physical soundness
etc.  
2. Performance test in optimum condition: First count, speed of
germination, seedling growth rate, seedling length, root and / or shoot
length, dry matter production, strong and weak seedling, vigour index
length, vigour index mass, seed metabolic efficiency (SME), mobilization
efficiency (ME).
3. Stress test: Accelerated ageing test, brick gravel test (Hiltner test),
A
paper piercing test, compact soil test, pathogen infested soil test, low or
G high pH test, cold test, cool germination test, exhaustion test, water
R
O sensitivity test, osmotic stress test, oxygen stress test.
N
O
M
4. Biochemical test: Electrical conductivity test, tetrazolium test,
Y respiration test, glutamic acid decarbooxylase activity (GADA) test,
mitochondrial efficiency, volatile aldehyde test, free fatty acid test.
 Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)
Madan Bhandari Memorial academy Nepal
3) Moisture test:
It is determined as percent water content of seeds. The moisture
content is determined by drying the seed samples in an oven or with
the help of moisture meter.
Moisture meter measures the resistance of seeds to an electrical
current, which varies with the moisture content. The use of moisture
meters requires calibration and a certain degree of technical skill on
the part of the user. But moisture meter are very efficient and
extremely rapid, so a large number of samples can be handled in a
relatively short period. Moisture content is determined easily and
A
G
very fast by electronic moisture meters also.
R
O
After doing all the above tests, if the seed lot under test meets the
N
O
requirements set by the concerned authority, then the certifying
M agency duly certified the seed lot, and seed is sold for cultivation.
Y
If the requirements are not met, the particular seed lot is not permitted
to sale and grows commercially.
 Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)
Madan Bhandari Memorial academy Nepal

A
G
R
O
N
O
M
Y Moisture meter
 Council for Technical Education & Vocation Training (CTEVT)
Madan Bhandari Memorial academy Nepal

A
G
R
O
N
O
M
Y