Submitted by Allie Noble, Agrologist Intern,Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
To make sure you are starting off the 2018 growing season on the right foot it is important you have a high quality seed source. Seed tests can detect germination, vigour, and any seed borne diseases.
Standardized germination tests at seed labs measure the percent of seeds germinated in seven days under ideal conditions. Certified seed must be tested for germination at an accredited seed lab as part of the grading and purity analysis. Farm saved seed should also be tested at an accredited seed lab; a home test is not enough. A germination test of 85% or higher is ideal for seeding. If you have to use a seed source with a lower percent of germination it is possible to account for some of it by increasing seeding rates. However, it is important to consider other factors such as any seed borne diseases and the vigour of the seeds that do germinate.
Seed borne diseases should also be done at seed labs. General threshold numbers for individual diseases on the seed are available. This is important since certain seed borne diseases have either a high or low correlation with seedling infection. Also you don’t want to introduce new diseases into your fields. Before you submit the seed sample, specify which specific diseases you would like tested. Contact the seed lab for any questions about their protocols.
Along with both germination and seed borne disease testing, seed vigour should also be tested. Seed vigour refers to the seed’s potential for quick and uniform emergence and seedling development under a wide range of conditions. Testing for it is done by duplicating some natural stressors, like cold temperature swings, which seed needs to endure in the field. A vigour test should be close to the same percent as a germination test with no more variation than 10%.
Seed testing with an accredited lab does come with a price, but the price of these tests is well worth it considering the potential issues of using poor quality seed over many acres. It is also important to remember that many other issues contribute to successful crop establishment such as seed treatments for both soil borne and seed borne diseases, proper fertilizer placement to minimize any toxic effects on germinating seeds, and good seed bed moisture. For more information on spring seed testing visit www.saskatchewan.ca/agriculture.
