Soybean Sand Germination

Soybean Services

Soybean Sand Germination

Soybean sand germination test

Methods

Testing is conducted according to the Association Official Seed Analysts (AOSA), International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) Rules for Testing seeds or Canada Methods and Procedures (Canada M&P) based on customer need. Each germination test consists of four hundred randomly selected from pure seeds. Two testing options can be utilized: Sand Germination (SG) or Treated Sand Germination (TSG). When mechanical damage, Fusarium spp. or Phomopsis spp. colonization are present or suspected, a sand test is recommended. When cotyledon decay and decayed seedlings (DS) remarks are occurring, a Treated Sand Germination test is recommended to determine the maximum potential of the seed lot. All tests are evaluated at 7 days and can be extended up to 2 days which may result in a 2-3% increase in normal seedlings when mechanical damage is a concern. Any sand germination tests falling below our internal quality threshold of 85% are extended 2 days. Additional thresholds can be set up based on customer standards.

What is Reported

Percentage of normal seedlings and extended normal seedlings. Comments regarding growth characteristics are documented. For sand germination, only normal seedlings are reported for the 7 day and extended results.

Value of Results

The standard germination test is required by the Federal Seed Act (FSA) for labeling. The report of analysis will contain germination percentage and date of test utilized for labeling. Emergence through sand emulates field emergence most accurately of the available laboratory tests by providing uniform water uptake and suppressing seed coat colonization by Fusarium or Phomopsis spp. Treating fungal colonized seed also reduces fungal inoculum and mycelium growth and provides a best-case scenario for maximum germination.