Soybean Germination Test

Soybean Services

Soybean Warm Germination

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 pure seeds. Two media options can be utilized including top of crepe cellulose paper (TC) and sand (TCS). When mechanical damage, Fusarium spp. or Phomopsis spp. colonization are present or suspected a sand test is recommended. 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. Treated germination is available upon request.

What is Reported

Percentage of normal seedlings, abnormal seedlings, dead and hard (dormant seed) seed. Comments regarding growth characteristics and type of abnormal seedlings observed in the test (physical or physiological) 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.