Warm Germination

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.  The duration of this test depends on specific crop species. Types of media utilized include crepe cellulose paper (TC), top of paper (TP), towel (T), blotter (B) and Sand (TCS). The sand method is used whenever possible as it best emulates emergence in the field. Percentage of normal seedlings is reported. Seed treating prior to testing is available, as requested. Treating seed reduces fungal inoculum and mycelium growth, and provides a best-case scenario for maximum germination.

Tetrazolium

Seed is imbibed for 16 hours as a pre-conditioning step to allow easier long-sectioning of seeds and to ramp up respiration and enzyme systems. Vegetable seeds are bisected longitudinally through the embryo and stained with a 0.1% Tetrazolium solution. Percentage of viable seed (normal staining embryos and any dormant seeds) is reported. When seed has a fungal colonization this test will best estimate a treated germination test.

Vigor Index

Developed by SoDak Labs, this comprehensive small-seeded vegetable vigor index test is designed to help seed dealers and their grower network rank their seed lots for planting in heat stressd environments. A warm germination test is conducted as a reference for optimal germination, and to meet labeling requirements.

68F 4-Day Germ

Root tissue development of 4-day old seedlings is measured by digital image analysis and totaled for all seedlings. A photo of the seedlings as well as the percentage of strong normals, slow normals and total root length are reported. The percentage of strong normals and total root length are used to calculate the Vigor Index of the seed lot sample.

86F Germ, 81F Germ or 95F Germ 

Three heat stress regimes are available. Customers should choose the regime that best emulates expected planting conditions. Evaluation responses include a 4-day early count (strong normals) and a 7-day final count (slow normals). The percentage of strong normals and slow normals is reported. The percentage of strong normals is used to calculate the Vigor Index of the seed lot sample.

Quality Index Rating

 9.5 - 9.1 = Excellent  |  9.0 - 8.6 = Good  |  8.5 - 8.1 = Marginal  |  < 8.0 = Unacceptable

Purity & Noxious Weed Exam

Or Other Seed Determination, 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. Samples are physically examined for inert, weed and other crop seeds. Pure seed, inert matter (broken seeds, soil, etc.) and other seed are reported as percentages by weight. For AOSA rules, other crop seeds are defined as other crop seed and common weed seeds. Noxious weed seeds in specific state(s), or the entire lower 48 states, are reported as well. This exam is required for the seed label in accordance with Federal Seed Act and assures clean pure seed, free of undesirable seed.

Seed Health

SoDak Labs is accredited for seed sampling, visual inspection for phytosanitary testing and seed health testing through the National Seed Health System (NSHS) and International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). Viral, fungal, or bacterial pathogens can be screened for in various crops with internationally recognized published methods from NSHS, International Seed Health Initiative (ISHI), and/or ISTA. Common methods for seed health testing include selective media, blotter method, ELISA and PCR based testing.