NARRATIVE REPORT

FIELD CROPS AND CEREAL PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT 1_1_AT-1

OCTOBER 6, 2022
BICOL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
 Testing Seed Viability Using Simple Germination Tests

Introduction and Background

Saving our very own seeds is a competitively priced way to get right of to help keep the planets plat
biodiversity. Whether you plat your own saved seeds, give them away to friends and neighbors, or distribute
them via your organization, knowing the viability of your seeds is important.
Seed viability
We test the viability of the seeds through soaking the seeds in the water for 3 hours, then we choose the
seeds for germination through picking the sunk seeds.
Procedure
The method we use to determine the seed viability is soaking the rice seeds in the water for 3 hrs. First, we
proceed into the Ragdoll method which we put 50 seeds into the moisten tissue paper and rolled it with a
stick. Second, we moisten a folded tissue paper (for petri dish) then put 50 seeds in neat rows in the upper
part of the moistened paper. Lastly, we proceed into the seed box method which we put a moisten soil in the
pot then plant 50 seeds in it.

Figure 1: Rice seeds soaked in water to test viability

Tissue Method
The tissue method, we placed the seeds on top of substrate tissue and rolled it up utilizing a stick (ragdoll
method) while the other one is the seeds placed on top of substrate tissue in container with a fitting lid to
obviate moisture loss. (Petri-dish)
RAGDOLL METHOD
A rolled tube of moistened paper containing the seeds to be tested for germination, placed in
plastic bag and stored in a warm place for 5 days. Seedlings are counted as they germinate and are removed,
giving the percentage of actual germination.
Figure 2: Placing the seeds in tissue paper orderly
We clean, sanitize the table and hands using a sanitizer, we cut the tissue paper, then we pick 50 seeds and
put them orderly in the tissue paper.

Figure 3: Rolling and monitoring seeds in the tissue paper.

We roll the tissue paper that have seeds in the stick and tying up with thin plastic at the end of a rolled tissue
paper.

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Figure 4: Stored in a warm place for 5 days

Figure 5: Germinated seeds after 5 days.

PETRI-DISH METHOD
Provides an excellent medium for germinating seeds. They are pathogen-free and make it easy to
control the moisture content for proper germination. This method also takes the guesswork out of knowing if
seeds have germinated since it can easily observe them.
Figure 6: Folded substrate tissue paper
We put folded substrate tissue paper in aloe vera container and utilizing a tap water to moisten the tissue.

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Figure 7: With sterile hands, fit cut paper towel into petri dish.

Figure 8: The process of placing the seeds in a small container is, first cleaning the container, second is put a
tissue paper in container, third is moistened the tissue paper with water and separately and in order to put
the seeds in the container called the petri dish method.

Figure 9: We use 50 seeds in our experiment, and that all 50 was germinated.

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Figure 10: The containers in our seed germination is we put it in a warm place which is just inside the house.
In fifth day we count and record the germinated seeds. We found out that the germination is clear because
it has no contaminated seeds.

Figure 11: Radicle emergence of amaranth after 5 days; these would be counted as germinated.

Figure 12: Make sure that what is in container is only 1 type of seed, also make sure to put the right amount
of water in it. But in the experiment we did that used the petri dish method, there was no grass that grew
so we didn't have to do what is done in other experiments. In our experiment we only waited 5 days to
count on how many germinated out of 50 seeds we used.
Seed pot method
A seed pot or flat, provides space to grow multiple seedlings in a single container. These shallow boxes
between 10-20 millimeters deep, which provides enough root space for young plants.

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Figure 13: Placing seeds in the seed box method.
Fill the seed boxes within 10-20 millimeters of the top with growing medium of your choice. Once the boxes
are filled, water them thoroughly and let the excess water drain out. When you plant the seeds, the soil should
be moist but not soaking wet. Where ready plant the seeds according to the instructions on the seed packet.
Keep the sand substrate moist during the course of the experiment, but do not over water.

Figure 14: planting seeds in the pot “seed pot method”.

Figure 15: Watering and monitoring seeds in the seed pot method.
Until seeds have sprouted, keep the seed pot moist never allowing it to dry out. Water with a fine spray. Seeds
normally need to be watered at least once per day. And monitor every day to see the seeds are need of water.

Figure 16: We wait 5 days for the germination of the seeds in “seed pot method”.

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Figure 17: germinated seeds after 5 days “seed pot method”

Figure 18: Germination data collection sheet.

Analyzing the Results

Replication Seed Starting Numbe Type of 1 2 3 4 5 Total Germination Mean days

type date r of method germinated rate (%) to 50%
seeds germination
1 Breeder Sep 24 50 Rag 33 5 3 0 0 42 42 1.23
seed doll
2 Breeder Sep 24 50 Petri- 39 5 3 3 0 50 50 1.4
seed dish
3 Breeder Sep 24 50 Seed 40 4 3 2 1 50 50 1.4
seed pot
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5

Ragdoll method
33 seeds germinated on day 1, 5 seeds germinated on day 2, 3 seeds germinated on day 3, 0 seed germinated
on day 4, and 0 seed germinated on day 5, for a total germination of 42 seeds, mean number of days to 50%
germination would be calculated as: (1(33)+2(5)+3(3)+4(0)+5(0)/42=1.23 days.
Germination rate
42/100(100) = 42%

Petri-dish method
39 seeds germinated on day 1, 5 seeds germinated on day 2, 3 seeds germinated on day 3, 3 seeds germinated
on day 4, and 0 seed germinated on day 5, for a total of 50 seeds, mean number of days to 50% germination
would be calculated as: (1(39)+2(5)+3(3)+4(3)+5(0)/50=1.4 days.
Germination rate
50/100(100) = 50%
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Seed pot method
40 seeds germinated on day 1, 4 seeds germinated on day 2, 3 seeds germinated on day 3, 2 seeds germinated
on day 4, and 1 seed germinated on day 5, for a total of 50 seeds, mean number of days to 50% germination
would be calculated as: (1(40)+2(4)+3(3)+4(2)+5(1)/50=1.4 days.
Germination rate
50/100(100) = 50%

Conclusion
Knowing the viability of seeds is important. We test the viability through soaking the seeds in the water for 3
hours, then we choose the seeds for germination through picking the sunk seeds. Germinated seeds are
counted as they germinate and are removed, giving the percentage of actual germination. Tissue paper is an
excellent medium for germinating seeds. They are pathogen-free and make it easy to control the moisture
content for proper germination. This method also takes the guesswork out of knowing if seeds have
germinated since it can easily observe them. In our experiment we waited 5 days to count on how many
germinated out of 50 seeds we used. A seed pot or flat, provides space to grow multiple seedlings in a single
container. These shallow boxes are between 10-20 millimeters deep, which provides enough root space for
young plants. The total number of germination rate of ragdoll method is 42%, the petri dish method is 50%.
The mean days germination of ragdoll is 1.23 days, the petri dish is 1.4 days and in the seed pot is 1.4 days.
The total germinated seeds in ragdoll is 42 while in petri dish was 50 and also the seed pot was 50 germinated
seeds.

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THANK YOU!
RIA MAE GURAY
LYKA LOMA
AL FRANCIS GRANADO
ERIKA MAE FABIE