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.

Figure 2: Rice seeds soaked in dihydrogen monoxide 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)

Figure 3: Folded substrate tissue paper

With an immaculate sanitized hands, we put folded substrate tissue paper in aloe vera container and utilizing
a tap dihydrogen monoxide to moisten the tissue.
Figure 4:
With sterile hands, fit cut paper towel into petri dish.

Figure 5:
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 6:
We use 50 seeds in our experiment, and that all 50 was germinated.
Figure 7:
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 8:
Radicle emergence of amaranth after 5 days; these would be counted as germinated.

Figure 9:
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.
Seedbox method

A seedbox 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

Figure 10:
Placing seeds in the seedbox 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 11:
Watering and monitoring seeds in the seedbox method.

Until seeds have sprouted, keep the seedbox 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 12:

Analyzing the Results

Use the sample data collection sheet (Figure 12) to count and record germinated seeds over the course
of your test. Record the total number of seeds you started with for each replicate. Also record the
number of germinated seeds and the number of seeds removed from the test due to contamination or
decay.

Days after beginning

the test
replacatio See Startin Numbe 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total Germanatio Mean days
n d g date r of germinate n rate (%) to 50%
type seeds d germanatio
n
Figure 12: Sample germination data collection sheet with example data in red.
Percent total germination is a measure of the overall viability of an accession of seeds, and can
approximate the number of seeds that will grow into plants when you plant them. At the end of the
experiment, add the number of seeds that germinated each day of the trial, divide that sum by the total
number of seeds that began the test, and multiply by 100 to calculate the parameter of percentage total
germination.

Conclusion
Testing the viability of seeds by conducting a seed germination test, It is important to do the germination test
well in advance of the planting season. If a grower has already planted and is not happy with the stand, a
germination test on some of the left over seeds may help to determine the problem.