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Germination (%)
dried to around 15% eRH. Take 6 seeds to determine the moisture content after desiccation.
• Non-optimal germination
• The container holding the moist-stored control seeds should be opened every 1-3 days to allow aeration. moist-
conditions
Remove the control sample from moist storage, at the same time as terminating the desiccated sample. If seeds are thought to be stored
Determine eRH and take 6 seeds to determine moisture content of the control sample, as above. 60
dormant, use an appropriate
• Carry out germination tests on two samples of 13 seeds from both the desiccated sample and the moist- dormancy breaking treatment dried
stored control sample. such as warm/cold stratification
or mechanical scarification. 40
• Plot germination progress curves (% germination x incubation period) for initial germination of fresh Also ensure that appropriate
seeds, germination after desiccation and germination after moist storage (see graphs, right). Note that environmental cues are applied,
this method will distinguish between desiccation tolerant and desiccation sensitive species, but will not including alternating temperatures,
determine species classed as Intermediate. light, nitrate or smoke treatment. 20
Carry out a cut-test (see Technical
Information Sheet_14) on any
100 seeds ungerminated seeds at the end of
0
the germination test. Fresh, firm
seeds are more likely to be dormant Time
than desiccation sensitive. Carry
out a tetrazolium viability test to
Initial moisture Initial germination identify dormant seeds (see box
content: Initial below).
test:
10 seeds eRH
26 (2 x 13) seeds
Tetrazolium viability test
(b)
(ISTA, 2007) 100
This test is used to determine
whether an ungerminated or fresh
partially germinated seed is still
Moist-stored control: Desiccation: 80
Germination (%)
alive (viable) or is dead.
32 seeds 32 seeds • Allow a seed sample to moist-
imbibe, leaving the seeds
overnight at 20ºC in a petri dish 60 stored
over a water bath for example,
then carefully dissect each seed
eRH eRH to expose the embryo.
40
• Immerse the seeds in 1%
buffered triphenyl tetrazolium
chloride (TTC or TZ) solution in dried
the dark for 1-2 days. 20
Moisture Moisture
• Cut the seeds and examine by
content: Germination Germination content: eye or using a microscope. 0
6 seeds test: test: 6 seeds • Living tissue will stain various
26 (2 x 13) 26 (2 x 13) shades of red, due to the action Time
of dehydrogenase enzymes,
seeds seeds whilst dead material remains
unstained.