Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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Why Seeds
are Tested,
and When
Seed testing is the science of evaluating the quality of seeds to determine their value for planting. Though
initially developed for ield and garden seeds, seed testing is equally valuable for determining the seed qual-
ity of turf, lowers, herbs, shrubs, trees and native species.
The term “seed quality” is loosely used to relect the overall value of seed for planting; thus the role
of seed as the basic unit of reproduction makes viability perhaps the most widely recognized aspect of seed
quality. Information about the physical purity is probably the second most important factor for which seeds
are tested. This refers to freedom from inert matter as well as seed of weeds or other crops. Other aspects
of quality include vigor, freedom from seedborne diseases, contamination by noxious weeds, moisture con-
tent, and varietal or genetic identity and purity.
History of Seed Testing
Although the agricultural use of seeds pre-dates historical records, the art and science of seed testing
has only developed in the last century or so. The irst seed testing laboratory was established in Saxony,
Germany in 1869, and the irst one in America was at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in
1876. The irst one in Canada was established in 1902 in Ottawa. Today, oficial seed testing laboratories
are found in most U.S. states and nearly every country in the world. In addition, there are many privately
operated commercial laboratories in North America and throughout the world.
role of Modern Seed Testing in Consumer Protection and Government regulations
A strong well-developed seed industry is one in which a free merchandising climate exists with sophisti-
cated state-of-the-art packaging and promotional techniques. Modern seed marketing methods have become
rather complex and seed is often retailed from marketing outlets far removed from where it was produced.
The increased importance of consumer protection is in sharp contrast to the conditions which existed in
early village markets where the concept of
caveat emptor
or “let the buyer beware” developed. No govern-
ment consumer protection existed, so customers had to carefully examine the merchandise before purchas-
ing to determine whether they were truly receiving fair value for the price.
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