Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
1978 - AOSA published the “Uniform Blowing Procedure.” It was most recently revised in 2010.
1983 - AOSA published the “Seed Vigor Testing Handbook,” which provided detailed vigor test proce-
dures for six tests and described the importance of seed vigor testing.
1991 - AOSA published the “Cultivar Purity Testing Handbook,” which compiled current cultivar purity
tests into one reference with photographs depicting differences among cultivars (McDonald, 1991).
It was revised in 2008.
1992 - AOSA published the “Seedling Evaluation Handbook,” which provided detailed descriptions and
drawings of normal and abnormal seedlings and became an oficially recognized component of the
Rules. It has been revised numerous time since and is now part of the AOSA Rules (AOSA, 2010).
1992 - AOSA published the “Seed Analyst Training Manual.”
2000 - AOSA published the “Tetrazolium Testing Handbook” (Peters, 2000). This publication was revised
in 2010.
2001 - SCST published the “Seed Technologist Training Manual” (McDonald et al., 2001).
2007 - AOSA published the “Seed Moisture Determination: Principles and Procedures Handbook,”
Contribution No. 40 (Elias et al., 2007).
2009 - AOSA published a new “Seed Vigor Testing Handbook” (Baalbaki et al., 2009).
Changing Times
Since about 1950, seed testing has made great advancements as a science, with special emphasis on new
developments having a solid research basis. These advancements are in part due to a generation of seed sci-
entists with an interest and enthusiasm for seed technology and a respect for past accomplishments, along
with excellent background and training in basic supporting sciences. They also relect changes in testing
methods necessitated by advances in plant breeding and the subsequent varietal explosion. Perhaps most
importantly, they relect increased expectations and demands by a modern seed industry with increasing
sophistication in techniques of quality control, packaging and promotion.
Though purity and germination testing remains the cornerstone of seed testing, modern seed labora-
tories are able to offer much more to their customers. Vigor testing has developed to the point where it has
become a routine test. The art of tetrazolium testing has developed from its infancy at mid-twentieth century
to become a highly useful and respected test for providing routine labeling information. Pathological test-
ing is showing signs of developing its full potential, and many laboratories are already providing routine
analysis for seedborne diseases, especially for seed lots moving in international commerce. Considerable
advancements have been made in development of equipment and mechanization that are having an impact
on routine seed analysis, particularly purity testing. Finally, the development of a new generation of varietal
identiication testing techniques has come about, necessitated by the revolution in biotechnology and the
presence of genetically modiied seeds (GMS). These new tests range from rather simple ones for Roundup-
Ready soybeans to more sophisticated DNA genetic ingerprinting tests that can be used to monitor genetic
purity with much greater accuracy than has been possible in the past. With the increasing explosion of new
varieties and the consequent need for truth-in-labeling and quality control, veriication of variety and tests
for genetic purity are becoming even more solidly entrenched than ever as important functions in modern
seed testing laboratories.
Selected references
Adams, C.E. 1957. What's wrong with the seed testing? Southern Seedsman 20(6):19, 38-42.
Adams, C.E. 1957. The value of seed tests vs. the cost of seed testing. Assoc. Ofic. Seed Analysts News
Letter 31(2):5-10.
Andersen, A.M., and C.M. Leach. 1961. Testing seeds for seedborne organisms. p. 453-457.
In
A. Stefferud
(ed.) Seeds: The yearbook of agriculture. U.S. Gov. Print. Ofice, Washington, DC.
