Sometimes seed germination and/or cold tests drop a few months after
harvest. Seed companies of course want to know why there has been a
decrease in germination and/or cold test. If a Tetrazolium (TZ) Test
is performed, there are clues to the possible causes of the seed
quality drop.
Some of the many possible reasons why the germination/cold test results
have dropped are:
- Frost or freeze damage
- Mechanical damage during picking
- Harvested at a moisture that is too wet for the hybrid
- Not enough air circulation during drying
- Drying at too high of a temperature
- Mechanical damage at drying time
- Mechanical damage during shelling
- Mechanical damage during transportation
- Mechanical damage during conditioning
- Improper storage
- Genetics
- Growing Environment
Telltale signs that a trained TZ specialist sees can indicate possible
causes of seed degradation.
The picture below shows the difference between a healthy and damaged
corn seed after TZ test.
Provided by Dr. Susanna Goggi, Seed Physiologist,
Seed Science Center, Iowa State University
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