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07: OSU vigor test: Principles, procedures, and predictive ability

A vigor test has been developed at Oregon State University to assess the quality of planting stock. The basic premise is that seedlings are exposed to considerable stress during outplanting and first-year establishment and that these stresses can be lethal to weaker, damaged, or less vigorous lots. In the OSU vigor test, seedlings are exposed to artificial stress and then placed in a controlled environment and monitored. If they are unaffected by this treatment and survive and grow well after potting, they are concluded to be vigorous and healthy and to have a high potential for field survival and growth. If. however, they die, they are judged to be of poor quality with a low potential for field performance. Preliminary results from two recent studies indicate that there is a highly significant correlation between field performance and growth-room survival.


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Author(s): Douglas D. McCreary, Mary L. Duryea

Publication: Evaluating Seedling Quality: Principles, Procedures, and Predictive Abilities of Major Tests