X-Ray Good For Routine Tests of Seed Viability

Forest tree seed has been analyzed by X-ray for a long time, mainly for research (9). Now the greater availability of X-ray facilities and increased demand for tree seed make their use in routine quick-tests practical (7). The method is fast, simple, and can be standardized. It is suited to mass-handling of many kinds of seed, including small, hard, or other special seed. Since the method is nondestructive, large samples can be used to improve test accuracy without wasting seed. These benefits justify exploring every means of increasing test reliability. Currently the method resembles cutting tests for detecting physical damage in wormy, withered, or aborted seed and fruit (4, 8). A major problem of both X-rays and cutting tests is the uncertainty in relating soundness (percent of filled seed) 'to viability (percent of germination). This problem can be minimized by a stratification pretreatment, but because of variability among seed lots there is no general agreement (10). Therefore, specifying both pretreatment and germination conditions is important in testing seed quality.

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Author(s): Frank J. Baron

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 18, Number 1 (1967)

Volume: 18

Number: 1