b'powerful pieces of information growers need in order to eventually plant their seed with confidence. A germination test determines what percentage of seeds germinate. A higher percentage of seeds must germinate in order for pedigreed seed to be sold with the blue tag of certification. A disease test is needed to determine extent of disease presence, as most diseases will result in some loss of seed viability. A vigour test, the most important in Fosters view, will tell you how robust your seed is and how well it will sustain its viability during storageSarah Foster, president and senior seed analyst at 20/20 Seed Labs in Nisku, Alta., says seed testing isan indication of how it will performimportant because it can dispel incorrect beliefs and prevent poor decisions resulting from these beliefs. in the spring, which is particularlyPHOTO: 20/20 SEED LABSimportant if its looking like youll have to seed it into cold and stressfuland if this happens in cereals, you cancomfort level for vigour for farmers. conditions. get tillering, which is good for yield but20/20 Seed Labs is now using a With disease testing, Gelech sayscan cause variability in maturity. thermogradient table, a device that can growers generally have preferences ofWebb agrees. He says this year infind the sweet spot for seed to germinate which fungi to test for depending onsouthern Alberta where the weather hasunder various temperatures. Foster says their geographical area, but they tend tobeen really dry, checking 1000-kernelits been very successful.either want one fungal species or a fullweights is particularly important as seedThis year, SGS Biovision went fungal scan. Full scans are becoming thesize will be low and vigour also mightthrough the audits and documentation norm, she says.be a concern. In the north, where thissubmission to receive accreditation Many farmers are also asking for ayear there has been so much rain andfrom the International Seed Testing 1000-kernel weight test in the springmaturity levels are all over the place,Association. This allows the company on their cleaned samples, she adds.he says smut levels in barley will beto test seed for export, and Gelech says Farmers are truly grasping that notimportant to test, as well as all the fungalshe and her colleagues are working with only germination and disease matter.diseases in peas.association staff to investigate which Seed size matters, because if you dontnew tests that are currently being used in know your 1000-kernel weight, youNew Tests and Whats to Come other countries make sense for use in the will overplant, causing competition forSeed Check Technologies now offersCanadian Prairies.nutrients and moisture. You also donta radical emergence test for cereals, Treena Heinobviously want to plant too little seed.which measures vigour. They keep For pulses, if the stand is inadequate, theadding more crop kinds to this test, SEC_WEB17_ABSG_SEC_WEB16_ABSG.qxd2017-10-156:03 PMPage 1weed population has less competition,Webb notes, and it provides a better SEC_WEB17 Publication: Alberta Seed Guide Size:7.125 x 3.25GGeenneessoonnlliinneeProduced by: SeCan Ad Number:Product/Campaign Name: WebDate Produced: October 2017 For genes that fit your farm , visit secan.comGenes that fit your farmis a registered trademark of SeCan.SEC_WEB17Fall 2019 29'