Seed quality testing is the process of determining the standards of a seed namely, physical purity, moisture content, germination and other distinguishable variety, which enables farmers to get high quality seeds. The first seed lab in the world was established in Germany in the year 1869. In India the first seed testing laboratory was established in 1961.

Seed testing was developed to aid the farming community to avoid some of the dangers of crop production by providing the needed data about different quality attributes like germination, purity, moisture, health and vigor. Seed testing evaluates the planting value and the authenticity of the certified lot. The testing is performed on sample seeds from a lot and is minute in comparison to the lab.

Objectives of Seed Testing :-

• To identify the problem in seed quality and its cause
• To ascertain the seed’s suitability for planting
• To determine the need for drying, storage and further processes
• To deduce if the seed meets the acceptable standards

Methods of Seed Testing :-

• Warm Germination Test:-This test is used to determine the percentage of seeds, in a given lot, that are able to germinate into a plant under optimal conditions simulated in a laboratory setting.
• Sand Germination Test:-Sand Germination Test is an alternative to the warm germination test. It is used to provide additional information for seeds that may have encountered mechanical problems during threshing or has pathogen problems.
• Cold Test:-Cold test is duplication on a laboratory scale of cold, wet conditions frequently encountered in the field after planting and prior to emergence of, mainly, corn. It measures the ability of seed corn to survive and emerge under adverse field conditions.
• Saturated Cold Test:-This test is used to further differentiate the quality levels of the seed lots, especially lots of questionable quality. This test is conducted under more stressful condition that the cold test.
• Physical and Varietal Purity Test:-Physical analysis is used to determine the proportion of the sample is pure crop and what proportion is weed, inert matter and other crop. Varietal purity test is a visual test used to ascertain if any seeds of a different variety have been unconsciously mixed with the sample variety being tested.
• Accelerated Aging:-The accelerated aging test is used to deduce the prospective field emergence of the seed lot and to calculate the storability, viability and longevity of the seeds.
• Tetrazolium test:-This test identifies the crucial problems related to mechanical damage, pest, freezing, heat, disease and other conditions by using Tetrazolium chloride. This test is mainly performed on soybean, sorghum, barley, wheat, corn and oats. It can determine the cause and percentage of damage in the sample seed.

We, at the Gubba Seed Lab, are committed to precision and excellence in seed testing services. Gubba Seed Lab maintains ISO quality standards for seed quality testing. Our mission is to improve the quality of the seed lots for better seed trade.