Interference of ammonia, released from sugar beet seed balls, with laboratory germination tests
1941
Stout, M. | Tolman, B.
Obviously, the requirements of the Official Seed Analysts for soaking sugar beet seed prior to testing should be followed. Further studies should also be made to determine what modifications of practice or specifications as to quantity of water, in proportion to the sample, should be recommended. Until adequate soaking or washing of seed in running water is made a part of the germination procedure, it would seem advisable that the cracking tests be made on all low or questionable samples. If there is any great difference between the germination percentage and the percentage of filled seed balls as shown by the cracking test, the samples should be washed in running water for at least 6 hours, or otherwise treated, and a second series of germination tests run to make sure that water-soluble substances in the seed ball are not a factor inhibiting germination. This does not mean that all seed lots give much higher germination tests in the laboratory as a result of being washed but, where germination tests differ widely from cracking tests, a frequent cause of the discrepancy is removed by thorough washing of the seed before germination tests are started.
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