Services:
We mainly conduct the following tests:
Germination:
A seed is a living thing. It has a certain life which depends upon many factors. Most common are growing conditions, storage conditions handling & cleaning. The germination capacity of a particular seed lot will be adversely affected if the above situations are unfavorable and unsuitable.
We recommend a seed lot should be tested before cleaning and after cleaning to avoid any disaster. In general treated seed and oil crop seed looses germination faster than others. Carry over seed lots must be tested or re-tested to ensure the germination capacity.
Seed Vigor:
This test is becoming more common to compare the germination capacity with seed vigor capacity. Our vigor tests are done in a compacted soil under cold conditions to stress the seedlings. The seed lot with higher vigor generally copes with the adverse stress conditions and germinates faster and looks even than comparatively a low vigor seed lot. The vigor test unlike germination tests are not standardized by CFIA.
The vigor results are expressed in percentage and can be compared with germination capacity for making a decision for long term storage, seeding or adjusting the seeding rate.
In our opinion a Vigor test is recommended under following situations:
Carryover seed lot
Seed produced under stress /unfavorable conditions
Specialty and high value crops (pulses)
Pedigreed seeds Small seeded crops (flax, canola, canary grass)
Treated seeds
Seed Purity:
This test is conducted to find out any foreign materials in a given seed lot (other crop, weed seeds, Ergot/Sclerotia). This is not a test for varietal identification.
Seed Disease:
Due to intensive farming and introduction of specialty crops, determination of disease before making a decision for seed treatments and seeding is becoming a matter of economic importance. We recommend doing a complete disease tests in case the growing conditions are unfavorable and there is an outbreak of disease.
Clearfield Confirm Tests (Lentils)
This test is done to confirm that the particular seed lot is resistant to IMAZAMOX in a normal situation to avoid any disaster and crop insurance hassles. This test is required by BASF for all commercial and pedigreed seed used for the seed prior to seeding.
1000 Kernels and Bushel Weight:
These tests are required to calculate the seeding rate in conjunction with germination and vigor. Depending upon seed weight and proper calculation we can save a lot of seed maintaining proper plant density in the field (No guessing).
APHIS (PPQ 925):
This test is required for grain and seed export to USA. The USA customs will not allow the consignment to cross the border without PPQ certificates. Please send 1200 grams of sample for cereals/pulses and 250 grams of flax/mustard/canola along with a Sample Declaration Form for PPQ.
Download the Declaration of Sampler Form (120kb)
