The 2021 wheat crop had a conducive environment for the development of fusarium head blight (head scab) in many areas of Kansas. This disease can reduce germination dramatically in some cases, as well as makes reading and understanding a germination test much more difficult. Having your seed professionally tested for germination is always a good practice, but in this instance, it is highly recommended.
To have an official germination test on the seed, send a two-pound sample to: Kansas Crop Improvement Association, 2000 Kimball Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502.
A germination test will cost $19 and a sample submittal form can be printed off from the KCIA website kscrop.org/seed-lab.html.
Home testing
If producers want to test their seed for germination at home, it needs to be done correctly to be of value. The following detailed procedure is taken (and slightly modified) from K-State Extension publication AF-82, “Seed Germination Test Methods.”
• Place two moistened paper towels (on top of each other) on a flat surface. The towels should not have free water in them.
• Arrange 50 seeds on the towels leaving approximately an inch border around the edges.
• Place two more moistened towels over the seeds.
• Make a half to three-quarter inch fold at the bottom of the four paper towels. This will keep the seed from falling out.
• Starting on one side, loosely roll the paper towels toward the other side (like rolling up a rug) and place a rubber band around the roll(s).
Place the roll in a plastic bag. Seal, but not completely, so as to keep moisture in but still allow some air into the bag.
For newly harvested seed:
• Place the bag upright in the refrigerator for 5 days and then remove and place upright at room temperature for an additional 5 to seven days.
• Remove the sample from the bag and unroll the towels.
• Count and record the number of healthy seedlings (adequate root and shoot development and not overtaken by disease.)
For carryover seed, or after Sept. 1:
• Place the bag upright at room temperature for five to seven days.
• Remove the sample from the bag and unroll the towels.
• Count and record the number of healthy seedlings (adequate root and shoot development and not overtaken by disease).
To calculate the germination percentage: divide the number of healthy seedlings by the number of seed tested and multiply by 100.
Example: 42 healthy seedlings X 100 = 84% germination
This may be repeated more times for each sample in order to obtain more accurate results, testing up to 400 seed.
If you have any questions or want to bring your seed wheat into our Extension Offices for us to send off, we would be glad to do that.
Information provided by Eric Fabrizius, Kansas Crop Improvement Association, Seed Laboratory Manager, 785-532-6118, efkcia@kansas.net.
Stacy Campbell is an agriculture and natural resources agent for Cottonwood Extension District. Email him at scampbel@ksu.edu or call the Hays office, 785-628-9430.
