Seed Testing: History, International Association, and Importance

University of Salahaddin Erbil Agriculture College Field Crop Department Seed Technology - (practical) 4th Stage First semester 2023 - 2024

Outline Seed testing Brief history of Seed testing International seed testing association (ISTA) Seed testing laboratory 1

Seed Testing The science of evaluating the planting value of seeds has been developed to achieve the following objectives for minimizing the risk of planting low quality seeds: 1 To determine their quality that is, their suitability for planting. 2 To identify seed quality problems and their probable cause. 2

3 To determine the need for drying and processing and specific procedure that should be used. 4 To determine if seed meets established quality standard or labeling specifications. 5 To establish quality and provide a basis for price and consumer discrimination among lots in the market. 3

Brief historyof Seed testing Organized seed testing started more than a hundred years ago. The first station established in Thrandt, in Saxony, Germany, in 1869 under the direction Friedrich Nobbe. In 1871, a seed testing laboratory was opened in Copenhagen, Denemark. At the beginning of the twentieth century 1900 about 130 seed testing station were operating in Europe. 4

The following objectives have served as guidelines 1. To provide methods by which the quality of seed samples can be determined accurately. 2. To prescribe methods by which seed analysts working in different laboratories in different countries throughout the world can obtain uniform results. 3. To relate the laboratory results, in so far as is possible, to planting value. 4. To complete the tests within the shortest period of time possible, commensurate with the above mentioned objectives. 5. To perform the tests in the most economical manner. 5

International seed testing association (ISTA) It became obvious that cooperation between seed testing station was imperative for the establishment of common methods of testing that would secure uniformity in evaluation and test results This need ultimately led to the foundation of the international seed testing association in 1924 Permanent secretariat of ISTA is in Norway. It promotes research in all aspects of seed science and technology including, sampling, testing, storing, processing and distribution. 6

Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) of North America, was founded in 1908. The Society of Commercial Seed Technologists (SCST) was organized in 1922. The Commercial Seed Analyst s of Canada (CSAAC). American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). In Iraq, the first seed testing laboratory was established in 1962 at the department of Field Crops-Ministry of Agriculture at Abu-Ghraib (Baghdad). In Kurdistan region the General Directorate of Seed Production and Certification was established in 2010. 7

Purity and moisture analysis section. Germination and viability analysis section. Special tests section and Seed health section. 8