Tetrazolium testing referee results
Southwest Region 4
2016
by Michael Aberle RST
Ransom Seed Laboratory
Tetrazolium testing referee results
2016
• 40 participants
• 30 laboratories
• 35% of the respondents were from the West
coast region 4
• 20 photographs
• 8 plant families
1. BLUE FLAX Linum lewisii
Linaceae
98% viable
Respondents that answered viable:
• Concern that the radicle was
damaged
2. BLUE FLAX Linum lewisii
Linaceae
100% non-viable
3. BLUE FLAX Linum lewisii
Linaceae
98% non-viable
Respondents that answered viable:
• Concern that a membrane
covered the unstained parts
4. CACTUS
Cactaceae
100% non-viable
5. CACTUS
Cactaceae
95% viable
Respondents that answered nonviable:
• Concern that there was a crack in
the embryo
6. Flowering kale
52% viable
Respondents that answered nonviable:
• Concern that necrosis reached
the juncture of the cotyledons
and the embryo axis
Brassica oleracea
Brassicaceae
7. Flowering kale Brassica oleracea
Brassicaceae
90% viable
Respondents that answered nonviable:
• Concern that the radicle was
broken
• Concern that there was
insufficient staining
8. Flowering kale Brassica oleracea
Brassicaceae
87% non-viable
Respondents that answered viable:
• Concern that the necrosis is only
superficial
• Embryo axis is not damaged
• Non-essential areas unstained
9. Flowering kale Brassica oleracea
Brassicaceae
100% non-viable
10. LOVAGE Levisticum officinale
Apiaceae
82% non-viable
Respondents that answered viable:
• Concern that embryo might have
a light stain
• Could be dormant as in
AOSA/SCST TZ Handbook where
there is the case of an unstained
embryo with stained endosperm
11. LOVAGE Levisticum officinale
Apiaceae
100% viable
12. NASTURTIUM Tropaeolum majus
Tropaeolaceae
95% non-viable
Respondents that answered viable:
• Concern that the embryo stained
lightly
13. NASTURTIUM Tropaeolum majus
Tropaeolaceae
65% non-viable
Respondents that answered viable:
• Could not relate the image to the
example given in the AOSA/SCST
TZ Handbook
• Unstained areas are minor
14. OREGANO Origanum vulgare
Lamiaceae
98% non-viable
Respondents that answered viable:
• Saw uniform stain
15. OREGANO Origanum vulgare
100% viable
Lamiaceae
16. Phormium sp.
Xanthorrhoeaceae
[Agavaceae]
100% viable
17. Phormium sp.
Xanthorrhoeaceae
[Agavaceae]
98% non-viable
Respondents that answered viable:
• Saw more than half the embryo
stained
18. Phormium sp.
Xanthorrhoeaceae
[Agavaceae]
95% viable
Respondents that answered nonviable:
• Concerned that the endosperm
was unstained (light reflecting off
the seed made it look unstained)
19. SUNFLOWER Helianthus annuus
Asteraceae
90% non-viable
Respondents that answered viable:
• Concern that the damage at the
root tip was minimal
• More than half the embryo
stained
• In the AOSA/SCST TZ Handbook
slight damage to the root tip is
acceptable
20. SUNFLOWER Helianthus annuus
Asteraceae
90% viable
Respondents that answered nonviable:
• Concern over the dark spots on
the radicle
• Unstained cotyledon
21. SUNFLOWER Helianthus annuus
Asteraceae
100% non-viable
22. SUNFLOWER Helianthus annuus
Asteraceae
100% non-viable