Seed Quality & Packaging

By Shantibaba

Many people think seed packaging is colourful, gimmicky and intended for marketing a seed strain from a specific company only!

In recent years and with the increase cross section of the population all lining up asking for medical seed, there is an increased importance for all companies to abide by a set of standardized rules that protect the growers and farmers who buy seed.

A lot of mails/letters have arrived over the years asking me to deal with the problem of storing seed and how seed packaging influences the shelf life of the contents. So in recent times I have been reading quite some articles related to the grain and vegetable seed world; their ideas behind why they choose certain materials for packaging and how the influences that prey on seed should be dealt with.

Considering Cannabis seed is very much part of agriculture and its applications and storage as well as its testing (which is something missing to this date), there are strong parallels drawn from the vegetable, seed and sprout industry.

Across the sprout, vegetable and grain industry it is unanimous that seed storage and how the seed is packed can and does have a huge impact on the seed ultimately used as a food source, fodder or genetic storage unit for the future. So it is a major influence on the health of the dormant embryo inside the shell and therefore it is imperative that certain guidelines are adhered to.

Throughout the world farmers and growers have clear demands of the seeds they sow and purchase. First they want the species and variety to be consistent with what they believe they have bought. Secondly they want that seed to achieve uniform and successful establishment of a weed free crop that will develop well and harvest without harmful diseases from seed- borne infections.

WHAT IS SEED QUALITY AND HOW TO MEASURE IT?

Variety Testing

There are two aspects to variety testing. The first is to ensure that a sample is the required species or variety and the second to ensure the purity of the variety, that is, that the variety is not contaminated by the seed of other varieties. The Morphological methods; where the charac- teristics of the seeds may be compared for example, differences in seed colour my reveal that varieties have been mixed. Alternatively the char- acteristics of seedlings may be observed in the laboratory or in the field, or other plant or fruit characteristics may be observed in the field.

More modern methods of variety testing can involve a range of bio- chemical and molecular techniques.

Analytical Purity

The analysis of the analytical purity of the seed exam- ines the extent to which a seed sample is contaminat- ed with other seeds (weeds and other crops) and other plant and inert material. It therefore reveals the extent to which the seed that a farmer buys is actual- ly the desired seed.

Germination   Tests The aim of a germination test is to provide ideal con- ditions for germination so that the maximum poten- tial of the seed is revealed. The ideal conditions for germination of different

species may differ in terms of the substrate, temperature and time. The substrate for germination may be sand, an organic medium, on top of paper or between papers. Temperatures for germination are either constant or alternating, where one temperature is applied for a spec- ified length of time, followed by another temperature for the rest of a 24-hour period. Finally the time allowed for germination in agricultural and vegetable species can range from as short as five days for jute (Cochorus olito- rius and C. sativum) to as long as 35 days for Tetragonia tetragonoides (New Zealand spinach).

Another characteristic of seed to be considered in a germination test is seed dormancy. In many plant species the presence of dormancy means that the viable seeds will not germinate even when the ideal conditions are present unless they have received a specific environmental cue. This evolutionary trait is a survival strategy which

ensures that seed will only germinate when the environ- mental conditions are suitable for seedling growth and plant establishment and also spreads the germination over a period of time.

The requirements for a germination test, the pre-treat- ments necessary to break the dormancy of many species have also been identified. Treatments to break physiolog- ical dormancy include dry storage, which usually applies to species that have a short period of dormancy; moist pre-chilling, usually at temperatures of 5-10oC for agri- cultural and vegetable seed and 1-5oC for tree seeds; pre-heating; light; and potassium nitrate or gibberellic acid provided during germination. Physical dormancy arises due to a hard seed coat that prevents the uptake of water at the beginning of germination. This so called ‘hard-seededness’ can be broken by soaking in water for 24-48 hours, mechanical scarification or acid scarifica- tion.

Dormancy is not often seen in many crops, having been selected out by the act of cultivation over thousands of years. There can be problems however in years when the weather causes problems during harvest or in species brought into cultivation more recently.

At the end of a germination test, a seed is said to have germinated successfully if it has developed to the stage where the appearance of the seedling indicates whether or not it is able to produce a satisfactory plant in favourable field conditions. Such a seedling is described as a normal seedling. If a normal seedling is not produced, the seedling is described as abnormal and would

not be expected to produce a plant in the field. The result of a germination test is reported as a percentage of normal seedlings, abnormal seedlings, hard (unimbibed), fresh (i.e. moist but firm) and dead seeds.

Tetrazolium Tests

The tetrazolium test is a biochemical test that provides a rapid assessment of the viability of the seed by assessing the degree to which the tissue of the embryo of the seed is living by using a stain.

Vigour Tests

Germination tests are the primary assessment of the ability of seed to germinate and emerge in the field. However, although the results of the standard germina- tion test give a good correlation between germination and field emergence in favourable conditions, germina- tion can fail to indicate the ability of a seed lot to estab- lish a crop in poor field conditions, for example, cold, wet soils. There have been instances described in a wide range of species where seed lots having equally high laboratory germinations show wide differences in field emergence.

This failure of the germination test to predict differences in field emergence, particularly in poor field conditions, suggested that there is a further physiological aspect to seed quality, which has come to be referred to as seed vigour. Seed lots having high germination, but poor emergence are referred to as low-vigour seeds, where- as those giving good emergence are termed high-vigour seeds. Vigor is also reflected in the rate of germination and seedling growth, in both favourable and unfavourable conditions for germination and emer- gence. Low-vigour seeds germinate slowly over a long period of time to produce a range of seedling sizes, whereas high vigour seeds germinate rapidly and syn- chronously to produce large and uniform seedlings. Furthermore, high vigour seeds have good storage potential while low vigour seeds lose the ability to ger- minate more rapidly during the storage period.

The results of a vigour test give a farmer more information about the potential of a seed to perform in a range of soil conditions; seed company information for managing its seed stocks, both in store and in marketing; a seed producer guidance regarding where seed quality may be reduced and how this can be minimized.

Seed Health Tests

Seed health tests to detect whether seeds are contami- nated with or infected by a plant pathogen are impor- tant for a number of reasons. The presence of seed- borne inoculums may cause disease within a crop giving an opportunity for very rapid spread of disease, may introduce a new disease into new regions or countries and may reduce the germination of seeds by reducing the percentage of normal seedlings produced. In addi- tion, the results of testing can indicate the need for seed treatments.

The term “seed health” includes the incidence in the seed lot of fungi, bacteria, viruses, and animal pests such as nematodes and insects.

Seed Moisture Content

The moisture con- tent (MC) of the seed is an additional characteristic that does not have an immediate, direct effect on quality, but is highly important.

Tests of seed MC fulfil three main purposes.

Firstly to prepare the seed for long- and short-term stor- age, secondly, the seed MC will influence the price paid for a weight of seed and thirdly the MC will determine the response of seeds to dormancy breaking techniques and vigour tests. The most significant effect of MC is on the rate of seed aging and hence the rate of decline in seed quality dur- ing storage. Thus, as the seed MC increases, the rate of aging also increases. As a rough guide, suggestions that an increase in seed MC of 1% will double the rate at

which germination declines! During storage the MC of the seed moves into equilibrium with the relative humidity (RH) of the store, therefore the RH during stor- age has a crucial effect on the MC and seed aging. In addition the storage temperature affects the rate of aging, with an increase of 5o C doubling the rate of aging . The impact of MC and temperature on seed quality are therefore of particular significance in tropical countries where ambient conditions will tend to lead to rapid loss in seed quality.

An increase in the storage RH not only leads to more rapid seed aging, but the activity of saprophytic fungi, insects and mites also increases as the RH and seed MC increase.

Uniformity in Seed Testing

Having a standardized test or series of tests in place will only aid all those who use produce or sell seed. If the same tests are recognized by the buyer of seed and asked for before purchase it will make seed producers and resellers be aware that inferior seed in the market place will be found out and reputation will be at stake.

Concluding Comments

Seed quality is the sum of multiple components. The most important of these are species and cultivar purity, analytical purity and germination, while other significant components of seed quality are seed vigour, seed health and moisture content. Assessments of seed quality are possible through field tests and a range of laboratory tests to ensure the reliability and uniformity of test results from different laboratories. The completion of such tests provides information about a seed lot that is useful to the seed producer, the seed company and the farmer, to guide decisions during seed production, marketing and storage with the ultimate aim of achieving successful and efficient crop production.

SEED PACKAGING:

What aspects to look out for to tell if the company is looking out for you the grower.

Seed companies who are serious about selling good quality seeds that pass all the tests for storage and longevity in shelf life do not expose the seeds to sunlight.

In other words seeds that are stored in unbreakable vessels within humidity controls, out of direct sunlight and sealed in temperature controlled material will be far likely to have better germination levels and seed vigour. The companies who expose their seeds to direct sunlight or allow the seeds to be seen in pack- ets will be more prone to lower germination levels even when the seed is produced fresh and stored well before being packed.

Generally seed should have a 2-5 year shelf life from the time of production if all goes accord- ingly and if stored in cool shaded areas. It is important to be able to see this date the seed is made or packed as it is a prerequisite for all other industries to show a use by date for products.

If Cannabis seed is to follow the rules set by the seed industry it must comply with certain basic requirements for a grower to know before purchasing.

Seed can be stored in a freezer and in an air tight contained to disallow humidity to infiltrate it…but it is advisable to only store seed in a freezer one time then in a fridge after that if the seed is still unused.So buyer beware of any companies who have seed visible and hanging in shops without a batch number (that can be checked for a date) or a date packed printed on the back…especially in hotter climate countries.

It is possible you are buying old seed stock (if no date is printed on it) as well as the possibility of buying dead seed since it may have been exposed to sunlight and heat inside the shop while it awaits the buyer. Seed packets should be kept in a cool environment with low humidity and it is advisable to keep sealed in a fridge if not in use. Sealed or resealable packaging is idea if you intend to use half a packet and store the other half.

Seed needs to be kept in sealed packets to avoid contamination from air borne pathogens.

It is difficult to argue with a com- pany if the seed is sold in sealed units and vacuum sealed in an alu- minium foil zip lock just as the vegetable seed is sold in supermar- kets. To claim a company made an error in seed storage and packag- ing can only be justified if the company does not vacuum seal the seed and keep it out of visibility to the sun.

Other important aspects of seed packaging to consider are indirect sunlight, heat extremities, temperatures, relative humidity, chemicals, X-rays, irradiation exposure, rollers in post office sorting points, time in transit, length of time held in stock, age at the time of planting.

Many take for granted that seed will germinate no matter what, but all these facets will cause disturbing influences on the percentage germination and type of plant that will grow from compromised seed.

There are so many aspects to take into consideration in the seed industry and behind the scenes. A fancy and colourful seed packet may be a perfect distraction to the real point of purchase. But in the end `the proof is in the seed’ and once the grower decides to germinate the seed the answers will follow.

It is therefore a big responsibility for a seed company to do testing and hygienic seed production and packaging to maintain the integrity of their product, and the time it can be used with success. The onus for the grower is to do their best to educate themselves on what constitutes a good seed company who will support their own products all the way through to harvest!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Posts

This menu shows the most recently posted content for a quick update since you last checked-in.

How to Sober Up from Being High?

Cannabis consumption brings different effects, depending on the person’s level of smoking tolerance. After an extreme euphoric effect, what comes...

From the Family Vault of Shanti-Baba

"Seems more than strange to grow up as a child and see how important my parents and their peers viewed...

Why Get Pines Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass might just be a typical plant growing in your backyard, but few people know that it has a lot...

How to Make Your Own Canna-Caps

by Old Hippie BeyondChronic.com What do you do when you need cannabis medicine and you can’t or don’t want to...

Database Search

Are you researching marijuana as medicine? Use the simple form below to search any condition. Read personal stories from patients just...

Cannabinoid Receptors in the Body and Their Importance

David B. Allen M.D. By legal Democratic Vote; Cannabis Is Medicine To get CBD from top verified sources, click here....

The True Origins of Haze

By Big Herb It all began in 1969, In Santa Cruz, California. At the time, there was Thai Oaxacan and...

Top 5 Health Benefits of Hemp Seeds

Hemp seeds are those seeds that are formed from Cannabis Sativa, a hemp plant. They are different from marijuana but...

Cannabis and Working Out

If you're wondering how cannabis can help you with your workout regime, then you probably need to read this article....

How Companies Are Creating Innovative New CBD Products

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis and hemp that may deliver unique health benefits. CBD is just...

5 Marijuana Compounds That Could Help Combat Cancer, Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s

by Paul Armentano Deputy Director of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) This commentary was initially...

Living with Osteogenesis Imperfecta

By Michael Morrow My name is Michael Morrow, I'm 37  years  old and I have Osteogenesis Imperfecta. OI is a...

Gifts from Mother Nature

By Dianna Donnelly - "The couch activist” Aspirin, otherwise known as Acetylsalicylic Acid, is one of the most commonly ingested preventative medicines...

Paradise Seeds Allkush; More Than Just Kush

One of the new feminised strains from Paradise Seeds is named “Allkush”. So nothing but Kush? Taken genetically literally, no...

28ft… The John Berfelo Story

By John Berfelo "Medical marijuana saved me from a life on pharmaceutical drugs..." My name is John Berfelo and this...

My Grinspoon Moment

By Carl Hedberg Sometimes a single meeting can change your life. Such was the case for me when, in the...

The Science Behind Cannabis Safety

David B. Allen M.D. By legal Democratic Vote; Cannabis Is Medicine. Drug safety is on the minds of most all...

Heavenly Hash: The Art, Science and Industry of Cooking with Cannabis Extracts

by Samuel Wells Samuel Wells is an Assistant Professor of English in Denver, CO An Edible Enigma As scientific and...

Living High with HIV

How Medical Marijuana Rivals Mainstream HIV Medicine By BenBot In 2011, I was diagnosed with HIV. An unmarked van was...

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

With Veterans at Risk, Change is Necessary, but Progress is Slow By Mary Lou Smart In 1933, the repeal of...

Milagro Oil for Lung Cancer

By Mary Lou Smart www.medicalcannabisart.com Compassionate care advocates Michelle and Michael Aldrich at Patients Out of Time’s Seventh National Clinical...

Living and Dealing with ADHD

by Patricia Allen It was back in 1974 that I first became familiar with the term Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder...

Inflammatory Comments

by Bill Drake As a long-time TY reader I’ve noticed what seems to me to be a rather over- whelming...

How Cannabis Might Keep Coronary Stents Open Longer

By David B. Allen M.D.Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon, Member ICRS. And Prisoner of the Drug War Cali215doc@gmail.com First the set...

Unlocking the Secrets, Advanced Tissue Culture

Tissue Culture is a process of isolating cells from plant tissue (explants) which are cultured (grown artificially), in a nutrient...

Anxiety Panic Disorder and Cannabis

By Hal Lubinsky My name is Hal Lubinsky. I'm in my forties, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a U.S....

Can Cannabis Cure Schizophrenia?

By Richard Shrubb, Freelance sailing, health and social affairs journalist ould cannabis treat or even cure schizophrenia? Things look promising...

Multiple Sclerosis: Regaining the Good Life with Whole Plant Therapy

By Mary Lou Smart© 2012 www.medicalcannabisart.com A trial attorney, Jim Dyer practiced law in Tucson, Arizona for 34 years before...

The Science of Cannabis Leads in Many Directions

The Evolution of a Sense of Well-Being By Mary Lou Smart www.medicalcannabisart.com While speaking at Patients Out of Time’s Seventh...

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

By Shantibaba It is evident for all people who wish to listen that doing all things within moderation is better...

Post Traumatic Stress

Psychology and Medication at its Best By Jeff Kundert OTR Jeff works as a Wellness and Fitness Educator. He has...

The Ripper Effect

By Subcool Some really interesting information has come to my attention, and I am very excited to tell everyone in...

Auto-flowering Plants

By Shantibaba The discreet evolution of Auto-flowering cannabis plants is a recent occurrence, one that is in mode at present...

Uncovering the Original Sacrament: Chris Bennett’s Cannabis and the Soma Solution

Review by Samuel Wells When asked to name an author crucial to the growing mainstream understanding of the uses of...

Cornerstone of Individualized Phytogenetics ACDC 22:1 @ CB3

Alternative Cannabinoid Dietary Cannabis 22%CBDA:1%THCA acting at GPR55 Alias CB3 by William L. Courtney, MD, AACM American Academy of Cannabinoid...

Mr. Magoo

By Ron Hudson My birthdays: I woke that birthday morning, in October of 1966, knowing it would begin like the...

Medical Cannabis University

By Reverend Philip H Hoff - Chancellor, MedicalCannabisUniversity.org ( MCU, Inc. ), a 501 c(3) nonprofit school. The school focused...

Storm’s Story

By Georgia Peschel WHEW! Delivering this kid was like delivering a hurricane!” When our son was born, those were our...

Soil Pests & Diseases

By Lazystrain Soil is a living organism made up of billions of microbes and bacteria. The cosmology of soil life...

A Tragedy Felt Around the World

by Jonny Appleweed On Oct. 27, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon signed into law the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and...

Autism & Cannabis

Prohibition Makes it Tough on Parents by Mary Lou Smart Jeremy Patrone (not his real name) has a goal. He...

Vaporization of Cannabis: Are there benefits over combustion?

By William Eckhardt Although vaporization is a relatively recent development for the delivery of cannabinoids the proliferation of vast numbers...

Bedrocan

By Harry Resin Generally when you think of Amsterdam, you think of the coffee shops, but that’s not all that’s...

How Does Wattage Affect Your Vape? Beginners Guide to Wattage

Many vape devices available on the market allow you to adjust the wattage so that it suits your personal preferences....

9 Healthy Ways of Coping With PTSD

PTSD can affect many individuals and isn’t something that only happens to folks who have served in the army and...

Secrets To A Good Night’s Sleep

After a night spent turning and tossing, you will wake up feeling tired, grumpy, and sleepy. As we get older,...

4 Things To Keep In Mind Before Starting Your Cannabis Journey

Cannabis has recently become legal for medical usage in multiple parts across the U.S and several other countries for recreational...