Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare replicates for testing
- Pre-moisten replicates
- Seed is pre-moistened to reduce possibility of injury to seeds when puncturing or cutting and to enable penetration of the tetrazolium solution under prescribed temperature and light conditions.
- Sticky mucilage is removed from seeds as necessary.
- Seed tissue is exposed prior to staining according to enterprise guidelines.
- Seeds are kept moist prior to testing.
- Stain with tetrazolium solution
- Seeds are completely immersed in tetrazolium solution according to enterprise guidelines.
- Fungicides and/or antibiotics may be added to solution according to enterprise guidelines.
- Low light levels are maintained as required by testing procedures to facilitate staining.
- At completion of staining period, the solution is decanted and seeds are rinsed with water.
- Evaluate test results
- Each seed is examined and evaluated as viable or non-viable based on staining patterns applicable to the species being tested.
- The number of seeds considered viable in each replicate is counted.
- The percentage of viable seed in each replicate is calculated and average percentage of viable seed across all replicates is determined.
- Finalise reporting and clean up
- Results of test are recorded and reported according to enterprise guidelines.
- Laboratory and hazardous waste are safely handled, collected and disposed of according to enterprise guidelines.
- Apparatus and equipment used in tetrazolium test is cleaned and used chemicals and solutions are disposed of safely in accordance with enterprise guidelines.