NTISthis.com

Evidence Guide: AHCSDT407A - Perform an endophytic seed test

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

AHCSDT407A - Perform an endophytic seed test

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Prepare for endophyte testing

  1. Test request is reviewed to identify samples to be tested and required test methods and equipment.
  2. Equipment and working space are cleaned and prepared for use.
  3. Endophyte staining solution is prepared.
  4. Working sample of seed is prepared from Pure Seed.
Test request is reviewed to identify samples to be tested and required test methods and equipment.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment and working space are cleaned and prepared for use.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Endophyte staining solution is prepared.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working sample of seed is prepared from Pure Seed.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Test seed for endophyte presence

  1. Seed is softened in sodium hydroxide for recommended time period.
  2. Seed is rinsed thoroughly in running tap water.
  3. Seed is de-glumed, placed on a microscope slide in a drop of endophyte staining solution and slightly crushed.
  4. Cover glass is placed on seed and gentle pressure is applied.
  5. Seed is examined with compound microscope and scored as positive if endophytic hyphae are present.
Seed is softened in sodium hydroxide for recommended time period.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seed is rinsed thoroughly in running tap water.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seed is de-glumed, placed on a microscope slide in a drop of endophyte staining solution and slightly crushed.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover glass is placed on seed and gentle pressure is applied.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seed is examined with compound microscope and scored as positive if endophytic hyphae are present.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Test seedlings for endophyte presence

  1. Seeds from working sample are selected at random and germinated.
  2. Seedlings from the sample germinated are examined after growing for a minimum of 48 days.
  3. Outermost sheath is removed from the seedling such that tissue to be examined should have no obvious discoloration from saprophytes and should have as little chlorophyll as possible.
  4. A longitudinal section of leaf sheath approximately 3–5 mm in width is isolated.
  5. Section is placed on a microscope slide with the epidermis side down.
  6. Section is stained immediately with the endophyte staining solution for prescribed time period.
  7. Excess dye is blotted off with tissue paper and a coverglass is place over section and flooded with water.
  8. Section is examined with compound microscope and scored as positive if endophytic hyphae are present.
Seeds from working sample are selected at random and germinated.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seedlings from the sample germinated are examined after growing for a minimum of 48 days.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outermost sheath is removed from the seedling such that tissue to be examined should have no obvious discoloration from saprophytes and should have as little chlorophyll as possible.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A longitudinal section of leaf sheath approximately 3–5 mm in width is isolated.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section is placed on a microscope slide with the epidermis side down.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section is stained immediately with the endophyte staining solution for prescribed time period.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excess dye is blotted off with tissue paper and a coverglass is place over section and flooded with water.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section is examined with compound microscope and scored as positive if endophytic hyphae are present.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record and report test results

  1. Results are entered under Other Determinations.
  2. The scientific name of the pathogen which has been tested for and the test method used is recorded in the test results.
  3. Sample size used for testing is recorded.
  4. In the case of a negative result where the pathogen was not detected, the results is reported in terms of the tolerance standard.
  5. In the case of a positive result the report should indicate percentage of infected seed.
Results are entered under Other Determinations.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The scientific name of the pathogen which has been tested for and the test method used is recorded in the test results.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sample size used for testing is recorded.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the case of a negative result where the pathogen was not detected, the results is reported in terms of the tolerance standard.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the case of a positive result the report should indicate percentage of infected seed.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this Unit

Evidence of the ability to:

prepare endophyte stains

test seed for endophyte presence

test seedlings for endophyte presence

record and report results of tests.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

Method of assessment

This Unit should be assessed together with core Units and other Units of Competency relevant to the function or work role.

Guidance information for assessment

To ensure consistency of performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

Required Skills and Knowledge

Required skills include:

Ability to:

prepare endophyte stains

inspect seed using a compound microscope

detect endophyte presence in seeds and seedlings

record and report test results.

Required knowledge includes:

Knowledge of:

seed biology

identification of endophytes

recording and reporting protocols

enterprise standard operating procedures (SOPs)

relevant health, safety and environment requirements.

Range Statement

The range statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

The tolerance standard may include:

an infection level less than 1% with 95% probability and depends on the total number of seeds tested, n, and is approximately 3/n (P=0.95) (see Roberts et al., 1993).