b'PARTNER CONTENTTAKE CARE DURING CLEANING TO AVOID MECHANICAL DAMAGEThe 2021 drought means many seeds are too dry. If theyre not handled properly,yield could be affected again in 2022.AS I WRITE THIS,the leading cause of poor ger-mination were seeing in our lab is mechanical damage. At time of harvest, seed was on the dry side. When seed is dry, it cracks easily. The result is damage to the seed surface and possible internal structures.The reason for so much dry seed is the fact that many growers left their crops in the field longer. Also, when yields are down, combines Morgan Webb,work fast, meaning a higher impact velocity on President &seed. The result is mechanical damage being a Senior Seedleading cause of poor germination this year.Analyst, SeedSome seeds are more susceptible to damage Check than others. Pulses are particularly vulnerablepeas, beans, lentils, soybeanbecause theyMechanically damaged abnormal seedlings on the left (will not have an embryo that sits delicately out on theproduce a plant) and normal seedlings on the right.side of the seed. If the seed is dry, cold or brittle, an impact from machinery can cause abnormal seedlings with missing roots and missing shoots. They just dont have the essential structures theyPACKAGING SEED FOR TESTING: need to develop into a mature plant. ANOTHER WAY OF AVOIDING Cereals can also be vulnerable, especially rye, wheat and triticale. Triticale seed has an embryoDAMAGEthats very high up toward the top of the seed, leading to easy mechanical damage when dry.Many people are sending in seed samples right Damage results in leaves that are shredded, ornow. In fact, the majority of samples we test are missing leaves and roots, or leaves entering outpackaged and sent by courier. Taking care to the side of the coleoptile (a cylindrical organpackage dry seed properly is crucial. You can that covers the first leaf and shoot apex in grassdo this by using proper packaging material, seedlings). like a box or bubble wrap. Dont pack them too Barley and oat arent as vulnerable totightly, but also ensure theyre not too loose and mechanical damage since theyre still in their hullrolling around inside the package, which could when harvested, but in extreme cases can alsodamage them as well.sustain damage.Mechanical damage can be reduced during harvest by watching moisture levels and taking care not to beat the seed up too much, but now that harvest has passed, the key is to take careFor more info visit seedcheck.netduring augering and seed cleaning. NOVEMBER 2021 GERMINATION.CA 11'