b'Compared to the cost of seed arriving in another country and not meeting quality standards, the cost of seed testing before it leaves the dock is pretty minimal. The other concern companies often report is the time that testing necessarily requires. Some tests can take nearly a month to complete, which can make it difficult to meet shipping dates at times, says Gillespie. During the busiest parts of the season labs frequently have some backlog as well. The reality of the situation, she says, is that when dealing with plants, each species has evolved and been bred to have certain behaviors. Some of them just grow at a slower rate. Waiting for full results is always worthwhile. Labs may conduct tetrazoliumquick viabilitytests to get an idea of the potential viability of the seed, but this informa-tion is not suitable for labeling, she says. Opting not to perform quality standard testing could be an unwise business practice, says Patin. Scrimping on testing could ultimately allow poor quality seed to be sold to customers, result-ing in product failure, decreased trust in ones brand, dissatisfiedPhysiological necrosis is a defect in lettuce that causes wilting and clients, and potential loss of market share.death of the seedling. It is evidenced by brown or black tissues near Many seed quality tests are also required by contract agree- the center of the cotyledons.PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL SEED LLC.ments with trait suppliers. A company can lose their rights to use the technology and [it can] cause damage to a companys reputa-tion. The requirements are put into place for various reasons, notShould seed regulation change?the least of which is to protect the tool (trait, technology) for futureDifferent jurisdictions require by law different seed testing. use. Spending a small amount of money upfront can be a hugeTo meet the grade requirements set out by the Canada advantage to the company as well as the industry, says Patin.Federal Seeds Act, all seed sold in Canada must be tested for physical purity, germination on all crop types, and true loose Is the answer private labs? smut on barley.A change Gillespie has noted over the last few years is that moreI agree with the [Canadian] system as it is now as it protects private production and seed firms are looking to run their ownboth the seller and the buyer, says Foster. However, I would like lab capacity. In the Pacific Northwest, some growers and/or pro- to see more tests accredited orat the very leastprotected ducers have added labs, or plan to add in-house testing capac- by standard protocols and procedures that are monitored by ity to their facilities in order to control testing independently.proficiency programs.She says some have sought accreditation through theIn the U.S., seed testing varies depending on what type of National Seed Health System (NSHS) for phytosanitary visualseed it is, the number of seed in unit, where the seed originated inspection to reduce delays in getting phytosanitary certificatesfrom, and where it will be sold.for shipments going overseas.Tests required by law are driven at the federal level by the If they have the space, it may be more advantageous to haveFederal Seed Act and at the local level (i.e., state), explains Patin. a company lab to turn to for answers about testing and to incor- Agricultural seed is required to have a germination, purity, and porate the overall cost of the lab in with the companys generalnoxious exam. Each state can have additional laws and require-operating costs to reduce the time delays that come with send- ments. The laws are in place to protect consumers, buyers, and ing seed out for testing. sellers. The issue with this option, however, is a shortage of accred- Gillespie adds that many states have patterned their seed ited seed analysts. The seasonal nature of the work can make itlaws after RUSSL (Recommended Uniform State Seed Law) difficult to retain staff in labs. This reduces the overall numberimplemented by the Association of American Seed Control of analysts available to achieve the independent certificationOfficials (AASCO).required for a lab to be authorized to conduct testing suitable forThe requirements for seed labeling are really very basic. For labeling. vegetable seed in packets, almost no information is required Analysts with insufficient training are not able to provideother than whether or not the seed meets the standards estab-the same kind of uniform results as accredited analysts, and itlished in the Federal Seed Act.takes a bare minimum of one to two years of work in a lab evenShe sees room for improvement. Especially for companies for someone who has a degree in agronomy or botany, addsselling smaller types of vegetable seeds, or those that may be Gillespie. Seed testing is extremely specialized and not a courseeasily subject to contamination, purity information would also be commonly taught in universities.beneficial.SW20/ SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER 2023'