There are a number of advantages to having soybeans germinated by using a sand test. This test can average higher than a standard germination on top of Creped Cellulose Paper (CCP) or standard rolled towel test.  The sand acts as a buffer between seeds, thus preventing cross contamination from any fungal growth.

As a reminder, when requesting a hilum examination test, it is important to send untreated seed. If possible, submit hilum color description from breeder, including a statement about any allowable off-types. Without a description or reference sample to compare with, the analyst must assume the correct hilum color is the predominate one found in the sample.

The soak test is a quick exam used to reveal seed coat damage.  The test is primarily used during harvest to help reduce mechanical damage due to combining and handling.  Samples can be tested in the field and adjustments made to reduce damaged seeds, ideally to below 10%.

Everyone with soybean seed has learned a valuable lesson this past season…Murphy’s law does apply. Some isolated areas of soybean seed production had an excellent year, with seed quality above normal and low cleanout percentages. Most found seed quality was less than desirable, with extreme variability.

Breaking News! “This years’ soybean seed crop is one of the most variable in recent history.” We have all heard something similar, or thought it if you are involved in the soybean seed industry. Some seed lots are of very good quality; however, seed production has been discarded due to the high variability and low germination. With fewer soybean seed acres planted last spring, and seed fields lost because of germination issues the seed supply is bound to be short, especially in “Hot” new lines.

Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. soybean germination comparison for last year and this year clearly confirm the industry talk... 'There is a shortage of good seed available.'

Pod and stem blight, top dieback and Phomopsis seed rot are some of the most common soybean seed infections.  All of these diseases are caused by the Diaporthe and Phomopsis fungi complex. 

In the spring, people say “April showers bring May flowers!” and that is great, but they could also say “September rains bring fungal grains!” This year’s harvest is challenging in most soybean seed production regions.

We have had a busy summer here at MWSS!  We have been working on a new type of visual rating test utilizing a color sorter machine.  This process will help the seller better understand what undesirable seed characteristics are being found in a particular seed sample.  Further details will  become available as this test is developed and standardized.

With earlier planting and reduced seeds per acre, performing vigor tests will become increasingly important, said Dr. Dennis Egli, plant physiologist, University of Kentucky, at the Seed Testing Research Foundation-sponsored Vigor Symposium and Workshop in June. Recently, a number of seed companies are increasing their accelerated aging (AA) pre-conditioning seed quality screen checks on bin lots.

Soybean Seed Quality Update  - October 2003

Seed Size – Small seed size is a concern throughout much of the seed production region.  Seed lots with a seed size of 4,000 per pound will be common.  If these seeds are mature (yellow and round)  a normal seedling is usually produced.  We would expect some seed vigor loss and recommend running Accelerated Aging (AA) tests to determine if a vigor concern exists. One of the consolations with small seed may be less mechanical damage. 

We are seeing a significant germination decline from October soybean bulk-bin sample tests results to the December conditioned/bagged tests.  The germination declines have been from mid90’s to high 70’s, low 80’s. A few samples have gone even lower.  Seed lots at risk this year seem to be from fields with fall weathering (wetting and drying) or specific varieties (larger sized or thinner seed coats), as well as the virus infected samples. Factors that can cause mechanical damage are: improper combine operation, low seed moisture, high-impact handling (augers and grain vacuums) and cold weather handling/conditioning.

Soybean Seed Quality Update

Mottled soybeans are again an issue in the 2002 soybean seed harvest. We are receiving a number of samples and calls on this topic and felt an overview of the latest information would be helpful. Preventative action for the future should include grower preplanting meetings to review strategies which may reduce this problem in 2003 seed production.