1. Tetrazolium testing referee results Southwest Region 4 2016
by Michael Aberle RST
Ransom Seed Laboratory

2. Tetrazolium testing referee results 2016
40 participants
30 laboratories
35% of the respondents were from the West coast region 4
20 photographs
8 plant families

3. 98% viable 1. BLUE FLAX Linum lewisii Linaceae
Respondents that answered viable:
Concern that the radicle was damaged

4. 2. BLUE FLAX Linum lewisii
Linaceae
100% non-viable

5. 98% non-viable 3. BLUE FLAX Linum lewisii Linaceae
Respondents that answered viable:
Concern that a membrane covered the unstained parts

6. 4. CACTUS
Cactaceae
100% non-viable

7. 95% viable 5. CACTUS Cactaceae Respondents that answered non-viable:
Concern that there was a crack in the embryo

8. 52% viable 6. Flowering kale Brassica oleracea Brassicaceae
Respondents that answered non-viable:
Concern that necrosis reached the juncture of the cotyledons and the embryo axis

9. 90% viable 7. Flowering kale Brassica oleracea Brassicaceae
Respondents that answered non-viable:
Concern that the radicle was broken
Concern that there was insufficient staining

10. 87% non-viable 8. Flowering kale Brassica oleracea Brassicaceae
Respondents that answered viable:
Concern that the necrosis is only superficial
Embryo axis is not damaged
Non-essential areas unstained

11. 9. Flowering kale Brassica oleracea
Brassicaceae
100% non-viable

12. 82% non-viable 10. LOVAGE Levisticum officinale Apiaceae
Respondents that answered viable:
Concern that embryo might have a light stain
Could be dormant as in AOSA/SCST TZ Handbook where there is the case of an unstained embryo with stained endosperm

13. 11. LOVAGE Levisticum officinale
Apiaceae
100% viable

14. 95% non-viable 12. NASTURTIUM Tropaeolum majus Tropaeolaceae
Respondents that answered viable:
Concern that the embryo stained lightly

15. 65% non-viable 13. NASTURTIUM Tropaeolum majus Tropaeolaceae
Respondents that answered viable:
Could not relate the image to the example given in the AOSA/SCST TZ Handbook
Unstained areas are minor

16. 98% non-viable 14. OREGANO Origanum vulgare Lamiaceae
Respondents that answered viable:
Saw uniform stain

17. 15. OREGANO Origanum vulgare
Lamiaceae
100% viable

18. 16. Phormium sp.
Xanthorrhoeaceae
[Agavaceae]
100% viable

19. 98% non-viable 17. Phormium sp. Xanthorrhoeaceae [Agavaceae]
Respondents that answered viable:
Saw more than half the embryo stained

20. 95% viable 18. Phormium sp. Xanthorrhoeaceae [Agavaceae]
Respondents that answered non-viable:
Concerned that the endosperm was unstained (light reflecting off the seed made it look unstained)

21. 90% non-viable 19. SUNFLOWER Helianthus annuus Asteraceae
Respondents that answered viable:
Concern that the damage at the root tip was minimal
More than half the embryo stained
In the AOSA/SCST TZ Handbook slight damage to the root tip is acceptable

22. 90% viable 20. SUNFLOWER Helianthus annuus Asteraceae
Respondents that answered non-viable:
Concern over the dark spots on the radicle
Unstained cotyledon

23. 21. SUNFLOWER Helianthus annuus
Asteraceae
100% non-viable

24. 22. SUNFLOWER Helianthus annuus
Asteraceae
100% non-viable