1. Region 6: Virtual Seedling Referee Hemp, Cannabis sativa
Leanne Duncan
Canadian Food Inspection Agency-Seed Science and
Technology Section
June 2019

2. Purpose
This referee is designed to assist in identification of areas for improvement in the method used for testing and to provide a training opportunity for analysts.

3. Who Participated?
Numbers of each that participated:40 Canada/53 USA

4. What Germination Experience Was Indicated?
Do you regularly evaluate germination seedlings?

5. What Rules Were Used?
Numbers: AOSA- 48 and M&P - 45

6. Rules Comparison AOSA M&P THE RULES ARE EXACTLY THE SAME!!
MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL
Boraginaceae, borage family – borage; Cannabaceae, hemp family – hemp
Dichondraceae [Convolvulaceae], dichondra family – dichondra
Lamiaceae, mint family – balm, catnip, rosemary, sage, summer savory, sweet basil, sweet marjoram, thyme; Pedaliaceae, benne family – sesame
Rosaceae, rose family – little burnet; Valerianaceae [Caprifoliaceae], valerian family – cornsalad
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Seedlings are considered normal if they possess those essential structures that are indicative of its ability to produce a plant under favorable conditions.
ABNORMAL SEEDLING DESCRIPTION
Cotyledons:
less than half of the original cotyledon tissue remaining attached.
less than half of the original cotyledon tissue free of necrosis or decay.
Epicotyl:
missing (may be assumed to be present if the cotyledons are intact).
Hypocotyl:
malformed, such as markedly shortened, curled or thickened.
deep open cracks extending into the conducting tissue.
watery.
Root:
none
missing or stubby primary root with weak secondary or adventitious roots
Cannabaceae, Hemp Family
Cannabis sativa, hemp
General Description
Seedling type: Epigeal dicot.
Food reserves: Cotyledons which expand and become leaf-like and photosynthetic.
Shoot system: The hypocotyl elongates carrying the cotyledons above the media surface. The epicotyl usually does not show any development within the test period.
Root system: A primary root with root hairs; secondary roots may occasionally develop within the test period.
Abnormal Seedling Description
Cotyledons:
less than half of the original cotyledon tissue remaining attached.
less than half of the original cotyledon tissue free of necrosis or decay.
Epicotyl:
missing (may be assumed to be present of the cotyledons are intact).
Hypocotyl:
malformed, such as markedly shortened, curled or thickened.
deep open cracks extending into the conducting tissue.
watery.
Root:
none.
missing or stubby primary root with weak secondary or adventitious roots.
Notes:
None
THE RULES ARE EXACTLY THE SAME!!

7. Results N AB D

8. WHERE WERE THE DIFFICULTIES?
Less than 80% agreement on classification

9. Photo No 7
Slight thickening of the area between the hypocotyl and root but not severe to call abnormal.

10. Photo No 8
Multiple seedlings, one seedling has a strong root.

11. Photo No 15
NORMAL
Surface decay on the hypocotyl and cotyledons. Decay is less than one half of the area and the decay on the hypocotyl is on the surface. This was a difficult seedling to evaluate.
AOSA: missing or stubby primary root with weak secondary or adventitious roots
M&P also includes this statement but also states for this species that secondary roots may occasionally develop within the test period.

12. Did analysts with experience testing Cannabis sativa have better insight with these more difficult seedlings?
The only substantial difference between those labs that test and those that do not test Cannabis relates to photo number 7.

14. What is the difference between analysts who regularly test versus those who irregularly test?
Comparison of those participants that regularly test vs irregularly test: difficulties (>10% difference) with Photos number 1, 4, 7, 8, 12 & 13

15. Acknowledgement
Thank you to Tanya Neudorf for taking and editing all photos for this referee!
Thank you all for participating!