Characteristics for Evaluation of Seed Quality
Good quality seeds are those which are of same variety and contain little to no impurities and shows a good performance in the field. Following criteria can be used to describe the quality of good seed; 1. Varietal characteristics 2. Seed lot characteristics 3. Seed viability Seeds of pulses 1. VARIETAL PURITY CHARACTERISTICS Varietal purity is mainly defined as the genetic or cultivar purity and can be described by its physical & chemical traits and crop attributes. a) Seed factors True varietal seeds can be characterized by its specific traits such as the length, width, shape, size, color and aroma. b) Chemical analysis A range of chemical tests can also be used to differentiate between varieties. Factors such as alkali digestion, color, amylase content, gel consistency and protein helps to discriminate between varieties. c) Crop factors Physical characteristics of crops are normally constant that includes plant height, time to reach maturity, plant color and plant gro...