Standardization of Seed Vigor Tests

The last 30 years have led to increasing dissatisfaction by seed producers and consumers with the standard germination test as the sole criterion of seed performance potential presented on a seed label. As a result, new seed testing techniques have been formulated known as seed vigor tests that provide more sensitive measures of seed quality. The ISTA and AOSA Vigor Test Committees have been at the forefront of this development. These Committees and their respective members represent the authorities in vigor test development. They have evaluated an array of proposed vigor tests, provided protocols for those that are most useful, sponsored seed vigor testing workshops, and published educational materials such as their respective Seed Vigor Testing Handbooks that define the strengths and limitations of each vigor test, This leadership has produced important results. In 1978, 52% of the seed testing laboratories in the United States were conducting vigor tests. In 1983, this increased to 63% and 1990, 75% of the seed testing laboratories were using one or more vigor tests (McDonald 1994).