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Old 25-06-2004, 06:02 PM
Kay Lancaster
 
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Default 1 year old grass seed still good?

On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 04:50:53 GMT, Timothy wrote:
On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 02:48:30 +0000, Doug Kanter wrote:

How so...?
Thats what was said at the masters class last year. The theory behind
behind this (as told to me) is that with age the germ inside dries out and
thus replaced with air. Hence when placed in water it will float. I've
tried this on my own and found this observation to be true.

Please, if I'm incorrect, feel free to enlighten me with the correct
information. "Just cuz" will not suffice.........


If the seed has been exposed to high temperatures and high humidity
(think a nice warm garage in Houston), it'll still be dead or have
vastly reduced viability, but moist enough to sink. Conversely, a well-dried
but viable seed (perhaps freshly harvested from a well-dried plant) may float.

There are a number of ways of quick-checking viability, including such
things as tetrazolium tests, but the best method at home remains just
trying to germinate the seed.

Kay