Seed Health Testing: Wheat, Triticale, Barley, and Maize

Greenhouse Germination Test

Greenhouse germination is an important test for evaluating seed viability and detecting the presence or absence of seed-transmitted pathogens. This test is conducted on a 50-seed sample of each line in a nursery. Further investigation is done if symptoms appear on seedlings.

Seed Wash Filter Test

This test is applied mainly for the detection of Tilletia indica and Tilletia spp. teliospores, mildew oospores, and smut spores following the procedure described in the Appendix. This test can be carried out either on composite seed samples or line by line.

Freeze Blotter Test

This test is applied for the detection of imperfect fungi on 40-50 seeds from every entry in each nursery.

ELISA

This test is applied for the detection of 1) Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus; 2) Pantoea stewartii; and 3) Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus. Composite samples of every 10 lines in a nursery are tested. In case of a positive response, the 10 lines forming the sample are individually re-tested. Lines that test positive are discarded.

Immunofluorescence

This is a sero-diagnostic assay for the detection on wheat seed of Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa. Composite samples of every 10 lines in a nursery are tested. In case of a positive result, the 10 lines are individually checked. Lines that test positive are discarded.

Table 1 lists tests applied to wheat, triticale, and barley, along with the pathogens detected and duration of the tests. Table 2 provides similar information for maize.

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