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The Measurement of Viability

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Book cover Viability of Seeds

Abstract

Viability is usually measured in order to assess the suitability of a seed lot for a particular purpose, most commonly to produce a crop but also for industrial purposes, especially the malting of barley. Techniques for its measurement are also essential in research. Different criteria apply according to the purpose of the examination. In order to judge the suitability of seed for sowing it is necessary to determine its ability to produce plants in the field, so that information is required about the development of the seedling following rupture of the seed coat. But for the assessment of malting quality tests are needed to indicate the number of live grains, the incidence of dormancy and the most suitable steeping procedures (Pollock, 1962); they take no account of seedling development after sprouting (Institute of Brewing, 1967) since this stage is not involved in the malting process. This chapter will deal with the measurement of viability for crop production purposes, and the special circumstances of industrial processing will not be considered further; nor will there be more than very occasional reference to tree seeds.

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Authors
  1. D. B. MacKay
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, RG6 2AT, Reading, UK

    E. H. Roberts (Professor of Crop Production) (Professor of Crop Production)

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© 1972 Chapman and Hall Ltd

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MacKay, D.B. (1972). The Measurement of Viability. In: Roberts, E.H. (eds) Viability of Seeds. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5685-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5685-8_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

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