The Washington State Department of Agriculture's (WSDA) Seed Program laboratory in Yakima now offers the electrical conductivity (EC) test to further measure seed quality and vigor. Seed vigor relates to the health and viability of seed which have a direct correlation to the field emergence potential of a seed lot.
The EC test measures the condition of the seed's cell membranes. Low quality seeds have poor membrane structure that allows electrolytes such as amino acids and inorganic ions to leak through. These compounds are necessary for seedlings to develop and emerge rapidly. High quality seeds contain their nutrients within their membranes.
Therefore, seeds with higher conductivity measurements reveal electrolyte leakage and lower quality. This damage may be microscopic and not visible to the human eye. But the seed may not be sound and lack sufficient vigor. Knowing the vigor of a seed lot allows for proper marketing and planting decisions.Many large-seeded legumes such as:
