Patent ID: 8375628

Claim:
A method of performing a seed test for measuring viability and vigor characteristics of seeds exposed to a stress-inducing atmosphere, wherein the stress-inducing atmosphere comprises the level of moisture, the level of oxygen and the temperature of early spring soil, the method comprising the steps of: a) placing a moisture-soaked material into a sealable compartment b) inserting a sample of the seeds into the sealable compartment; c) removing oxygen from said compartment until the stress level of oxygen is reached by placing a pack comprising an oxygen-scavenging material in the sealable compartment in said compartment; d) exposing the sealable compartment to a cold temperature, wherein the cold temperature is the stress-inducing temperature of early spring soil; e) exposing said seeds to the stress-inducing atmosphere for a conditioning period; f) removing the seeds from the stress-inducing atmosphere; g) subjecting the seeds to a warm standard germination test; h) determining the proportion of seedlings that develop normally from the seeds exposed to the stress-inducing atmosphere; wherein an indication of the viability and vigor characteristics of the seeds after exposure to the stress-inducing atmosphere is obtained based on the said proportion of normal seedlings that develop from the seeds.