A viable seed is one that germinates. However, not all viable seeds have the vigor to germinate and grow into nice, healthy plants. Seeds are nature’s way of conserving life for future generations, yet some seeds last longer than others. Read this blog to find out what seed viability and vigor means and how you can differentiate between the both.
Viability
By definition, a viable seed is one which is capable of germination under suitable conditions. It is defined as the capacity of plant structure (seed, cuttings, etc.) to demonstrate living traits such as germination and growth.
It is critical to understand that seeds deposited in a gene bank will develop into plants. As a result, they must be highly viable at the outset and during storage. The viability of seeds at the commencement of storage will also define the accession’s storage life, given the environmental circ*mstances.
Vigor
A generally recognized definition of vigor is “the sum total of those qualities of the seed that determine the potential degree of activity and performance of the seed during germination and seedling emergence.”
Seed from various sources may produce comparable high levels of germination when grown under ideal conditions. Due to variances in vigor, these identical seeds may have radically different ability to grow plants under the harsher circ*mstances encountered in the field.
Difference Between Seed Viability and Vigor
| Seed Viability | Seed Vigor |
| Seed viability refers to a seed’s capacity to germinate and produce a healthy seedling. | Seed vigor refers to how quickly seeds germinate. |
| The viability test is used to determine if a seed sample contains alive or dead seeds. | The seed vigor test distinguishes between high and low vigor seeds. |
| Seed viability tests include ‘The Germination Test’, Quick Viability Test or TZ test, etc. | Seed vigor tests include Accelerated Aging Test, Cold Test, etc. |
| The viability of a seed decreases when it reaches physiological maturity. | Various seeds have different levels of vigor. |
| Viability test can be conducted using a single variety of seeds. | A minimum of two different species of seeds are required for seed vigor testing. |
| Seed viability can be measured in percentages. | Seed vigor is merely a comparison of the resilience of one seed species over the other. |
Conclusion
As compared to seed viability, seed vigor is a complicated characteristic that is determined at several phases of the mother plant and seed’s development, as well as by the surrounding environment. Furthermore, its actions are dependent on the environment and act from seed imbibition until seedling emergence.
Seed vigor and seed viability testing are critical to agriculture and the seed industry, but they are still poorly understood and understudied in academic research. With an ever-increasing human population and fast climate change, seed vigor and viability testing is becoming increasingly important. We hope that this blog has highlighted what is known about seed vigor, viability and their influence on crop yield. More study into these perplexing and complicated traits, as well as creative techniques to understanding it, are needed to assure a more stable food supply in the future.
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FAQs
The viability test is used to determine if a seed sample contains alive or dead seeds. The seed vigor test distinguishes between high and low vigor seeds. Seed viability tests include 'The Germination Test', Quick Viability Test or TZ test, etc. Seed vigor tests include Accelerated Aging Test, Cold Test, etc.
What is the difference between seed viability and seed dormancy? ›
Seed dormancy is defined as a temporary failure of a viable seed to germinate in conditions that favor germination, whereas seed longevity is defined as seed viability after dry storage (storability). In plants, the association of seed longevity with seed dormancy has not been studied in detail.
What is the study about seed viability seed germination and seed vigor test? ›
Germination test is the best indication of the potential of a seed lot to emerge under field conditions. However, it takes from days to weeks and in some cases even months to complete. Tetrazolium test, commonly known as the TZ test for seed viability have, therefore,.
What is the difference between germination and seed vigor? ›
Unlike germination and viability, seed vigour is not a single measurable parameter but a quantitative attribute, which is controlled by several factors associated with overall seed performance that includes rate and uniformity of seed germination, seedling growth; emergence under unfavourable environmental conditions; ...
What is the difference between seed longevity and seed viability? ›
Seed longevity is defined as seed viability after seed dry storage (storability) and, therefore, describes the total seed life span (Rajjou and Debeaujon, 2008). This storability period includes both the dormant and nondormant states.
What is seed vigor? ›
Seed vigor, a complex agronomic trait that includes seed longevity, germination speed, seedling growth, and early stress tolerance, determines the duration and success of this establishment period.
What is the seed viability? ›
Definition: Seed viability is the measure of how many seeds in a lot are alive and could develop into plants that will reproduce under appropriate field conditions. Why should seed viability be determined? • Seeds should be capable of producing plants when sown in the field.
What is the difference between vigor and viability? ›
Seed viability refers to a seed's capacity to germinate and produce a healthy seedling. Seed vigor refers to how quickly seeds germinate. The viability test is used to determine if a seed sample contains alive or dead seeds. The seed vigor test distinguishes between high and low vigor seeds.
What is the seed vigor test used to measure? ›
Seed vigour is an important quality parameter which needs to be assessed to supplement germination and viability tests to gain insight into the performance of a seed lot in the field or in storage.
What are the 2 two methods of testing seed viability? ›
Viable seed is capable of germinating and growing into healthy plants, while non-viable seed will not. There are several ways to test the viability of seed, including the paper towel method, the float test, and the germination test. The paper towel method is a quick and easy way to determine the viability of seed.
In general, a temperature below 60°F and a RH below 60% is still safe storage for most seeds. The longer the storage time needed, the lower these two factors should be. If the seeds are stored in ambient conditions (a typical seed warehouse) the temperature and RH fluctuates during the seasons and even during the day.
What are the factors affecting seed vigor? ›
The value obtained by vigour determination is affected by the genetic constitution of the seed, the environmental conditions under which the mother plant is grown, nutrition applied during that period, seed maturity at harvest, seed weight and size, mechanical injuries, ageing, pathogens etc.
How to increase seed vigor? ›
Seed vigour is a function of both genotype and environment; accordingly, improvements are feasible through breeding as well as through improved agronomic practices and seed handling.
What is the difference between germination and viability? ›
Seed germination rate refers to the ability of the seed to sprout. Seed viability refers to the strength and vigor of the plant after germination.
Do lettuce seeds expire? ›
Even when stored properly in a cool, dry location, seed longevity varies by species. Corn, lettuce, onion, impatiens, and pansy seeds, for instance, can be short-lived, losing viability after one or two years.
What is the opposite of seed viability? ›
The definition includes dormant but viable seeds, in which case the dormancy must be broken before viability can be measured by germination. A non-viable seed, therefore, is one which fails to germinate even under optimal conditions, including treatments for the removal of dormancy.
Is a dormant seed a viable seed? ›
Seed dormancy has been defined as the incapacity of a viable seed to germinate under favorable conditions (Bewley, 1997; Finch-Savage and Leubner–Metzger, 2006).
What is the difference between seed dormancy and seed germination? ›
Seed dormancy is the state in which seed is unable to germinate, even under ideal growing conditions (Merriam-Webster). Because dormancy can be broken by most ideal growing conditions (different and specific for each species), the seeds germinate when they are the most likely to flourish.
What is the difference between seed dormancy and bud dormancy? ›
A common fea- ture displayed by these organs is reduced growth; in seeds, growth of the embryo is blocked, whereas in buds and other organs, growth of the shoot apical meristem is inhibited. generally considered necessary for growth is known as dormancy, and such organs are said to be dormant.
What is meant by dormancy? ›
Dormancy is defined as the temporary inability of a viable seed to germinate under favorable environmental conditions (Simpson, 1990). Dormancy helps the seed to survive adverse environmental conditions and at the same time helps in seed dispersal (Snape et al., 2001).
