The FRSA Seed Analysts Forum and Business Meeting was held at the National Seed Storage Laboratory, Fort Collins, Colorado.  SCST awarded the Seed Analysts Forum
2 points of Continuing Education.

Members present: Carri-Ann Bard, Mike Bricker, Jim Bruce, Irene B. Cardona, Mike Dideriksen, Brigette Fishburn, Jane Hall, Arnold L. Larsen, Mary Loring, Tim Loeffler, Billie Lundberg, Annette Miller, and Simer Srivastava.
Guests present: Stacy Bieberdorf, R. Denny Hall, and Sherry White of the Montana State Seed Laboratory; Kent Von Lanken of the Kentucky State Seed Laboratory; Regina Madsen from Applewood Seed Company; Tom Stearns from High Mowing Seeds of Vermont; Bill Wittich of Fort Collins; and Dennis Moss and Margaret Sharp of the National Seed Storage Laboratory.

The day’s activities, coordinated by Annette Miller, FRSA President, began at 10:05 AM MDT with a two hour session covering a critique on change proposals for the Seedling Evaluation Handbook for Solanaceae I and Balsaminiaceae.  The samples evaluated were pepper (Capsicum spp.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), and impatiens (Impatiens walleriana).  The peppers and impatiens were planted in 4x4 square plastic boxes on blotter.  The tomatoes were planted in rolled towels.  The research paper “Seedling Evaluation of Bound Primary Roots in PEPPER (Capsicum spp.) SOLANACEAE” by Paul S. Peterson and Elaine Harris of the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture, and photographs of normal and abnormal seedlings with written descriptions of normal and abnormal seedlings that will be part of the Solanaceae I and Balsaminiaceae changes were made available for the evaluations.

The critique was summarized in a letter composed by Annette Miller and mailed to Aleta Meyr, author of the evaluation changes proposal, and Paul Peterson and Elaine Harris authors of the paper on bound roots in peppers.  Excerpts of the letter are included in these minutes (for the record) of subjects covered during the Seed Analysts Forum.
1. Regarding the modified towel method described in the Peterson and Harris paper: If this paper is to be cited in the rule proposal, it was felt that data should be included regarding the effect of this modified towel method on the bound roots/cotyledons.  Is it essential that the towels be slanted 45 degrees after being horizontal for 5 to 6 days?  Can they be placed vertically after the 5-6 days horizontally?  (Vertical placement saves space as opposed to slanted placement.)  There were also questions on the effectiveness of this method when photodormancy is present.  Light is recommended in the additional directions for “fresh and dormant”.  What impact does this method have on lots where this is an issue?  If this new planting method is recommended, it should be noted in additional directions of Table 3 and described in detail in section 4.8.

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2. All thought the photos were excellent and a great help.  Everyone also liked the “points of interest” photos of the plant, the way the seedlings look on the blotter and the wide view comparison of normal and abnormal.
3. Where multiple media are allowed, we recommend including photos showing the appearance of seedlings grown on the different media.  Our peppers on blotters had very thick root hair growth.  The drawings showed very little root hair growth and were obviously from seedlings grown on towels.  Could there be a mention of the planting medium used somewhere among the drawings so that one would know that this is the appearance of the seedlings when grown on this medium?  This is especially important for figure 4.  Suggested change of caption to: Fig. 4 Bound roots (pepper on towels).
4. Many considered Solanaceae I Figure 3a(-) to be a “borderline” seedling.  The photo shows a more prominent lesion at the site of the damaged primary root.  Could the lesion be made more prominent in the drawing?  The abnormal also would be less questionable if the roots were drawn slightly shorter.  One suggestion was to include a note about the secondary roots being shorter than the length of the hypocotyl.  Suggested change of 3a note to: “Primary root damage with lesion, insufficient secondary roots shorter than the length of the hypocotyl”.
5. Solanaceae I Note 1: We suggest changing the first sentence to:
“…unshed seed coats must be pulled off or cut away in order to evaluate the cotyledons.”
We liked the technique suggestion.  If the cotyledons have not begun to push off the seed coat, the coat can be tightly held and cutting can be a better way to examine the cotyledons for disease.
6. Balsaminiaceae: there was a lot of discussion about normal roots: is one
      strong primary root enough?  Is there research to show how many roots are
      necessary?  The abnormal mentions a damaged primary root.  What if the
      primary root is not damaged but there are no secondary roots?  On blotters, for
      some seedlings, it’s difficult to impossible to tell which is the primary root.
      Can we just say a normal seedling with “two strong roots”?  Are some of
      these photos from towel germinations?  Please state the medium used for the
      test.  Figure 3c is confusing: the secondary roots appear strong.

In addition to hard copy handouts of normal and abnormal seedling photos, a CD disk of the photos was also made available.  FRSA wishes to express our thanks to Joe Duchene of the National Seed Storage Laboratory computer group for burning the CDs.
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At the conclusion of the critique, the meeting was adjourned till 1:00 PM.  FRSA provided boxed lunches and soft drinks for the noon luncheon.  During the noon hour a short business meeting was held.  The meeting was called to order by Annette Miller, President.   The minutes of the April 18, 2000 meeting were approved.  Pat Conine presented the Treasurer’s report, which was found to be in good standing.  Annette presented the Web Page Administrator’s report.  Annette reported that Stephanie Townsend was no longer available to assist with maintenance of the web site.  Annette will take over the maintenance of the web site.  At this time, Annette has no plans for web site additions.  Annette asked for assistance from any members that may have a knowledgeable background in web site development.  A meeting agenda was handed out on a two day meeting scheduled for November 30 and December 1, 2000, on the “Importance of Native and Invasive Species in Land Management” sponsored by the Colorado Section SRM to be held in Fort Collins, Colorado.  The meeting is to address the controversies that have arisen in the placement of invasive plant species on Noxious Weed Lists.  More information will be provided at the October FRSA business meeting.  There was no old business discussed.  New business covered a reminder of the election of FRSA Officers for years 2001-2 at the October meeting, and a referee among FRSA members on the modified towel method (paper by Paul Peterson and Elaine Harris) for peppers with the towels positioned 1.)vertically for the 14 day germination, 2.)horizontally for 6 days than moved vertically for the remaining 8 days of the 14 day germination, and 3.)horizontally for 6 days than moved to a 45 degree angle for the remaining 8 days of the 14 day germination.  The pepper samples graciously supplied by Mary Ann Trowbridge of Novartis Seeds, Gilroy, California, for our initial seedling evaluations regarding the rule change proposal for the Seedling Evaluation Handbook on Solanaceae I critique, will be used for this referee.  Mike Bricker will provide the planting samples and Annette Miller will write the referee instructions.  The referee results are to be returned to Annette by August 31, 2000.  Annette will compile the results and present the findings at the October meeting.  The referee results will also be sent to Paul Peterson and Elaine Harris at the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture, for their review.

The Seed Analysts Forum resumed at 1:00 PM with Seed Counts of four flower seed species.  The members attending were put to work counting out 10 replicates of 100 seeds per replicate of the 4 flower seed species.  Since only one hour was allotted for this section of the program, only the count-outs were made, stored, and the weighing to be done by FRSA members employed at the National Seed Storage Laboratory at a later date.

A comparison of x-rays to cut test on samples of 4-wing salt bush (Atriplex), winterfat (Krascheninnikovia), beets (Beta), and Dalea was demonstrated.  The cut test was performed on 4-wing salt bush with x-rays taken on the other species but no cut test.  The results of the demonstration indicated that x-rays have the best potential utility for Dalea, winterfat, and beets.  The seed unit variability in size and maturity of 4-wing salt bush made it too difficult to get good x-rays for fill evaluation.
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A review of how to evaluate ergot in buffalograss burs (Buchloe dactyloides) was presented using a hard copy of photographed apparent ergot contaminated burs and actual samples of ergot contaminated burs vs. quality non-contaminated burs.  And, the group reviewed the AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds on ergot: sections 2.7h, 2.10a(8), 2.10c(1), and seed unit definition section 2.6b(6) for Buchloe dactyloides.

The Seed Analysts Forum concluded with a short review of the program and the handing out of Certificates of Completion.  The length of the Forum met with approval and the development of future Forums will consider an agenda with a 4 hour time span beginning mid-morning with an early afternoon conclusion.  The Seed Analysts Forum adjourned at 3:15 PM MDT.

The next FRSA meeting will be a Business Meeting held at Arkansas Valley Seed Company, 4625 Colorado Blvd., Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday, October 11, 2000, at 1:00 PM. MST.  Host will be Richard Agnew.