Drop baggie filled with bean seeds 10-15 times to simulate poor mechanical handling. 
(Notice some of the broken seeds in the baggie)

 

 

 

Create 1% sodium hypochlorite solution
 by mixing 1 part household bleach with 4 parts water

 

 

 

Soak both damaged and undamaged seeds in a 1% hypoclorite solution.

 

 

 

wpe15.jpg (15548 bytes)

Undamaged soybean seeds after soaking
 15 minutes in a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution

 

 

 

wpe16.jpg (15412 bytes)

Mechanically damaged soybean seeds
after soaking 15 minutes in a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution
(
Notice that the damaged seed coats have separated from the embryo
and the damaged seeds have already begun to swell)

 

 


Copyright 2000, Iowa State University Agronomy Department
All rights reserved.
Photo credits: Dr. Lance R. Gibson, Agronomy Department
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