This tutorial is on a germination test using sand.
1. Select a plastic tray that can hold 100 seeds per replication. The tray must have drainage holes, and a single sheet of paper can be placed on the base of the tray to keep the sand from pouring out through the drainage holes.
2. Fill the plastic trays with ~5 cm washed sand or soil. IMPORTANT: For each test, change the substrate due to the possible pathogen infection.
3. Place the seeds manually. Ideally, the distance between seeds should be at least 3-5 times the seed diameter.
4. Carefully cover the seeds with sand/soil (3-4cm).
5. Prepare a label with the sample, date of planting, and replication. Place the label on each tray.
6. It is suggested that irrigation be performed only in the morning of the following day, to avoid the possible occurrence of seeds abnormally absorbing water. Water the sand/soil gently to ensure that the sand/soil layer is not displaced, or the seeds are not disturbed when watering. Watering from the bottom of the tray is better than watering the sand surface. This can be done by placing the seed trays in larger trays containing water for about one hour.
7. Place the trays in a bright room/greenhouse with a temperature between 20-30°C (25°C is ideal).
8. Keep the sand/soil moist during tests by adding water but do not overwater, especially when temperatures are high (25-30°C).
9. On day 5, count the seedlings well developed over the sand/soil surface. The first count can be used as an index of vigor: the higher the percentage of seedlings that emerged in this first count, the greater the vigor of the seed lot.
10. On day 8, count the seedlings well developed over the sand/soil surface.
