Ryegrass Warm Germination
Germination tests of perennial ryegrass are unique, in that annual and off-type ryegrass contamination is common and cannot be determined by looking at the seed. Annual ryegrass seedlings fluoresce under a black light, thus allowing one to separate this contamination and calculate the true germination percentage of perennial ryegrass.
This test requires wax paper, a special germination towel, the seed to be tested, and a blacklight.
The perennial ryegrass seed is uniformly laid out in a single line across the germination paper, according to a premarked Ryegrass template.
The germination paper is covered with wax paper and rolled up.
The roll is labeled for identification, and two rolled up tests are held together with a rubber band.
The rolls are covered with a plastic bag and placed in the germination temperature at the correct temperature, relative humidity, and light.
After the prescribed length of time, the tests are removed from the chamber. You can see the seedlings have emerged through the towels.
The towels are unrolled.
And placed under the blacklight. Germinated seedlings that do not fluoresce are counted, and the germination percentage is calculated.