Comparative analysis of four techniques for evaluating seed viability of Caragana korshinskii Kom.

Seed preservation is one of the most effective and safest ways to retain sources of plant germplasm. How to check changes in seed viability rapidly and accurately at a micro-scale is a major issue in research facilities for preserving plant germplasm. With the GSH redox potential (EGSSG/2GSH), differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC), electron spin resonance (EPR) and a non-invasive micro-test (NMT), we studied the variation in the pattern of seed viability for Caragana korshinskii under artificial aging. The results revealed that the seed vigor index decreased more quickly than the germination percentage under the aging conditions of 50 ℃ and RH of 50%. From regression modeling we found that the precedence of four advanced technologies was EPRNMTDSCEGSSG/2GSH in terms of the rate of germination. Based on the vigor index, the precedence was NMTEGSSG/2GSH=EPRDSC. NMT is most suitable for detecting seed vigor while integrating the fitness of seed germination and vigor index, as well as considering that these technologies are non-invasive to seeds.