12 SEED TESTING INTERNATIONAL www.seedtest.org ASSOCIATION NEWS Summary of Supporting Method Validation Reports for 2027 Each technical change to the ISTA Rules must be supported by a validation report which has been reviewed, statistically analysed and approved by the ISTA Statistics TCOM. The following is a summary of this year’s validation submissions. The full reports will be published on the ISTA website (see www. seedtest.org) for the membership to review before the OGM vote. • Differences in the dormancy-breaking effect of potassium nitrate depending on the concentration • Introduction of a new method for breaking dormancy for sunflower seeds • ISTA validation study for viability test of Glycine max (L.) Merr. • Validation of a new method for a ‘Microsatellite marker analysis for barley variety verification’ • ISTA validation report for the detection of Fusarium species on cereal seeds • Method validation report for application of the radicle emergence test to Allium cepa • Cold test development to identify differences in vigour of Zea mays THROUGH ANNUAL UPDATES, THE ISTA TECHNICAL COMMITTEES (TCOM) ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING CHAPTERS within the International Rules for Seed Testing (ISTA Rules). These regular updates, approved by the global ISTA membership through vote, ensure methods used to determine seed quality are based on the best scientific knowledge available. Proposed updates to the 2026 ISTA Rules have been submitted to the ISTA Rules Chair by the TCOMs. After thorough review, the final version of the Rules proposals and supporting validation reports will be available on the ISTA website (see www.seedtest.org) at least two months before the Ordinary General Meeting (OGM). If accepted by the voting membership, the proposals will be incorporated into the 2027 Edition of the ISTA Rules, which will become effective 1 January 2027. Overview of Proposals for Consideration This Year • Editorial corrections Part C. Rules Changes and New Methods Requiring a Vote Chapter 1: ISTA Certificates • Indicating tests in Other Determinations Chapter 2: Sampling • Definitions of containers, sealed and self- sealing containers • Marking/labelling and sealing of containers Proposed Changes to the International Rules for Seed Testing, 2027 Edition Jodi Keeling1 and Janek Bartel2 1ISTA Rules Chair 2ISTA Rules Vice-Chair Chapter 3: The purity analysis • Pure seed definition of Paspalum spp. Chapter 5: The germination test • Duration for alternating temperatures • Cautionary statement for using potassium nitrate • Add ethephon as a dormancy-breaking procedure for Helianthus annuus; report concentrations • Add drying instructions for pre-soaked Beta vulgaris • Add tolerance tables for 50- and 25-seed replications Chapter 6: Biochemical test for viability: the topographical tetrazolium test • Add new method for Glycine max • Checking the quality of tetrazolium solution Chapter 7: Seed health testing • Change temperature ranges for 7-019a • Change temperature ranges for 7-019b • New seed health method for Fusarium in cereals Chapter 8: Species and variety testing • New DNA method for Hordeum vulgare • Lolium spp. fluorescence test durations Chapter 11: Testing coated seeds • Add moisture testing Chapter 15: Seed vigour testing • Add Allium spp. for the radicle emergence test • Add cold test for Zea mays
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