Material. Seeds of the wheat, cabbage, and corn, 1 per cent solution of copper sulphate, 25 per cent salt solution.

Apparatus. 100-cc. wide-mouthed bottles, Geneva seed-tester.

Seeds are often treated with fungicides to destroy the spores of some diseases. This treatment, however, is dangerous and must be applied with extreme care and precision, in order that no damage may result to the seed.

1. Count out two lots, of one hundred seeds each, of the wheat, of the cabbage, and of the sweet corn. Place the samples of each variety in separate bottles. Now cover one lot of seeds with a 1 per cent solution of copper sulphate. Place the second lot in pure water to serve as a check. Allow both batches to soak for two hours, and then germinate. Tabulate your results, and explain. What strength of solution would you recommend for the treatment of seeds in order to insure the best results? Compare the treated seeds with the check. What is gained by the treatment? Did you note any fungus growing? What seeds, if any, were affected? Discuss.

2. Count out four lots of one hundred seeds each, as in 1. Place each lot in a 100-cc. bottle, and keep one as a check. Pour enough of the salt solution over the first batch to cover the seeds, and allow them to remain immersed one minute. Soak the second batch of seeds for five minutes and the third batch for fifteen minutes. Germinate as in 1, and note the results. Describe fully. Tabulate the results as in 1, and discuss fully.

The Action Of Fungicides On Seeds. Students Notes And Report

Copper Sulphate Solution

Salt Solution

Reference

Bulletin No. 10, United States Department of Agriculture, Division of Vegetable Physiology and Pathology.