A viable seed is one that germinates. However, not all viable seeds have the vigor to germinate and grow into nice, healthy plants. Seeds are nature’s way of conserving life for future generations, yet some seeds last longer than others. Read this blog to find out what seed viability and vigor means and how you can differentiate between the both.
Viability
By definition, a viable seed is onewhich is capable of germination under suitable conditions. It is defined as thecapacity of plant structure (seed, cuttings, etc.) to demonstrate living traitssuch as germination and growth.
It is critical to understand that seeds deposited in a gene bank will develop into plants. As a result, they must be highly viable at the outset and during storage. The viability of seeds at the commencement of storage will also define the accession’s storage life, given the environmental circ*mstances.
Vigor
A generally recognized definitionof vigor is “the sum total of those qualities of the seed that determinethe potential degree of activity and performance of the seed during germinationand seedling emergence.”
Seed from various sources may produce comparable high levels of germination when grown under ideal conditions. Due to variances in vigor, these identical seeds may have radically different ability to grow plants under the harsher circ*mstances encountered in the field.
Difference Between Seed Viability and Vigor
| Seed Viability | Seed Vigor |
| Seed viability refers to a seed’s capacity to germinate and produce a healthy seedling. | Seed vigor refers to how quickly seeds germinate. |
| The viability test is used to determine if a seed sample contains alive or dead seeds. | The seed vigor test distinguishes between high and low vigor seeds. |
| Seed viability tests include ‘The Germination Test’, Quick Viability Test or TZ test, etc. | Seed vigor tests include Accelerated Aging Test, Cold Test, etc. |
| The viability of a seed decreases when it reaches physiological maturity. | Various seeds have different levels of vigor. |
| Viability test can be conducted using a single variety of seeds. | A minimum of two different species of seeds are required for seed vigor testing. |
| Seed viability can be measured in percentages. | Seed vigor is merely a comparison of the resilience of one seed species over the other. |
Conclusion
As compared to seed viability, seedvigor is a complicated characteristic that is determined at several phases ofthe mother plant and seed’s development, as well as by the surroundingenvironment. Furthermore, its actions are dependent on the environment and actfrom seed imbibition until seedling emergence.
Seed vigor and seed viability testing are critical to agriculture and the seed industry, but they are still poorly understood and understudied in academic research. With an ever-increasing human population and fast climate change, seed vigor and viability testing is becoming increasingly important. We hope that this blog has highlighted what is known about seed vigor, viability and their influence on crop yield. More study into these perplexing and complicated traits, as well as creative techniques to understanding it, are needed to assure a more stable food supply in the future.
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