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| Tree seeds stained with fluorescein diacetate |
Every plant emits a pattern of red light known as chlorophyll fluorescence, which is not visible to the naked eye. Researchers at OFRI exposed tree seedlings to stress (high heat and low humidity) and then compared their pre- and post-stress “glows.” The result: seedlings that recovered well from the stress tests - as indicated by their glow characteristics - also grew better after planting. This physiological test of seedling condition was one of several developed as part of OFRI’s renowned Stock Quality Assessment Program in the 1990s and now in operational use in Ontario.
Researchers also developed a test that used a glow-in-the-dark stain called fluorescein diacetate to determine whether tree seeds are viable. The more a stained seed glows, the more viable it is. More effective and quicker to use than previous tests, this procedure is now used by tree seed plants in Ontario.
Want to know more?
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Insights Vol. 2, No. 2 (Page 4)
An improved fluorescein diacetate seed viability test for jack pine, black spruce, and white spruce (Seed Science and Technology) - order the pdf
