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Viability testing

The biological material in genebank collections ages with time and therefore requires routine monitoring so that appropriate actions are taken to keep sufficient amounts of material alive and healthy. Planning and prioritizing of monitoring activities relies on having access to the most recent and current information about collection state.

Typically, the sequence of steps in viability testing is as follows:

  1. Schedule an inventory action for the viability test.
  2. Prepare an order, associated with the scheduled viability test, for receiving the material to be tested.
  3. Once the material has arrived, subdivide each sample into replicates.
  4. Observe and record the germinability of each replicate.
  5. Finish the test and calculate the seed viability.

GGCE provides tools that guide and support technicians during their routine operations, like seed viability testing. Data capture is aligned with the process, which ensures data is correctly recorded, time-stamped and linked to the person who recorded the data.