Regulations last checked for updates: Sep 29, 2023

Title 7 - Agriculture last revised: Sep 26, 2023
§ 201.55 - Retests.

Retests shall be made as follows:

(a) When the range of 100-seed replicates of a given test exceeds the maximum tolerated range in the table appearing in this section.

Table of Maximum Tolerated Ranges Between 100-Seed Replicates for Use in Connection With § 201.55(A)

Average percent germinations Maximum allowed
between replicates
4
replicates
2
replicates
9925
9836
97476
96586
95697
947108
938108
929119
9110119
9011129
89121210
88131310
87141311
86151411
85161411
84171411
83181512
82191512
81201512
80211613
79221613
78231613
77241713
76251713
75261714
74271714
73281714
72291814
71301814
70311814
69321814
68331815
67341815
66351915
65361915
64371915
63381915
62381915
61401915
60411915
59421915
58431915
57441915
56451915
55462015
54472016
53482016
52482016
51502016

(b) When at the time of the prescribed final count there are indications, such as presence of firm ungerminated seeds, that a satisfactory germination has not been obtained;

(c) When there is evidence that the results may not be reliable due to improper test conditions, errors in seedling evaluation, the presence of fungi or bacteria, or inaccuracies in counting or recording results;

(d) When a sample shows seedling injury or abnormality as a result of chemical treatment, of exposure to chemicals, or of toxicity from any source. (Retest shall be made in soil or a mixture of soil and sand);

(e) When no two satisfactory tests are within tolerance.

Note to § 201.55:

To find the maximum tolerated range, compute the average percentage of all 100 seed replicates of a given test, rounding off the result to the nearest whole number. The germination is found in the first two columns of the table. When the differences between highest and lowest replicates do not exceed the corresponding values found in the “4 replicates” column, no additional testing is required. However, if the differences exceed the values in the “4 replicates” column, retesting is necessary.

[25 FR 8771, Sept. 13, 1960, as amended at 65 FR 1707, Jan. 11, 2000]
authority: 7 U.S.C. 1592.
cite as: 7 CFR 201.55