Since I am grading forest seeds, it is important for me to know the following.
1. Is it possible to determine this by a non-destructive method? After all, in this case, it would be advisable to select dormant seeds before storing them, or perhaps put them into hibernation. 2. Is there a clear gradation in any measurable parameters between dormant or viable seeds, and where is the line between these properties?
I think my response is too obvious. Knowing the seeds only grow under certain conditions, and even so, they still need a certain amount of nutrients or at least sense the nutrients, the dormant seed, will need to be viable, but the seeds will only be viable for around 5 years and maybe not much more. The hibernation procedure, such as an acclimatation? I think you can measure them without destruction of the sample, but as you might imagine it would be the most difficult. The hibernation would be best, but would you say better than the dormant selection? After all the best one is the viable. The fossilized is a seed which has lost its properties and it is true you can rescue them without destruction. Maybe say only a small part is destroyed.
A dormant seed is still viable. The only non-destructive test for seed viability is the flotation test, with non-viable seeds floating in water and viable seeds sinking (fossilised seeds would sink too though). Germination trials test for viability, but the germination process obviously destroy seeds too. Spectrometric tests are destructive because they look for chemicals in macerated seeds. And seeds can be put into hibernation at minus 18 degrees C at minimum moisture content :)
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TTZ method can be used using a small sample and record the percentage viability before and at the end of experimentation. Floatation test can be used but it is not applicable to the many species.
Yes, for this you can use Infrared thermography (thermal image) and an X-ray imaging inspection system to evaluate the viability of the seed. These are the advanced non-destructive methods to detect seed viability.
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