Arizona Seed Production for Small-Scale Producers: Germination Requirements

‘“Germination” means the emergence and development from the seed embryo of those essential structures that, for the kind of seed in question, are indicative of the ability to produce a normal plant under favorable conditions.” (3 A.A.C. 04). In biological terms, this is the stage of plant development where the seedling emerges from the seed coat or similar. In seed production, germination is the process to test the percentage of seedling emergence from a pre-determined number of seeds in a controlled environment. The germination rate is expressed as an emergence percentage.