OBJECTIVETo study testing methods of seed quality, and provide a basis for establishing seed testing specification of Cyathula officinalis.

METHODReferring to the Specifications for Agricultural Seed Testing, the optimal testing methods of seed quality of C. officinalis were screened.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe testing method for C. officinalis seed quality has been initially established. At least 8 g seeds should be sampled and passed through 20-mesh sieve for purity analysis. The phenotypic observation and size measurement were used for authenticity testing. The seeds were inoculated directly on PDA medium, cultured 5 days on 28 degrees C for seed health testing. The weight of 1 000 seeds was determined by using the 500-seed method. The water content of the seeds was determined under the higher temperature (133 +/- 2) degrees C for 3 hours. The seeds were dipped into 0.1% TTC solution 3 hours for determining viability. The seeds were cultured on pleated paper at 25 degrees C for 2-9 days for germination testing.