Report of the Proficiency Test Committee presented by Günter Müller Proficiency Test Committee Members • Günter Müller (Chair) • Zita Ripka • Didier Demilly (Vice Chair) • Håkon Tangerås • Sharon Davidson • Benno Voit • Timothy J. Gutormson • Ruojing Wang • Mari Jürman • Gisela Wustmann • Sinikka Köylijärvi • Silvia Zanetti • Gillian McLaren • Rita Zecchinelli • Takayuki Okuda Reports Content Introduction of the Proficiency Test Leaders 2011 Results and Evaluation of performed Proficiency Test Rounds 2011 Results of accredited Laboratories Results of voluntary Laboratories Results of the Seed Mixture OSD Test Influence of Procedures for Promoting Germination and Germination Test Methods used by accredited labs on the Results. Scheduled Proficiency Test Rounds in 2012 and 2013. Introduction of the Proficiency Test Leaders 2011 Introduction of the Test Leader 11-1 • PT 11-1 Helianthus annuus • Test Leader Didier Demelly • Scope Purity, OSD, Germination Introduction of the Test Leader 11-1 • PT 11-1 Flower Seed Lathyrus odoratus • Test Leader Zita Ripka • Scope Germination Introduction of the Test Leader 11-2 • PT 11-2 Triticum aestivum • Test Leader Håkon Tangerås • Scope Purity, OSD, Germination, TZ, Moisture Content Determination Introduction of the Test Leaders • PT 11-3 Trifolium pratense • Test Leader Sinikka Köylijärvi • Scope Purity, OSD, Germination Introduction of the Test Leader Seed Mixture Training Test • Seed Mixture Training Test • Scope: OSD Round • Subject: Determination of • Test Leader 20 different weed and crop species mixed in a sample Günter Müller • Participants: 130 • Seed Testing Station (volunteers only) DE18 Results and Evaluation of performed Proficiency Test Rounds 2011 PT Rounds 2011 Purity Testing Accredited Labs 100% 1 9 80% BMP 60% C 103 99 80 B 40% A 20% 0% 11-1 H.ann 11-2 T.aes 11-3 T.pra PT Rounds 2011 Purity Testing Voluntary Labs 100% 1 3 3 1 4 80% 7 BMP 60% C 41 45 B 40% 34 A 20% 0% 11-1 H.ann 11-2 T.aes 11-3 T.pra PT11-1 Helianthus annuus; Mean Value and Standard Deviation of Pure Seed Pure Seed Sample Mean % SD 1 99.33 0.16 2 99.19 0.18 3 99.09 0.19 PT11-2 Triticum aestivum; Mean Value and Standard Deviation of Pure Seed Pure Seed Sample Mean % SD 1 98.91 0.21 2 98.87 0.21 3 98.83 0.21 PT11-3 Trifolium pratense; Mean Value and Standard Deviation of Pure Seed Pure Seed Sample Mean % SD 1 98.53 0.27 2 98.65 0.25 3 98.56 0.24 PT Rounds 2011 OSD Accredited Labs 2 100% 2 5 C; 1 6 5 13 80% BMP 60% C 96 91 B 40% 71 A 20% 0% 11-1 H.ann 11-2 T.aes 11-3 T.pra PT Rounds 2011 OSD Voluntary Labs 100% 3 4 9 10 80% 3 8 2 8 BMP 60% 16 C B 40% A 29 29 20% 17 0% 11-1 H.ann 11-2 T.aes 11-3 T.pra PT11-3 Trifolium pratense; Retrieval and Identification Rate Lot 1 Retrieval & Species name # Seeds added Identification % Lotus corniculatus 3 77.5 Polygonum aviculare 2 93.7 Taraxacum officinale 4 96.1 PT11-3 Trifolium pratense; Retrieval and Identification Rate Lot 2 Retrieval & Species name # Seeds added Identification % Elytrigia repens 4 80.7 Melilotus albus 3 39.3 Rumex longifolius 2 96.3 PT Rounds 2011 Germination Testing Accredited Labs 1 2 100% 4 2 15 2 3 18 14 80% 8 10 12 60% BMP C B 40% 79 69 68 38 A 20% 0% 11-1 H.ann 11-1 L.odo 11-2 T.aes 11-3 T.pra PT Rounds 2011 Germination Testing Voluntary Labs 100% 1 3 4 4 8 4 4 80% 9 7 3 10 60% 8 BMP C B 40% 34 35 35 A 22 20% 0% 11-1 H.ann 11-1 L.odo 11-2 T.aes 11-3 T.pra PT11-1 Helianthus annuus; Mean Value and Standard Deviation of normal Seedlings Normal Seedlings Sample Mean SD 1 95.65 1.68 2 98.03 1.00 3 86.02 2.79 PT11-1 Lathyrus odoratus; Mean Value and Standard Deviation of normal Seedlings Normal Seedlings Sample Mean SD 1 87.74 3.10 2 83.40 4.21 3 90.51 1.91 PT11-2 Triticum aestivum; Mean Value and Standard Deviation of normal Seedlings Normal Seedlings Sample Mean SD 1 89.89 1.98 2 94.30 2.38 3 95.90 1.28 PT11-3 Trifolium pratense; Mean Value and Standard Deviation of normal Seedings Normal Seedings Sample Mean SD 1 81.11 3.36 2 85.95 3.05 3 79.57 3.51 PT 11-1 Helianthus annuus; Z-Score Distribution of Normal Seedlings 80 74 68 70 59 60 49 50 40 40 26 Frequency 30 21 23 20 15 15 10 10 11 10 6 5 2 1 0 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 -4.5 -3.5 -2.5 -1.5 -0.5 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 >5 Z-scores PT 11-1 Helianthus annuus; Z-Score Distribution of Abnormal Seedlings 120 97 100 90 80 74 60 44 47 Frequency 40 26 20 12 11 11 6 7 3 4 2 1 0 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 -4.5 -3.5 -2.5 -1.5 -0.5 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 >5 Z-scores PT Rounds 2009-2011 TZ Testing Accredited Labs 100% 2 1 2 2 7 10 6 2 80% 7 BMP 60% C B 40% 38 44 45 A 20% 0% 09-1 H.vul 10-2 M. lup 11-2 T.aes PT Rounds 2009-2011 TZ Testing Voluntary Labs 100% 1 4 8 7 4 80% 3 8 6 13 BMP 60% C B 40% A 24 31 34 20% 0% 09-1 H.vul 10-2 M. lup 11-2 T.aes PT 11-2 Triticum aestivum; Z-Score Distribution of Viable Seed 70 62 61 60 50 41 40 42 40 30 23 Frequency 18 18 20 11 13 10 8 10 4 4 1 1 0 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 -4.5 -3.5 -2.5 -1.5 -0.5 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 >5 Z-scores PT Rounds 2009-2011 Moisture Determination Accredited Labs 100% 4 2 C; 1 2 C; 2 C; 2 3 7 13 80% BMP 60% C 64 81 B 40% 65 A 20% 0% 09-2 L.usi 10-2 V.fab 11-2 T.aes PT Rounds 2009-2011 Moisture Determination Voluntary Labs 100% 6 7 8 80% C; 1 C; 2 7 6 4 BMP 60% 7 C B 40% A 26 35 20% 15 0% 09-2 L.usi 10-2 V.fab 11-2 T.aes PT11-2 Triticum aestivum; Mean Value and Standard Deviation Moisture Content Determination Moisture Content Sample Mean SD 1 11.55 0.36 2 13.05 0.44 3 10.82 0.37 PT 11-2 Triticum aestivum; Z-Score Distribution of Moisture Content Determination 140 125 120 96 100 80 74 60 Frequency 40 35 24 14 20 11 7 12 4 2 5 3 3 2 1 1 0 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 -4.5 -3.5 -2.5 -1.5 -0.5 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 >5 Z-scores Conclusion of Purity Analysis Purity Analysis caused no visible problems in PT Rounds Therefore participants scored well mostly There are some small differences in the results between species tested The differences in the results between accredited and voluntary participants are not so serious Conclusion of Other Seed Determination OSD needs a lot of training and skill of the seed analysts Unexperienced participants scored poor frequently The results depend on the species tested and the seeds added To find clover seeds spiked in a clover PT Round caused visible problems There are very big differences in the results between accredited and voluntary participants Conclusion of Germination Testing There are some differences in the results between species tested This may be caused by hidden factors of seed quality for instance seed health and damages Sometimes normal seedlings were classified abnormal There are visible differences between accredited and voluntary participants Conclusion of Viability Testing In TZ Testing accredited participants achieved acceptable results since 2009 Because TZ needs a lot of profession some analysts not confident with the method classified to less viable seeds There are visible diffences in the results between accredited and voluntary participants Conclusion of Moisture Content Determination Experienced participants showed a high performance since 2009 mostly In some cases too high moisture contents were reported This may be caused by mistakes in seed grinding or insufficient drying in the oven The differences between accredited and voluntary participants are serious Results of the Seed Mixture OSD Test Seed Mixture OSD Test Comparison of Labs Accredited labs Voluntary labs n=87 n=43 1%1% 12% 14% 14% 53% 84% 21% A B C BMP Identification Rate Part 1 Species name # of seeds Identification added rate (%) Avena fatua 6 94.9 Avena sativa 6 98.5 Avena sativa black husks 5 94.4 Brachiaria brizantha 5 44.5 Cannabis sativa 7 92.2 Identification Rate Part 2 Species name # of Seeds Identification added rate (%) Chloris gayana 6 84.6 Crambe abyssinica 5 81.4 Festuca arundinacea 6 88.8 Hordeum vulgare 5 99.5 Lolium multiflorum 6 90.5 Identification Rate Part 3 Species name # of Seeds Identification added rate (%) Medicago lupulina 6 78.4 Medicago sativa 5 81.8 Panicum maximum 7 66.8 Phacelia tanacetifolia 5 90.2 Secale cereale 7 98.6 Identification Rate Part 4 Species name # of seeds Identification added rate (%) Sorghum bicolor 5 95.2 Trifolium pratense 5 88.9 Triticum aestivum 5 98.2 Triticum durum 5 92.3 xTriticosecale 5 62.9 Conclusion Seed Mixture Test Seed mixture tests are a training tool for participants not confident in seed identification It helps them to know species from all over the world used in PT Rounds It is a procedure without seed retrieval Most seeds were identifiied by paricipants in some cases however seeds were unknown and identified not or incorrectly Accredited participants scored much better than volunteers Influence of Procedures for Promoting Germination and Germination Test Methods on Results PT11-1 Helianthus annuus; Procedures for Promoting Germination Pre- # Normal Seedlings % treatment Labs Lot 1 Lot 2 Lot 3 Mean Not 67 93.8 97.2 85.7 92.2 treated Light 5 96.8 98.0 87.4 94.1 Prechill 25 98.4 96.9 84.5 93.3 PT11-1 Helianthus annuus; Substrate used for Germination Tests # Normal Seedlings % Substrate Labs Lot 1 Lot 2 Lot 3 Mean BP 42 93.6 96.7 85.5 91.9 PP 2 84.0 96.0 89.0 89.7 TP 1 98.0 97.5 85.0 93.5 S 40 94.9 97.3 85.0 92.4 OG 12 95.6 98.2 86.8 93.5 PT11-1 Helianthus annuus; Temperature used for Germination Tests Temperat # Normal Seedlings % ure Labs Lot 1 Lot 2 Lot 3 Mean 20 C 24 95.8 98.0 84.7 92.8 25 C 27 95.5 97.8 85.6 93.0 20-30 C 46 92.6 96.3 85.8 91.6 PT11-1 Lathyrus odoratus; Procedures for Promoting Germination Pre- # Normal Seedlings % treatment Labs Lot 1 Lot 2 Lot 3 Mean Not 67 89.5 87.0