Vigour tests as indicators of seed viability

Seed marks the beginning of each plant production and therefore ensuring its quality is the priority of modern seed science and prerequisite for obtaining high yields of all plant species. Determination of seed quality and its viability indicates what seed lots can be placed onto market, and for that reason it is very important to have reliable mathods and tests to be used for seed quality and seed vigour testing. The term vigour of viability is used to describe the physiological characteristics of seeds that control its ability to germinate rapidly in the soil and to tolerate various, mostly negative environmental factors. In this paper, these tests are described and discussed.