The Latest Methods for Identifying Fake and Inferior Hybrid Rice Seeds

Look at uniformity

Hybrid rice seeds mixed with other rice grains have uneven grain shapes. The mixed-in male parent or other indica rice is clearly more slender and plump than hybrid rice seeds, while japonica rice grains are rounder.

Look at husk color

Hybrid rice seed husks carry a slightly uneven yellowish-brown and other physiological discoloration, while the grains of the male parent and the maintainer line are more uniform in color; the maintainer line and other mixed-in grains have higher transparency than hybrid rice seeds, and their husks are smoother than those of hybrid rice seeds.

Look at stigma traces

Because non-hybrid rice grains mostly belong to self-pollination, the pistil stigma is not exposed, and the stigma trace remains inside the husk; after peeling open the husk, a small light-black stigma trace can be seen at the top of the grain. Hybrid seeds, however, belong to cross-pollination, and the stigma is exposed; by carefully observing the middle of the seam between the inner and outer glumes of the grain, a not very obvious small black dot, namely the stigma trace, can be found. This is an important basis for identifying hybrid rice seeds and other rice grains.

Look at dye testing

The method is to cut the rice husk lengthwise from the embryo into two halves, take one half of each grain, wash it clean, and soak it in red ink diluted to a 60-fold solution; after 1 hour, take it out and rinse it with clean water. If the embryo is not dyed or is only lightly dyed, it proves that the seed is viable; if it is deeply dyed, it proves that the seed has lost viability. In this way, deteriorated seeds among hybrid seeds that will not germinate can be identified.

Look at seed purity

Take a handful of seeds; if there are solid particles such as soil particles and sand grains among the fingers and palm, and fine powdery matter sticks to the fingers, it proves that the seed purity does not reach the standard stipulated by the state (99%).

Look at seed moisture content

A simple method is to bite a grain with the teeth; if there is a sharp crisp sound, the moisture content is basically normal; if there is no sharp crisp sound or the broken surface of the grain is uneven, the seed moisture content is generally higher than the normal standard (11.5%).

Look at the seed "three certificates"

Seeds that have a seed business license, a quality certificate and a plant protection department pest quarantine certificate are high-quality hybrid rice seeds. Otherwise, they are fake and inferior hybrid rice seeds.