ABSTRACT
Modern crop production systems require a high degree of precision in crop establishment (Salter, 1985). The need for high plant population densities and uniform plant stands for machine harvest has led to a growing interest in direct field sowing. At the same time, the widespread use of various module systems for vegetable and ornamental plant raising requires that each cell of the module contain a plant. Consequently, seed of high quality that will consistently produce rapid and uniform seedling emergence from each seed sown is required. Increasing use of expensive hybrid seed has placed additional emphasis on the performance of each seed planted.
