ISTA NEWS BULLETIN No. 77, OCTOBER 1984

This bulletin gives information about the 21st Congress of ISTA (the International Seed Testing Association). It will take place in Brisbane, Australia, from 11 to 18 July 1986. The programme will consist of the following:

One of the Post Congress Tours will be a Forestry Tour to SE Queensland and NE New South Wales. Technical interest will centre on hardwood timber production, hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghanii) and general horticulture and agriculture of these areas.

Papers of a high standard on any seed related matter appropriate to the functions and aims of the Association may be presented for the seed symposium. However, contributions related to the topics specific below are particularly sought after.

I - V Seed problems in the world, particularly in the sub-tropics and tropics:

1. Seed production, processing and certification

2. Seed and cultivar identification

3. Germination and tetrazolium

4. Seed-borne diseases, testing and treatment

5. Storage and vigour

6. Recent developments in seed physiology and biochemistry

7. New developments with tree seeds and ornamentals

8. Miscellaneous papers (including training, automation and computerisation).

The deadline for Symposium manuscripts is 31 December 1985

Selected Symposium papers will be published in “Seed Science and Technology” ¹

Much of the work of ISTA is done through Committees and Working Groups. The current organization of the Forest Tree and Shrub Seed Committee is as follows:

FOREST TREE AND SHRUB SEED COMMITTEE (Chairman: E.W. Belcher, USA)

1. Coordination Working Group (Leader: E.W. Belcher, USA)

   1. To keep abreast of committee activities and reports to Forest Committee members.

   2. To ensure forest species are considered in committee work.

   3. Initiate working groups on tree seed problems when possible.

2. Germination Estimates Working Group (Leader: G. Eicke, Fed.Rep. of Germany)

   1. To work on and improve those portions of the rules and appendices dealing with excised embryo and tetrazolium.

   2. Work on evaluation of reducing the number of seed per test.

   3. Make comparative tests between EE and TZ.

   4. Make comparisons between tetrazolium and indigo carmine.

   5. Evaluate more dormant species for inclusion in EE and TZ.

3. Tree Seed Pathology Working Group (Leader: R.L. Anderson, USA)

   1. Test effectiveness of developed technique.

   2. Prepare results for presentation at 1986 meeting.

   3. Evaluate potential for inclusion in Forest Handbook or Seed Health Handbook or establish a new handbook.

4. Proposed Terms of Reference for the tree seed testing working group (Leader: B.S.P. Wang, Canada)

   1. To explore possible techniques for vigor testing of tree seed.

   2. To verify laboratory abnormal germination.

   3. To review laboratory testing methods of tree species.

   4. To develop shorter laboratory testing methods for dormant tree seed.

5. X-ray Evaluation Working Group (Leader: M. Simak, Sweden)

   1. Make x-ray and cutting test comparisons.

   2. Perfect contrast techniques.

6. Agroforestry Working Group (Leader: E.W. Belcher, USA)

   1. Identify major species for agroforestry.

   2. Priortize species list.

   3. Gather known data on handling seed.

   4. Obtain working samples and begin gathering test data.

7. General Working Group (Leader: F.T. Bonner, USA)

   1. Complete final draft of Forest Handbook.

   2. Provide data and assist in analysis of data for weight replicates. Propose action for 1986.

   3. Gather data on electronic moisture meters and other methods related to tree seed analysts' needs.

For further information please contact the ISTA Secretariat (Reckenholz, P.O. 412, CH-8046, Zürich, Switzerland).

¹ Issue No. 12 of 1984 of Seed Science and Technology contained several papers on forest tree seed which are noted in “Recent Literature of Interest” elsewhere in this issue of FGRI.