The Native Seed Graduate Assistantship (NSGA) is in its third year and focuses on native plant species and innovative seed testing. South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD (SDSU) professor Neil Reese, a botanist, explained that North American native plant species are popular for conservation, xeriscapes and other natural landscaping, but for many species there are no standardized testing procedures to determine viability and germination. Some members of the native plants industry are concerned that laboratories sometimes show considerable variation in evaluating seed quality.

A procedure called Tetrazolium (TZ) testing is a big help to the industry because a sample can be analyzed for viability within 24 to 48 hours. That allows companies to make business decisions quickly on seed lots that are often sold on a "pure live seed" basis.

Mid-West Seed Services Inc. (MWSS), Brookings, SD in cooperation with SDSU, worked together to set up the graduate assistantship to concentrate on Tetrazolium research. It has helped establish SDSU and MWSS as leaders in TZ testing.

Tim Gutormson, President of MWSS, explained that traditional germination tests sometimes underestimate seed lot viability because the dormant seeds may not be stimulated to germinate, even though the seed is alive. That's not a problem for the TZ test -- a test of the seed embryo that produces a color change if the embryo is respiring. The current SDSU student selected for the assistantship is Brie Murphy and is working on TZ research for two years, with SDSU providing the coursework and advisor.

SDSU also defined the thesis topic after consultation with MWSS and other scholarship donors. MWSS provides a large share of the assistantship stipend each year, along with seed industry donations.

Companies interested in the NSGA or donating can contact Camille Koolmo at 877-692-7611 or email at camillek@mwseed.com.