Testing dormant wheat for life
By Ron Meyer
According to Crop Watch, to determine if wheat plants are alive before active growth begins in the spring:
--Remove the top 3 inches of soil containing the plant crown.
--Thaw the samples and warm to room temperature.
--Remove soil from the roots and wash with cool water to remove attached soil.
--Cut off fall growth to within 1 inch above the crown and roots below the crown.
--Rinse the crowns with cool water.
--Place 10 wet crowns in a labeled plastic bag, inflate the bag and tie shut.
--Place the bags in a lighted room, but not in direct sunlight.
--Check the crowns in two days rinse with cool water and re-inflate the bag.
--After four days, the crown should show about two inches of grows.
--Plants that are not growing after six days should be considered dead when estimating survival.
--Some plants may grow poorly and develop molds. Molds live on dead or injured plants.