AFBI's Plant Testing Station, Crossnacreevy is a specialist centre for the evaluation of plant varieties and seeds. Staff with the appropriate scientific and technical expertise and laboratory and trial grounds facilities are available to conduct a wide range of assessments on varieties of arable, herbage and forage species.
The station currently conducts an extensive programme of statutory testing for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Northern Ireland, for the UK on an inter-departmental basis and for a number of other EU member states, through bilateral agreements. It is the official seed testing station for Northern Ireland and also produces a number of recommended lists on behalf of DARD.
The stations research programmes seek to improve the exploitation of new varieties on-farm and advance knowledge on their biology and agronomy under Northern Irish growing conditions. It also conducts a number of contract research projects for industry. The lead scientists provide an expert knowledge service to DARD, and to the local agricultural industry.
Testing for seed germination, seed lot purity and other seed related tests are also carried out at the Official Seed Testing Station, Crossnacreevy. All tests are conducted according to International Seed Testing Association regulations and so are validated tests.
The procedures and time scales for the tests depend on the agricultural, horticultural or amenity species being tested:
- Variety identity testing using plant morphological characteristics is available for ryegrasses (Lolium sp) and white clovers (Trifolium repens).
- Comparisons can be made against the current EU Common Catalogue of varieties in these species.
- Tests can take up to four years depending on how detailed a description is required.
- An estimate of relative grass heading date or clover flowering date is completed within two years, while a full description and comparison against the Common Catalogue varieties can take up to four years.
- Variety identity testing using protein electrophoresis or molecular methods is available for most forage grasses and involves comparing band patterns between unknown and control samples to determine if they match or whether they present a genetic difference.
- Variety end-use evaluation on crops and crop products is available for most crop and forage species that are likely to be adapted to Northern Irish growing conditions.
- Tests are performed using the trial fields at Crossnacreevy and at a number of off-station sites utilized as part of the annual variety evaluation trials.
- Information on yield and quality characteristics can be provided.
- Tests for specialist attributes can be designed to meet customer needs and information can be generated on the adaptability of the plant material in delivering its end-use potential under local growing conditions.
For more information on seed and variety testing please contact:
Herbage and Forage Species
Dr. Trevor Gilliland
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute
Plant Testing Station
Crossnacreevy
Arable Crop Species
Dr. Ethel White
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute
Plant Testing Station
Crossnacreevy
