Key Points
Germination of cereal seed can be reduced by seed damage with further reductions in germination if damaged seed is treated with some fungicides.
- Harvesting can cause non-visible damage to seed. This damage, often cracking, can be minimised by adjusting clearances and drum speed.
- Cooling dried seed too quickly can increase the cracking of grain and tempering (cooling in stages) is required to minimise this.
- Damage occurring in seed cleaning can reduce germination of seed.