SAMPLING

painstaking sampling is actually

the first step in assuring accuracy
and precision in seed testing.
- North Central Regional Extension Publication 403
Doug Miller, RGT
Illinois Crop Improvement Association
217-359-4053 dmiller@ilcrop.com
Resources
Domestic
USDA AMS, AOSA, AOASC, etc.
USDA GIPSA
International
International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the
United Nations Codex alimentarius: FAO/WHO
Food Standards
Commonalities
Accessibility
Distribution
Frequency
Accessibility
All containers/bags
All portions of the
container or bag
Physical access
Proper equipment
Bags
Bulk
Accessibility
If the nature of the
presentation of the
lotmakes it impossible to
adequately apply these
proceduresan
alternative presentation of
the lot [should] be sought
- International Rules for Seed Testing
Distribution
Representative portions
Well separated points
Different paths
Equal amounts
Bulk
X
X
X
X
X
Top
Side
Frequency
How many bags?
sample 5 bags plus at least 10% of
the number of bags in the lot
regardless of lot size it is not
necessary to sample more than 30
bags
- AOSA Sampling Procedures
Frequency
How many probe samples for bulk?
take at least as many cores or
handfuls as if the same quantity of
seed were in bags of ordinary size.
- AOSA Sampling Procedures
Creating the Final Sample
Heterogeneous keep separate
Composite mix thoroughly
Sample Size - use appropriate
reduction methods
Equipment
Probes, Triers and Hands
Can you reach all
portions of the container?
Equipment
Pelican and Tailgate
Samplers
Equipment
Diverter Type or Mechanical Samplers
Equipment
Cleanliness
Trapped seed and particulate
Proper use
Training and evaluation
Calibration/maintenance
All types of equipment
Sampling Objective
The object of sampling is to obtain a
sample of a size suitable for tests,
in which the probability of a
constituent being present is
determined only by its level of
occurrence in the seed lot.
- International Rules for Seed Testing
Laboratory Considerations
Sampling the sample
Checks and indicators
Sources of bias
Working Sample
The working sampleshall be taken from the
submitted sample in such a manner that it will
be representative. - AOSA Sampling Procedures
Mix thoroughly
Divide
Mechanical
Pie method
Small random portions
Boerner
Divider
Checks and Indicators
Positive check (Resistant)
Negative check (Susceptible)
Untreated check (Normal)
Variation within a test
Variation among tests
Checks Where? How many?
Kimpak/Versa-Pak (TC)
Checks Where? How many?
Greenhouse Flats
Untreated
Checks Where? How many?
GH Flats or Rolled Towel (RT)
Pos. Neg.
Untreated
Sources of Bias
Occur at any stage
Recognizable to unrecognizable
Can only be limited, never eliminated
Reality Check- What are inferences based upon?
2,500 unit seed lot
200 million seeds (soybeans)
312.5 million seeds (corn)
Test Test size Ratio(corn)
Purity 1,736 seeds 1 : 115,207
Bioassay 400 seeds 1 : 500,000
Bt-ELISA 90 seeds 1 : 2.2 million
Sampling Review
Accessibility, distribution & frequency
Working sample, checks and indicators,
limiting bias, know the realities
Safety First!
Domestic
International
Other Commodities
Sampling Resources
More Information - Seed
AASCO - Handbook on Sampling
Seed
http://www.seedtechnology.net/sampli
ng.htm
More Information - Seed
Extension Publication NCR403
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publi
cations/NCR403.pdf
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plan
tsci/smgrains/ncr403w.htm
More Information - Seed
ISTA www.seedtest.org
Handbook on Seed Sampling, 2
nd
Edition, 2004 by M. Kruse ISBN 3-
906549-42-9, 148pgs
International Rules for Seed Testing
More Information - Grain
How to Improve Your Sampling
Procedures, Hurburgh
http://www.grainnet.com/info/articles.ht
ml?type=ar&ID=2346
USDA Grain Inspection, Packers and
Stockyards Administration (GIPSA)
http://www.usda.gov/gipsa/reference-
library/brochures/sampling.pdf
More Information - Grain
Food and Agriculture Organization,
United Nations and the Codex
alimentarius FAO/WHO (World Health
Organization) Food Standards
http://www.fao.org/docrep/T1838E/T18
38E0l.htm#Sampling,%20equipment%
20and%20methods
http://www.codexalimentarius.net/