Evaluation location: Iowa, United States
Seeds are surface sterilized using a 10% bleach solution. Germination boxes, forceps, spoon, and any other utensils are surfaced sterilized in 50% bleach solution and rinsed with distilled water. Blotters are wetted with distilled water and sterilized in microwave for 1 minute. Three blotters are placed inside single germination box. Seeds are placed on blotter separated by at least 2 cm. Activated carbon is sprinkled on top of kernel, completely covering a single kernel at a time. Boxes are placed in germinator set on alternating 20-30 degrees C and alternating light-dark. When seedling leaves begin emerging from the coleoptile, they are transplanted to 7.6 cm jiffy pots half filled with wetted soil and placed inside a tray. Water is added to tray within 24 hours of seedlings drying out. Soil is added to the pots as the seedlings develop. When seedlings are developed and roots have emerged jiffy pots are transplanted to 3/4 filled large plastic pots. All soil mixture is 50% potting mix, 25% field soil, and 25% sand.