Herbicide Bioassay
Duration: Typically 6-7 days
HB tests are used to used to determine the percentage of seeds that are tolerant to a herbicide (genetic purity) or sometimes it is used to detect the absence of tolerance (adventitious presence). We recommend using immunoassay or PCR tests to determine whether seeds are free of biotech traits.
Herbicide Bioassay
Test Details
HB tests are done by adding diluted herbicide to a planting substrate for the entire length of the test (substrate imbibition), overnight in herbicide solution and then planted or seedlings in a test in the lab or in a greenhouse and sprayed with herbicide. The herbicide doesn’t kill seeds, but rather causes symptoms on seeds without the proper herbicide trait or traits.
Iowa State University Laboratory Seed Testing Price List
Prices effective September 2022.
- Treating seeds cost per sample will be less depending on the number of samples.
- Testing by ISTA or Canada Rules (M&P) may require an extra charge.
| Crop** | Standard Germination | Purity Test | Noxious Exam | Tetrazolium (TZ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corn | $16 | $18 | $18 | $38 |
| Soybeans | $16 | $18 | $18 | $32 |
| Industrial Hemp | $25*** | $18 | $12 | Hourly |
| Cereals, Millet, Sorghum, Buckwheat, Flax, Sunflower, Cotton | $18 | $14 | $12 | $34 |
| Small-Seeded Legumes | $20 | $17 | $12 | $40 |
| Vegetables 1, Flowers 1 | $20 | $17 | $12 | $40 |
| Vegetable 2, Flowers 2, Herbs, & small-seeded species | $25 | $17 | $12 | $40 |
| Grasses: Category 1 | $25 | $25 | $21 | $40 |
| Grasses: Category 2 | $35 | Hourly | Hourly | Hourly |
| Grasses: Category 3 | $35 | $27 | $21 | Hourly |
| GRASS MIXTURES | $35/species | Hourly | Hourly | Hourly |
| Tree, Shrub, Weeds | $35 | Hourly | Hourly | Hourly |
** Mixtures, dirty, and/or low quality samples are subject to a $50.00/hour charge.
*** Significant ungerminated seeds at the end of a germ test are subject to an hourly charge.
Other Tests
| Test | Price |
|---|---|
| Sand Germination | $22 |
| Iowa Tray Cold Test | $17 |
| Accelerated Aging | $17 |
| Saturated Cold Test | $27 |
| Oven Moisture | $18 |
| Instrument Moisture | $10 |
| Bleach Test | $18 |
| Fast Green Test | $24 |
| Seed Count | $10 |
| Test Weight | $10 |
| Seed Treatment | $10 |
| Hourly Charge | $60 |
Other tests available on request – see below for misc. pricing / notes.
SMALL-SEEDED LEGUMES:
- Alfalfa, Clover, Prairie Clover, Sweet Clovers, Crownvetch, Guar, Lespedeza, Trefoil,Vetch, Hairy Vetch
GRASS CATEGORIES:
- Category 1: Brome grass, Fescue, Orchardgrass, Ryegrass (without fluorescence test)
- Category 2: Indiangrass, Prairie Cordgrass, Indian Ricegrass, Alkali Grass, Prairie Dropseed, Sand Dropseed, Lovegrass, Switchgrass, Bluestems, Reed Canarygrass, Gramas, Buffalograss, Creeping Foxtail Wheatgrass spp., Sporobulus spp., Stipa spp., Sugarcane, Teff, Three-awns
- Category 3: Bentgrass, Bluegrass, Buffalograss, Redtop, Timothy, Bluejoint, Juncus spp., Junegrass, Purpletop, Pennisetum
VEGETABLE CATEGORIES:
- Category 1: Vegetable species not in Category 2
- Category 2: Beet, Sugar Beet, Swiss Chard, Carrot, Celery, Chickpea, Lentil, Lettuce, Parsnip, Pepper, New Zealand Spinach, Peanut
FLOWER CATEGORIES:
- Category 1: Flower species not in Category 2
- Category 2: Alyssum, Begonia, Geranium, Hollyhock, Ipomoea, Lathyrus, Lobelia, Lupine, Malva, Petunia , Gentiana, Birdhouse Gourds, Partridge Pea, Sidalcea, Penstemon
How is testing invoiced and paid for?
- The report of analysis has the fee listed as well as test results, but payment is not made from the report. A billing statement will be sent at the end of the month, but payment isn’t made from this either. Finally, Iowa State University Accounts Receivable will mail an invoice and payment is made from that invoice.
- Payment is normally made by check as we don’t accept credit cards.