How Do You Evaluate Corn Seed Damage?
Growing your own fruits and vegetables takes a little work, but is a rewarding process. When growing corn, first inspect your seeds for any damage that may prevent germination. Once seeds are planted, they are exposed to soil bacteria, fungi and insects. A healthy seed is better suited to resist pathogens and successfully germinate. Corn kernels turn into corn seeds, therefore a seed will resemble the kernel in shape. A non-damaged seed will be pale yellow in color and hard to the touch. Inspect the seeds visually for fungal damage. There are a variety of molds that like to feast off of corn seeds. The exposed starch in broken kernels of corn can attract mold. Mold is fairly simple to distinguish with the unaided eye. Mold on a seed will look very similar to mold on bread. If necessary, use your pin to scratch at the mold, and your magnifying glass to aid identification. Examine your seeds for environmental damage. The most common trait of an environmentally damaged kernel is that it c
