Technical Committees

The principal objective of ISTA Technical Committees is to develop, standardise and validate methods for sampling and testing of seed quality, using the best scientific knowledge available.

These tasks are subject-focused in Technical Committees where scientists, technicians, and specialists from all over the world work closely together for the enhancement of seed testing methodologies.

The Technical Committees perform comparative studies and surveys in different research fields. They develop and enhance the ISTA ‘International Rules for Seed Testing’ and ISTA Handbooks on seed methods including sampling, testing, and processing seeds, and are responsible for the organisation of Symposia, Seminars, and Workshops. ISTA Technical Committees regularly hold workshops that provide a platform for the exchange of information, experience, and ideas.

Technical Committee Projects and Initiatives

Completed Technical Committee Projects funded by ISTA

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎	Titles‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎	Lead‎er‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎	Co-leader ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎	Project participants from TCOM‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎	Links to Reports/Outcome
19-1	Assessment on available technologies of imaging and image analysis for other seeds determination (OSD), purity analysis and germination.	Ruojing Wang (PUR)	Bert van Dujin (ATC)	David Johnston (GER), Axel Göritz (MOI, PUR), Birte Boelt (ATC), Aidin Hamidi (GER), Sylvie Docournau (GER), Selma Kurt (MOI, PUR), Debbie Meyer (PUR, NOM)	https://issues.ink/ista/160-october-2020/?page=42 Final Report: https://doi.org/10.15258/sst.2022.50.1.s.05
19-2	New Technologies for Other Seeds Determination	Birte Boelt (ATC)	Gerarda de Boer (PUR WG)	Dot Vittrup Pedersen (PUR, GER), Aurélie Charrier (ATC, PUR), Bert van Duijn (ATC)	https://issues.ink/ista/160-october-2020/?page=42 Final Report: New Technologies for Other Seeds Determination
19-3	Development of rapid tests to predict germination and vigour, and their potential for automation using image analysis	Sylvie Ducournau (GER)	Alison Powell (VIG)	Takashi Shinohara (VIG), Birte Boelt (ATC), Marie-Helene Wagner (VIG)	https://issues.ink/ista/160-october-2020/?page=44 Final Report: https://issues.ink/ista/163-february-2022/?page=22 Paper in Seed Science and Technology (Shiohara et al., 2021) Paper in Seed Science and Technology (Wagner et al. 2023) Paper in Seed Science and Technology (Shinohara et al., 2024)
20-1	Exploration of methods for detecting insects in seed lots	Aurélie Charrier (ATC, PUR)	Francisco G. Gomes Junior (ATC)	Corinne Sahuguede, Bert van Duijn (ATC), Birte Boelt (ATC)	https://issues.ink/ista/162-august-2021/?page=18 Final Report: Exploration of methods for detecting insects in seed lots
21-2	Update Seedling Images for Handbook and Training as a basis for regular image collection	Janek Bartel (GER)		GER TCOM members	Images will be published in the next edition of the Seedling Evaluation Handbook
23-1	SHC Image Collection Special Project	Nicole Calliou (SHC WG)	Nicolas Denance (SHC)	SHC members	https://seedhealthtestimagedb.info/about
	ISTA Reference Pest List	Nicolas Denance (SHC)		SHC members	ISTA Reference Pest List

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