Normal seedlings contain all their parts and will develop into complete plants under normal conditions.

Normal Seedlings

Normal & Abnormal Seedling Comparison

Abnormal seedlings are missing integral parts, or have lesions or other damage, and will NOT develop into a complete plant under normal conditions.

Because a seed "sprouts" is not an indication it will develop into a normal seedling. Specific rules for testing are followed by seed labs to determine seedling viability.

Abnormal seedlings may be caused by immaturity, adverse weather conditions, disease, insect damage, mechanical damage, heat damage or other types of stress during seed development or during conditioning and handling.

Abnormal Seedlings