Standard PT
Rounds and Results
For each PT round, the testing instruction is first released, followed by the heterogeneity result and summary report.
The first comparative test system organised by ISTA with the aim to estimate the technical competence of member laboratories and prepare them for ISTA accreditation. It includes traditional tests that are most common in the seed testing laboratories such as purity, other seed determination, germination, moisture, and viability tests.
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PT26-2 Hordeum vulgare instruction
Participants of test round PT 26-2 shall receive samples of Hordeum vulgare for purity, other seed determination, germination, moisture and thousand seed weight tests, as part of the ISTA Proficiency Test Programme for 2026-2028.
In case there is any doubt as to the integrity of the samples (e.g. broken seal, inadequate quantity of seeds) the laboratory is requested to contact the ISTA Secretariat.
Please test samples and report the results in accordance with the current ISTA Rules. Accredited laboratories are required to participate in all tests they hold a valid accreditation for. For non-accredited tests participation is voluntary.
Purity test special note: Please note that the sample weight of the test round is based on the weight of 2000 seeds, and it can differ from the weight prescribed in the Table 2C.
Other seed determination special note: The number and species names of other seeds found shall be reported in alphabetical order in accordance with the accepted names in the current ISTA List of Stabilized Plant Names (please note that synonyms will not be accepted).
Seed storage and submitting results: Remaining seed shall be carefully stored, under the responsibility of your laboratory, for re-testing or follow-up corrective actions if required. There should be sufficient seed for one re-test. It is also forbidden to sow the seeds outside your laboratory.
You are kindly asked to initiate the tests immediately after receipt of the samples and report the results by e-mail (to pt@ista.ch).
Deadline for reporting results: 15 November 2026
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PT26-1 Linum usitatissimum summary report
Test round 26-1 L.usi started with the shipment of three samples of Linum usitatissimum for purity, other seed determination and germination tests. Exercise on completion of an ISTA Orange Certificate was also included.
Samples were dispatched on 11 March 2026 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 July 2026. By this date, 97% of the 210 participants submitted their test results.
Individual results are emailed to the participants.
With publishing this information, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Leader on issues encountered or specific questions arising.
PTC Chair contact data:
Didier Demilly GEVES-SNES
Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
E-mail: didier.demilly@geves.fr -
PT25-3 Chenopodium quinoa summary report
Test round 25-3 C.gui started with the shipment of three samples of Chenopodium quinoa for germination tests.
Samples were dispatched on 12 December 2025 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 15 March 2026. By this date 94% of the 200 participants submitted their test results. Individual results are emailed to the participants.
With publishing this information, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Leader on issues encountered or specific questions arising.
PTC Chair contact data:
Didier Demilly GEVES-SNES
Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
Email: didier.demilly@geves.fr -
PT25-3 Pinus sylvestris summary report
Test round 25-3 P.syl started with the shipment of three samples of Pinus sylvestris for germination and viability (tetrazolium) tests.
Samples were dispatched on 25 November 2025 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 March 2026. Deadline for reporting the results was extended to March 15, 2026. By this date 93% of the 83 participants submitted their test results for germination test and 74% of the 83 submitted their test results for viability test. Individual results are emailed to the participants.
With publishing this information, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Leader on issues encountered or specific questions arising.
PTC Chair contact data:
Didier Demilly GEVES-SNES
Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
Email: didier.demilly@geves.fr -
PT25-2 Oryza sativa summary report
Test round 25-2 O.sat started with the shipment of three samples of Oryza sativa for purity, other seed determination, germination, moisture, viability (tetrazolium test) and thousand seed weight tests.
Exercise on completion of an ISTA Orange Certificate was also included.
Samples were dispatched on 25 September 2025 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 January 2026. By this date, 94% of the 209 participants submitted their test results. Individual results are emailed to the participants.
With the publishing of this information, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Leader on issues encountered or specific questions arising.
PTC Chair contact data:
Didier Demilly GEVES-SNES
Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
Email: didier.demilly@geves.frOSD list
OSD images
Round 14 Seed Mixture seed list and images
Summary report PT25-2 O.sat -
PT25-1 Beta vulgaris summary report
Test round 25-1 B.vul started with the shipment of three samples of Beta vulgaris coated seed for germination testing. The PT round included voluntary completion of the ISTA Orange Certificate as well.
Samples were dispatched in March 2025 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 July 2025. By this date 94% of the 180 participants submitted their test results.
Individual results are emailed to the participants.With publishing this information, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Leader on issues encountered or specific questions arising.
PTC Chair contact data:
Didier Demilly GEVES-SNES
Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
Email: didier.demilly@geves.fr -
PT25-1 Festuca rubra summary report
Test round 25-1 F.rub started with the shipment of three samples of Festuca rubra for purity, other seed determination, germination and viability testing.
Samples were dispatched in March 2025 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 July 2025. By this date 91% of the 160 participants submitted their test results. Individual results are emailed to the participants.
With publishing this information, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Leader on issues encountered or specific questions arising.
PTC Chair contact data:
Didier Demilly GEVES-SNES
Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
Email: didier.demilly@geves.fr -
PT24-3 Lactuca sativa summary report
Test round 24-3 L.sat started with the shipment of three samples of Lactuca sativa for purity, other seed determination and germination testing. Samples were dispatched in November 2024 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 March 2024. By this date 93% of the 189 participants submitted their test results. Individual results are emailed to the participants.
With publishing this information, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Leader on issues encountered or specific questions arising.
PTC Chair contact data:
Didier Demilly GEVES-SNES
Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France Email: didier.demilly@geves.frOSD List
OSD images Lot 1
OSD images Lot 2
OSD images Lot 3
Summary report PT24-3 L.sat -
PT24-3 Coriandrum sativum summary report
Test round 24-3 C.sat started with the shipment of three samples of Coriandrum sativum for germination testing.
Samples were dispatched in November 2024 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 March 2024. By this date 94% of the 183 participants submitted their test results.
Individual results are emailed to the participants.
With publishing this information, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Leader on issues encountered or specific questions arising.
PTC Chair contact data:
Didier Demilly GEVES-SNES
Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
Email: didier.demilly@geves.fr -
PT24-2 Arachis hypogaea summary report
Test round 24-2 A.hyp started with the shipment of three samples of Arachis hypogaea for germination test. Samples were dispatched in July 2024 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 November 2024, which was postponed to 15 December 2024. By this date, 86% out of the 176 participants submitted their test results.
Evaluation of the preliminary results and rankings took some time as the obtained results were not usual for the ISTA Proficiency Test rounds. After thorough discussion it is concluded that this PT round needs to be cancelled.Detailed explanation about the reasons for this decision are presented within the summary report.
PTC Chair contact data:
Didier Demilly GEVES-SNES
Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
Email: didier.demilly@geves.fr -
PT24-2 Matthiola longipetala heterogeneity test and summary report
Test round 24-2 M.lon started with the shipment of three samples of Matthiola longipetala for germination test.
Samples were dispatched in June 2024 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 November 2024. By this date, 96% of the 132 participants submitted their test results.
Heterogeneity test results are provided on the ISTA website to allow the participants to review them. Heterogeneity results are the mean results of 10 samples that had been tested by the Test Leader prior to sample dispatch. The results are not necessarily the means that will be calculated but shall give a first indication of the seed quality parameters.
With publishing this heterogeneity test report, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Committee Chair on issues encountered or specific questions arising.PTC Chair contact data:
Didier Demilly GEVES-SNES
Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
Email: didier.demilly@geves.fr -
PT24-1 Triticum aestivum subsp. astivum heterogeneity test and summary report
Test round 24-1 T.aes started with the shipment of three samples of Triticum aestivum subsp aestivum for purity, other seed identification, germination, moisture test, viability (tetrazolium) test, vigour (radicle emergence) and thousand seed weight tests. Exercise on completion of an ISTA Orange Certificate was also included.
Samples were dispatched in March 2024 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 July 2024. By this date 95% of the 213 participants submitted their test results.
Heterogeneity test results are provided on the ISTA website to allow the participants to review them. Heterogeneity results are the mean results of 10 samples that had been tested by the Test Leader prior to sample dispatch. The results are not necessarily the means that will be calculated but shall give a first indication of the seed quality parameters.
With publishing this heterogeneity test report, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Committee Chair on issues encountered or specific questions arising.
PTC Chair contact data:
Mr. Didier Demilly
GEVES-SNES Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
Email: didier.demilly@geves.frHeterogeneity results 24-1 T.aes
OSD photos
Round 13 Seed Mixture seed list and images
Summary report PT24-1 T.aes -
PT23-3 Trifolium hybridum heterogeneity test and summary report
Test round 23-3 T.hyb started with the shipment of three samples of Trifolium hybridum for purity, other seed identification, germination and thousand seed weight tests.
Samples were dispatched in November 2024 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 March 2024. By this date, 96% of the 180 participants submitted their test results. Heterogeneity test results are provided on the ISTA website to allow the participants to review them. Heterogeneity results are the mean results of 10 samples that had been tested by the Test Leader prior to sample dispatch. The results are not necessarily the means that will be calculated but shall give a first indication of the seed quality parameters. With publishing this heterogeneity test report, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Committee Chair on issues encountered or specific questions arising.
PTC Chair contact data:
Mr. Didier Demilly
GEVES-SNES Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
Email: didier.demilly@geves.frHeterogeneity results 23-3 T.hyb
OSD photos
Summary report PT23-3 T.hyb -
PT23-2 Raphanus sativus heterogeneity test and summary report
Test round 23-2 R.sat started with the shipment of three samples of Raphanus sativus for purity, other seed identification, germination, moisture and vigour tests. Completion on an ISTA Orange Certificate was also part of this proficiency test round.
Samples were dispatched in August 2023 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 November 2023. By this date 98% of the 209 participants submitted their test results. Heterogeneity test results are provided on the ISTA web site to allow the participants to review them. Heterogeneity results are the mean results of 10 samples that had been tested by the Test Leader prior to sample dispatch. The results are not necessarily the means that will be calculated but shall give a first indication of the seed quality parameters. With publishing this heterogeneity test report, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Committee Chair on issues encountered or specific questions arising.
PTC Chair contact data:
Mr. Didier Demilly
GEVES-SNES Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
Email: didier.demilly@geves.frHeterogeneity results 23-2 R.sat
OSD photos
Round 12 Seed Mixture seed list and images
Summary report PT23-2 R.sat -
PT23-1 Vicia villosa heterogeneity test and summary report
Test round 23-1 V.vil started with the shipment of three samples of Vicia villosa for purity, other seed identification and germination tests.
Samples were dispatched in March 2023 and the deadline for reporting test results to the Secretariat was 1 July 2023. By this date, 98% of the 184 participants submitted their test results.
Heterogeneity test results are provided on the ISTA website to allow the participants to review them. Heterogeneity results are the mean results of 10 samples that had been tested by the Test Leader prior to sample dispatch. The results are not necessarily the means that will be calculated, but shall give a first indication of the seed quality parameters.
By publishing this heterogeneity test report, no further results are accepted for submission. Laboratories are kindly requested not to provide results of re-tests unless they wish to receive advice from the Secretariat or the Proficiency Test Committee Chair on issues encountered or specific questions arising.PTC Chair contact data:
Mr. Didier Demilly
GEVES-SNES Station Nationale d'Essais de Semences
25 Rue Georges-Morel
C.S. 90024
49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
FR-France
Email: didier.demilly@geves.fr
Heterogeneity results 23-1 V.vil
OSD Photos
Summary report PT23-1 V.vil