2025 Saskatchewan Seed Survey

Interim Results on Seed Germination and Fusarium Infection

By Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley), Saskatchewan Oat Development Commission (SaskOats), Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG), and the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (SaskWheat) with support and resources from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.

Each year, the Saskatchewan pulse and cereal commissions partner with commercial seed testing laboratories to complete an annual survey of seed-borne pathogens measured on seeds grown in Saskatchewan during the previous season. All labs that offer seed testing services to Saskatchewan growers are invited to participate in the annual survey with anonymous reporting of results amalgamated by crop district from all participating labs. Interim seed quality data, collected from the time of harvest to the end of December/early January, are summarized and communicated to growers, agronomists, researchers, and industry during the winter months, ahead of the next crop season. These interim results provide insights into seed quality trends and identify potential hotspots for seed-borne pathogens across the province. A final summary of results, including data from seed samples analyzed after the interim results, is reported at the end of May. This final summary is submitted for publication in the Canadian Phytopathological Society Canadian Plant Disease Surveys. This publication of the provincial survey provides a record of seed-borne pathogen trends in pulse and cereal crops and allows for continued tracking of diseases over time. This document is intended to summarize the results to provide trends in the province and crop districts. These results should not be used in the absence of testing and extra caution should be used when interpreting results with very few samples. Sample size is indicated for each crop district on the maps. For the 2025 interim report, data from 1,714 harvested seed samples were submitted of which 730 were from pulses and 984 from cereals.

Germination Results

Per cent germination levels were documented during the 2025 provincial seed survey, with interim results showing similar trends to 2024 across several crops. Notably, chickpea, durum, and oat germination each decreased by 1% or greater compared to 2024, while peas were the only crop to show an increase of greater than 1%. The mean germination across all crop types was 92.0%, down from 94.9% in 2024, largely attributed to the decline in chickpea and durum germination.

Although germination levels are generally favourable across many crop districts and crop types, some areas and crops have shown concerningly low germination in samples tested this winter. In these cases, sourcing seed with higher germination is recommended. Testing individual seed lots prior to seeding in spring 2026 remains strongly advised.

Table 1 (below). Average per cent germination of Saskatchewan pulse and cereal seed samples analyzed by commercial labs as of January 8, 2026.

2025 Seed Survey percent germ results

Figure 1. 2025 Interim Seed Test Result for Seed Germination in Barley. Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

Download the germination maps for other commodities:

Germination in Durum Map

Germination in Lentils Map

Germination in Oats Map

Germination in Peas Map

Germination in Wheat Map

Germination in Chickpeas Map

Cereal Pathogen Results

The interim plate test results for seed-borne pathogens in barley, durum, oat, and wheat point to a broader decline in pathogen‑free lots compared with 2024 for most pathogen–crop combinations. Barley and durum show the clearest deterioration, with fewer pathogen‑free lots and higher infection levels for both Fusarium graminearum and total Fusarium relative to 2024. Overall, the 2025 interim data indicate broader declines in pathogen‑free seed variability in infection levels across cereals relative to 2024, highlighting the importance of continued testing and monitoring of seed lots prior to the 2026 planting season.

F. graminearum was detected on 56.8% of durum, 31.0% of oat, 22.8% of wheat, and 42.7% of barley samples; mean infection levels were 2.0% or lower for all cereal samples.
The highest percentage of total Fusarium spp.-free samples were in wheat (16.8%), followed by durum and barley (10.2% and 9.0%); wheat and durum had the lowest mean infection levels of total Fusarium spp., 2.9% and 5.8%, respectively.
Most oat samples (97.0%) had detectable levels of total Fusarium spp. with a mean infection level of 6.5% which is lower than that measured in 2024 (9.8%).
0% of barley samples reported a detectable level of total Fusarium spp. and infection rose to 6.4% from 2.3% in 2024.

Table 2 (below). Average per cent of pathogen-free cereal seed samples and average infection levels measured in samples with disease analyzed as of January 8, 2026 compared to 2024.

total fusarium infection chart

Figure 2. 2025 Interim Seed Test Result for Total Seed-Borne Fusarium in Barley. Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

Download the Total Seed-Bourne Fusarium maps for other commodities:

Total Fursarium in Durum Map

Total Fusarium in Oats Map

Total Fusarium in Wheat Map

Pulse Pathogen Results

For all Pulse Pathogen results, tables and charts, visit the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers website 2025 Seed Survey Interim Results | SaskPulse.com.

Acknowledgments

The provincial seed survey would not be possible without the participation of 20/20 Seed Labs Inc., Discovery Seed Labs, Prairie Diagnostic Seed Labs, and SGS Canada. Lendon Seed Labs also participates in the survey but shares final results only.

Thank you to all lab partners for their continued effort and support of this project. Brian Olson, independent contractor, is also gratefully acknowledged for his coordination of the seed quality survey and summarization of results. A special thanks is also extended to Dr. Randy Kutcher and Dr. Sabine Banniza from the University of Saskatchewan for their external review and pathology expertise. External review efforts of Dr. Alireza Akhavan, Provincial Plant Disease Specialist and Dale Risula, Provincial Pulse and Forage Crops Specialist, of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture (SMA) are also recognized with an extra note of appreciation to Dr. Alireza Akhavan and the SMA Geomatics team for creating the seed-borne pathogen and germination maps by crop district.