Evaluation of Density Tests to Aid Breeding for High Test Weights.

The objective of this study was to determine which density procedure is the most accurate at selecting kernels with high test weights and should be used by a breeder wishing to create a variety with high test weight that is preferred among farmers. The procedures tested in this study included densimetric sorting using concentrated air, sorting through specific gravity in a saline solution, and sorting based on light penetration of the kernels from a light board.  Of the three tests, the aspirator proved to be the least accurate. The light board and float test are statistically indistinguishable based off of Tukey’s honest significance test, but the light board had a larger error value making the float test the most reliable.