As part of their orchid seed research our year 13 (upper sixth) science students have been testing their seed samples to find out how much surface sterilizing they need before sowing in-vitro. Joe’s results here show contamination with both 0% and one 0.5% bleach solution samples but no contamination for 1% or 1.5% bleach. All samples were surface sterilised for ten minutes.

Joe can now confidently test optimum germination conditions and use 1% bleach to prepare the seed.