| The standard procedure for this assay was to remove the cell culture medium and add fresh media containing the MTS tetrazolium reagent. |
| The tetrazolium ion, which is commonly used in viability tests, could not penetrate the inner coat of watermelon, tomato or pepper seeds. |
| The stains acridine orange, ethidium bromide, azur II, eosin B, trypan blue, Giemsa solution and nitroblue tetrazolium were purchased from Sigma. |
| Seeds are soaked overnight in water then treated with tetrazolium to give an indication of viable, abnormal, and dead seeds in the seed lot. |
| After 24 and 48 h, aliquots were transferred to 96-well plates and incubated for 3 h with a tetrazolium salt. |
| The ability of the seedlings to reduce triphenyl tetrazolium chloride was then determined, using the method of Steponskus and Lanphear. |
