Laboratories

Healthy flowers, trees and vegetables grow from healthy propagating material of the very highest quality.

Seeds, cuttings, plants and trees that show no visible abnormalities may still have quality defects or carry damaging viruses, viroids, bacteria, moulds or other organisms. The Health Test laboratory provides insight into the presence of latent pathogens in propagating material. With its range of advanced testing techniques, Naktuinbouw Laboratories has the knowledge and possibilities to provide this insight.

The Seed Analysis Laboratory performs various tests to determine the quality of seed for flowers, trees, vegetables and herbs. Tests for germinating power, purity, moisture content, tetrazolium tests and weeds are conducted under ISTA accreditation. The Test Usable Plants, which is more practice related, is also carried out. This can be requested for crops such as tomato, sweet peppers, cucurbits, lettuce and cabbage.
Nematode detection is carried out by the Seed Analysis Laboratory in seed, propagating material and soil.

As well as preventive testing of apparently healthy material, already infected material can be tested by the Diagnoster department. This enables the cause of the problem or abnormality to be traced.

Naktuinbouw Laboratories operate according to strict protocols and quality assurance systems. The identity of varieties and pathogens can also be quickly established using DNA-technology. New tests and protocols are developed by the Research & Development department.

The Test Centre in Horst makes woody crops, small and large fruit and strawberries virus-free.