Minimum Seed Certification Standards
In a
seed quality control programme through seed certification, the minimum seed certification
standards, in fact, are the minimum standard conditions which must be met. The minimum
seed certification standards, thus are the standards required for the certification of
seeds by the certification agencies.
The
certification standards in force in India are called the ‘Indian Minimum Seed
Certification Standards’. These were published by the Central Seed Certification
Board. As a general principle, these standards have been kept at the level, which demand
scrupulous attention of the certified seed growers but at the same time practical enough
that these can be met also.
The
minimum seed certification standards can be broadly grouped into two groups.
General
Seed Certification Standards
Specific
Crop Standards
The two
combined sets of standards constitute the minimum seed certification standards for seed
certification.
A.
General Seed Certification Standards: The general seed certification standard aims at
outlining the general requirements for the production of genetically pure good quality
seed. These standards prescribed the procedure for certified seed production so that
maximum genetic purity and good quality of the seed this ensured.
B.Specific
Crop Standards: Specific crop standard consists of Field Standards and Seed Standards
Field standards consist of: -
The
minimum preceding crop requirement have been specified to minimize genetic contamination
from the disease, volunteer plants.
The
minimum isolation requirement has been specified to minimize seed born disease
contamination.
The
number of feed inflection and specified stage of crop have been described to ensure
verification of genetic purity and other quality factors.
Seed
Standard consist of:
The
minimum percentage of pure seeds and maximum permissible limits for inert matter, other
crop seeds have been prescribed.
The
maximum permissible limits for objectionable weeds, seeds infected by seed borne diseases
have been prescribed to ensure goods seed health.
The
maximum permissible limits for moisture content have been prescribed for the safe storage
of seeds.
Minimum
field standards of some important crops are given in the following table:
Minimum field
standards
Crop |
Class of seed |
Land require-
ment |
Isolation
(meters) |
No.of field inspe
-ctions |
Off
types |
Insepar-
able other crop plants |
Objection-
able weed plants |
Affe-
cted Plant
/head |
Paddy |
FS |
-- |
3 |
2 |
.05 |
-- |
.01 |
-- |
| |
CS |
-- |
" |
2 |
.20 |
-- |
.02 |
-- |
Wheat |
FS |
-- |
3, |
2 |
.05 |
.01 |
-- |
.10 |
| |
|
|
150* |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
CS |
-- |
|
2 |
.20 |
.05 |
-- |
.50 |
Sorghum
(open pollinated varieties) |
FS |
-- |
200,
400*
|
3 |
.05**
.10***
|
-- |
-- |
.05 |
pulses |
FS |
-- |
10 |
2 |
.10 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Oilseeds
Groundnut
|
FS |
Two season |
3 |
2 |
.10 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Soybean |
FS |
-- |
3 |
2 |
.10 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| |
CS |
-- |
3 |
2 |
.50 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Fiber Crops
Cotton
|
CS |
-- |
30,5*
|
2 |
.20 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Vegetable Crops
Potato Seed
|
CS
|
*
|
50,
|
4
|
.10
|
--
|
--
|
3.0
|
Tomato |
FS |
-- |
50 |
3 |
.10 |
-- |
-- |
.10 |
| |
CS |
-- |
25 |
3 |
.20 |
-- |
-- |
.50 |
Cauliflower |
CS |
-- |
1000* |
3 |
.20 |
-- |
-- |
.50 |
Onion |
FS |
-- |
5 |
2* |
.10 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
FS= Foundation Seed
CS= Certified Seed |
