Breeding and Seed Production of Ornamental Crops (2+1)

Introduction to Seed Certification

Introduction: Seeds are vehicles for the spread of new life from one place to another. Good quality seed is defined as the seed that is genetically uniform, highly viable and free from seed borne pathogens. Flower seed production seems to have great scope for expansion in developing countries like India, especially under northern Indian climatic conditions having favourable growing conditions, skilled and cheap labour, marginal recourses from small landholding and need for crop diversification. Presently, annual flowers such as petunia, Coreopsis, Helichrysum, phlox, nasturtium, marigold, Gaillardia, salvia, ice plant, Verbena, Nemesia, pansy, poppy, larkspur and chrysanthemum, etc. are being widely grown for seed production. Classes of Seeds Nucleus seeds This is the initial amount of pure seed of an improved variety available with the concerned plant breeder. It is always cent percent pure genetically as well as physically and it is very limited in quantity. It is produced under the direct supervision of a plant breeder at the main breeding station. Breeder seed This is the seed obtained from the progeny of nucleus seed. It is a seed or a vegetative propagating material produced by the breeder, who has developed a particular variety. It is produced by the institution where the variety was developed in case the breeder is not available. Breeder seed is used to produce the foundation seed. It is produced under the direct supervision of the breeder and is 99.9-100% pure genetically as well as physically. Foundation seed It is obtained from breeder’s seed by direct increase or multiplication. Foundation seed is genetically pure and it is the source of registered and certified seed. Any seed which is produced on government multiplication farms is usually called as foundation seed in spite of whether it has been produced directly from nucleus seed or breeder’s seed. Production of foundation seed is the responsibility of National Seed Corporation (NSC) and State Seed Corporation (SSC). It is also produced at the experimental stations, agricultural university or on cultivator’s field under strict supervision of research scientists and Seed Certification Agency (SCA). It is recommended that foundation seed is 99% pure. Registered seed It is the name given to the seed raised form the progeny of nucleus, breeder or foundation seed. The registered seed is produced by registered growers who are selected among the progressive educated farmers and who are well known with the work of seed multiplication. They are given instructions of technical staff of NSC or SSC and issued the instruction and improved seed for further multiplication. It is also genetically pure and is further used to produce certified seed or again registered seed. Often registered seed is omitted and certified seed is produced directly from the foundation seed. Certified seed Certified seed is produced from foundation, registered or certified seed. This is known as certified seed since it is annually produced by programmed farmers according to the standard seed production practices. To be certified, the seed must meet certain rigid requirements regarding purity and quality. These standards vary from crop to crop. Certified seed is available for general distribution to farmers for commercial crop production.