1. As You sow-
So shall You reap

2. Many factors may affect the output of the cultivation:
Environmental conditions
Soil characteristics
Watering
Fertilization, treatments
Tillage
Farmer
Local and global market
Others

3. The seed is the first determinant of the future plant development.
The seed is The' ‘master key to success’ In agriculture.

4. •What is seed quality?
– What do we want from our seeds?

5. What is seed quality? ► Genetic Purity ► Physical Purity
► Physiological
conditions
► Seed Health
Status

6. What do we want from our seeds? Uniform, successful establishment

7. What we do not want to see?
Weedy crops

8. Diseased crops
Uneven maturity

9. Benefits from breeding can only be transferred
Genetic characteristics
Benefits from breeding can only be transferred
to the farmer if good quality seed is released

10. Farmer’s expectations can
only be achieved if adequate and quality seed is supplied

11. Standards for Control Tests conducted include: Varietal purity,
Weed and other crop seed,
Inert material
Other varieties
Germination.
Moisture content

12. For seed certification, field inspectors must check:
Crop land requirements (e.g., previous crop and isolation distances to ensure no
pollen mixes and or volunteers from a different previously planted cultivar)
The source of the crop’s seed (to ensure cultivar purity)

13. Sowing dates, pattern, spacing, and rouging (to ensure crop kept clean and free from
contamination.)
Purity of cultivar (i.e., no cultivar mixes)
Harvesting methods (to prevent mixtures)
Postharvest operations to ensure correct cleaning, drying, sampling, tagging, labeling and sealing.

14. Parameters of Development in Seed Quality
Existence of National Seed Policy
Seed legislation
Availability of Variety Development Program
Variety Release system
Seed Conditioning plants available
Seed quality control and certification
Official seed testing laboratories
Trained inspectors and lab technicians

15. achievement of development
Three steps for
achievement of development
► Development of physical structures/facilities,
► Human Resource Development and
deployment,
► Formulation/review of Policy, Legislation, Guidelines,
Standards etc.

16. The use of Certified seed helps protect the buyer!
Purity expresses:
composition of the seed lot
degree of contamination by unwanted components

17. A purity test separates:
pure seed
inert matter (plant parts, dirt, damaged seed)
other crop seed (normally grown crops, < 5 percent)
weed seed - common and restricted (number per pound of seed)
{0.05 – 0.5 %}

18. Germination test: Determines capability of the seed lot:
to initiate growth by the embryo
to develop a young plant by seed
Tests are conducted under controlled conditions
Association of Official Seed Analysts

19. Germination test: Hard seed: do not germinate during test
impermeable seed coat (many legumes and shrubs)
may or may not germinate in the field

20. Pure Live Seed
All NRCS recommendations in pounds of Pure Live Seed (PLS)
PLS is the percentage of pure seed that will germinate
Provides a common basis for comparing seed lots

21. 'Goldar' bluebunch wheatgrass - 99.01% purity, 87% germination
Percent PLS =
Percent purity X Percent germination
Example:
'Goldar' bluebunch wheatgrass % purity, 87% germination
percent PLS = x 87
100
percent PLS = 86.13

22. Classes of Seed
Breeder seed - directly controlled by the originating plant breeder or releasing organization to produce Foundation seed.
Foundation seed - progeny of Breeder seed that is handled to maintain specific identity and purity.

23. Classes of Seed (continued)
Registered seed -
the progeny of Foundation seed
Certified seed -
the progeny of Breeder, Foundation, or Registered seed