Syllabus SST 321

COMMERCIAL SEED PRODUCTION IN CROP VARIETIES

Practical
Seed production technique in varieties rice, sorghum, cotton, groundnut,
sunflower-soyabean, blackgram, greengram-tomato, brinjal, chillies, onion-isolation-land
selection-seed crop management season, spacing, nutrient management-maintenance of
field standards rogueing-identification of off types-indices of physiological maturityharvestingthreshing/extraction-drying-cleaning-grading-treatments-packaging-storagevisit to seed production plots and private seed industries.

Enterprise management business project preparation-cost and return financial

management and investment analysis market promotion.

Practical Schedule

1. Study of seed crop management isolation-land selection.

2. Study of seed production techniques in rice-salt water upgradation - rogueing.
3. Study of seed production techniques in sorghum-presowing hardening treatment
rogueing.
4. Study of seed production techniques in cotton - presowing seed treatment in
groundnut-pod verification-rogueing.
5. Practising pre-sowing hardening study of production techniques.
6. Practising grading techniques study of seed production techniques in sunflowers.

7. Study of seed production techniques-practicing seed pelleting in soyabean.

8. Study of seed production techniques-practising seed fortification treatment in
blackgram.
9. Study of seed production techniques-practising seed fortification treatment in
greengram.
10. Practising seed pelleting-nursery management-study of seed production techniques in
tomato.
11. Practising seed pelleting-nursery management-study of seed production techniques in
brinjal.
12. Practising seed pelleting nursery management study of seed production techniques
in chillies.
13. Study of onion bulb production-practising bulb selection and seed treatment study of
seed production techniques.
14. Study of rogueing stages maintenance of field standards.
15. Identification of off types in rice, sorghum, cotton, groundnut, sunflower and
blackgram.
16. Identification of off types in tomato, brinjal , chilles and onion,
17. Mid semester examination.
18. Identification of physiological maturity stages in rice, sorghum, cotton, groundnut,
sunflower and soyabean.
19. Identification of physiological maturity stages in blackgram, greengram, tomato,
brinjal, chillies and onion.
20. Study of harvesting methods in different crops.

21. Practising threshing methods in rice, sorghum, groundnut, sunflower, soyabean,

blackgram, greengram.
22. Practising kapos grading ginning in cotton - acid delinting.
23. Practising seed extraction methods in tomato and brinjal.
24. Practising seed extraction method in chillies and onion.
25. Practising grading and upgrading in different crops.
26. Study of packaging materials storage techniques.
27. Visit to commercial seed production plots.
28. Visit to private seed companies.
29. Enterprise management managerial functions, functional areas of management of
characteristics, problems and prospects of small business.
30. Business project preparation steps involved with case studies.
31. Cost and return cost of production - fixed, variable cost - returns break-even
analysis.
32. Financial management and investment and investment analysis.
33. Market promotion visit to the concerned commercial unit.
34. Practical examination.

Reference Books
1. Agarwal, R.L. 1993 Seed Technology Oxford and IBH Publishing Co., New Delhi
2. Agarwal. P.K. 1994 Principles of Seed Technology, ICAR Publication, New Delhi.
3. Desai, BP.M. Kotecha and D.K. Salunkha. 1998. Seeds Hand Book.
4. Neema, N.P. 1989. Principles of Seed Certification and Testing Allied Publishers
Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
5. Tunwar, N.S. and S.V. Singh. 1988. Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards.
Published by Central Seed Certification Board, New Delhi.

Sl.
No.

Name of the Exercise

1.

Introduction to seed and its seed quality

2.

Seed production and stages of seed crop management

3.

Seed production techniques in rice

3a.

Salt water floatation grading for seed quality upgradation in paddy seeds

4.

Seed production techniques in sorghum

4a.

Practising seed hardening techniques in sorghum

5.

Seed production techniques in cumbu and maize

5a.

Practising of seed pelleting technique in pearlmillet

6.

Practising seed production techniques in blackgram and greengram (Field)

7.

Seed production techniques in blackgram and greengram

7a.

Assessment of seed quality of infected seed in greengram

8.

Seed production in cotton

8a.

Practising delinting technique for cotton

9.

Seed production technology of groundnut

10.

Seed production in sunflower, gingelly and castor

10a

Practising of specific gravity grading in sunflower

11.

Seed production in vegetables (Tomato, Brinjal, Chillies, Gourds and Onion)

11a

Practising of few post harvest seed handling techniques in solanaceous vegetables

12.

Steps in maintenance of genetic purity in seed production plots

12a

Visit to cluster bean seed production plot and identification of rogues

13

Physiological maturation and harvesting techniques in seed crops

14.

Grading and upgrading of seeds

14a

Practising of grading and upgrading techniques in bhendi

15.

Packaging material for seed storage

15a

Assessment of germination of different crops as influenced by period of storage container

and pre treatment

16

Cost and return, cost of production, fixed cost, variable cost, returns, break even analysis

17

Planning for seed production

18

Breeder seed production and analysis of seed quality difference of the production and
marketing point

19.

Finance for seed production

Lec.NO .1. INTRODUCTION TO SEED AND ITS SEED QUALITY

1.What is Seed?
Seed is a basic and crucial input to increase crop yield per unit area without which
all other inputs and operations carried out will become waste.
A seed strictly speaking is an embryo, a living organism embedded in the
supporting or the food storage tissue and seed coat.
A seed is the biological entity. ISTA says seed is any of the following material
used for sowing or planting.
Seeds of food crop including edible oil seeds and seeds of fruits and vegetables
Cotton seeds
Seeds of cattle fodder
Jute seeds
Seedlings tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, roots, cuttings, all types of grafts and other
vegetatively propagated material for food crops or cattle fodder.
Seed can also defined as any reproductive source used for sowing.
Seed is also can be known as a living grain

2.Difference Between Seed and Grain

Seed

Grain

1.

It should be viable

Need not be , May or may not be viable

2.

Scientifically produced seed

Sometimes used as seed

3.

It should be physically pure to maintain Will be clean for easy marketability

seed health and genetic purity

4.

Genetically must be pure

Need not be

5.

Seed is tested for quality

Tested for food trade

6.

Quality is controlled by an agency

Not so

7.

Seed has to meet seed standards

Not so

3. What is Seed Quality?

A grain to be a seed it should have liveliness. The seed to be a quality produce
and it should have seed quality characters (as below). Only quality seed can reproduce
well and preserve the future generation without any deviation in original characters. Seed
quality is the accession of seed with physical and genetic purity and maintenance of
physiological and good health status of seed for further multiplication.

4.Characters of Quality Seed

a.Genetic purity
Seed should be genetically pure or true to type or resemble, its mother at all stages
of reproduction (Seed Plant - Seed). It is needed for maintenance of variety for future
generation with originality.

b.Physical purity
It refers to cleanliness of the seed. Seed should be pure homogeneous and free
from inert matter, other crop seed and weed seed. This is needed to maintain seed health
and to maintain the genetic and physiological status of seed.

c.Physiological status of seed

Seed germination and vigour and its maintenance of higher order is known as the
physiological status of seed. It is needed to maintain the planting value of seed.

d.Health status of seed

Healthy seed should be free from insect and pathogen attack and with lesser
deterioration scale. It is needed to maintain the other mentioned qualities of seed.

5.Other Seed Quality Characters

Seed moisture content

Seed maturation

Seed size

Seed colour

Seed purity (free from weed and other crop seed)

Seed admixture

6.Variation Between Different Seed Quality Characters

a.Viability
It is the degree of liveliness of seed, which could vary with age of seed.

b.Germinability
It is the ability of seed to putforth normal seedling under the specified
germination period.
All viable seeds need not be germinable. All germinable seeds are viable.

c.Vigour
It is the sum total of all seed attributes that give effective plant stand in the field.

d.Planting value
It is the real worth of seed lot for raising the crop. It is determined by calculating
pure live seed percentage as follows :
Pure live seed :

Pure seed %

Germination %
x

(P.L.S.)

100

x 100
100

7.Advantages Of Quality Seed

The degree of excellence in seed quality characters decides the following.
1. The productivity of field level.
2. Genetic purity at further multiplication
3. The storability of seed
4. Quality of resultant seed will be more.
5. Seed with higher seed quality characters generates higher income.

8.Assessment of Seed and Quality Characters

Seeds are evaluated for seed quality characters before sowing to know the
planting value of seed and during storage to assess the status or degree of seed quality
characters for productivity and further storage.
Seeds are evaluated for seed quality adopting the seed testing procedures
recommended by ISTA adopting its latest rules.

9. ISTA: International Seed Testing Association.

Function
This Association forms international rules for testing seeds and modify it once in
10 days based on need. The rules are published in Journal known as Seed Science and
Technology. The Head quarters is situated at Zurich, Switcherland.

10.Seed Technology
The role of seed technology is to protect the biological entity of seed and look
after is welfare.
Seed Technology is essentially an interdisciplinary science which encompasses a
broad range of it includes development of superior varieties, their evaluation and release,
seed production, seed processing, seed storage, seed testing, seed certification, seed
quality control, seed marketing and distribution and research on seed physiology, seed
production and seed handling based upon modern botanical and agricultural sciences.
In a narrow sense Seed Technology Comprises of seed production, seed
processing, seed storage, seed testing and certification, seed marketing and distribution
and the related research on this aspects.

11.Goals of Seed Technology

Rapid multiplication

Timely supply

Assured high quality of seed

Reasonable price

12.Role of Seed Technology

Feistritzer (1975) outlined the following as roles of improved seed.
A carrier of new technologies
A basic tool of secured food supply
The principal means to secure crop yields in less favorable production areas.
A medium and rapid rehabilitation of agriculture in cases of natural disaster.

Lec.NO.2. SEED PRODUCTION AND STAGES OF SEED CROP

MANAGEMENT
1.Seed Production
The principle of seed production is production of genetically pure good quality
pedigree seed, which is an exacting task requiring high technical skill and comparatively
heavy financial investment.

2.Production Of Quality Seed

Hence it is warranted that seed produced should be of high quality for further
multiplication of seed with higher productivity of quality seed. For which seeds are to be
produced adopting specialized techniques or crop management techniques for seed
production.

3.Seed Crop Management Techniques

Seed to seed care has to be taken to produce higher quantity of quality seed.
The important phases for adoption of management techniques are as follows.
The management technique very with crop.

Selection of seed

Evaluation of seed

Selection of land

Provision of isolation distance

Adopting of presowing management techniques

Field / nursery preparation

Nursery management

Sowing

Spacing

Fertilizer application

Weed control

Pest protection

Irrigation

Intercultural operations

Maturation

Harvesting

Drying

Threshing

Processing

Seed treatment

Seed packing

Seed storage

Seed testing

Seed marketing

Hence seed production is a cyclic processes which start and end with seed and
require proper planning and adoption of proper management technique to Boost up the
productivity of quality seed.

IMPORTANT

STAGES

OF

SEED

CROP

THAT

REQUIRE

PROPER

MANAGEMENT
(Diagramatic representation)

> Seed
Seed Storage

Selection of seed

Selection of agroclimate

Seed Treatment
Drying

Post Harvest
Management

Processing

Seed
Agronomic
Management

Sowing (Spacing)

Productio
Harvesting
Management

Threshing
Harvesting

Harvesting Maturation

Nutrient Management

Seed

Drying
Extraction

Selection of land

Weeding

Irrigation
Crop
Growth
Management

Foliar Nutrition

Roguing

Plant Protection

Physiological Maturation

Practical Exercise
Comparison of prices of seed and grain (2003)
Crop
Paddy

Coarse
Varieties
Medium
varieties
Basmati
varieties

Breeder seed
sale price
(Rs per quintol)
2000.00
2400.00
3800.00

Paddy

A Line
B Line
R Line

12500.00
3000.00
3000.00

Maize

Inbred Lines
Varieties &
Composites

9000.00
3000.00

Sorghum hybrid

A Line
B Line
R Line
Varieties &
Composites

9000.00
7500.00
6000.00
3800.00

Bajra hybrid

A Line
B Line
R Line
Varieties &
Composites

13000.00
6600.00
5500.00
5500.00

Wheat

Varieties
(Bread Wheat)
Durum/Dicocc
um

2000.00
2150.00

Small millets

Ragi
Foxtail Millet
Kodo Millet
Proso Millet
Little Millet

1800.00
1800.00
1800.00
1800.00

Barley

Malt Barley

1600.00
1800.00

Foundation
seed price

Certified
seed price

TFL
seed
price

Grain
price

Pulses

Moong
Urd
Arhar
Cowpea
Gram (Kabuli)
Gram (Desi)
Lentil
Peas
Moth
Rajmash

5000.00
5000.00
5500.00
4500.00
4500.00
4100.00
4100.00
3600.00
3500.00
5400.00

Crop

Breeder seed
sale price
(Rs per quintol)
7000.00
4700.00
2000.00

Fibre crops

Jute
Mesta
Sunhemp

Cotton hybrid

Female prent
Male parent

40000.00
40000.00

Varieties

12500.00

A Line
R Line

50000.00
50000.00

Guar
Teosinte
Lucerne
Berseem
Oat
Cowpea
Maize
Jowar

3000.00
1800.00
20000.00
18000.00
2500.00
4500.00
3000.00
3800.00

Male sterility
system based
hybrid
Fodder crops

Bajra fodder

5500.00

Groundnut

4000.00

Soybean

3700.00

Sunflower

Castor
female parent
Male parent
varieties

A Line
B Line
R Line
Varieties

20000.00
10000.00
10000.00
6000.00

(A Line)
(B & R Line)

20000.00
7500.00
4000.00

Sesamum

7500.00

Niger

6000.00

Rapeseed & mustard

4600.00

Safflowervarieties

Varieties

4000.00

Safflower hybrid

Female Parent
Male parent

10000.00
4000.00

Linseed

3500.00

Foundation
seed price

Certified
seed price

TFL
seed
price

Grain
price

Uniform Price of Seeds of Vegetable Crops

Crop

Breederseed sale
price (Rs per kg)

Tomato
Cowpea

1500
160

Frenchbean

200

Okra

500

Gardenpea

130

Onion

700

Brinjal

900

Chilli

1000

Dolichos

200

Capsicum

1800

Cauliflower

1200

Cabbage

700

Carrot

400

Radish

260

Bottlegourd

400

Bittergourd

800

Spongegourd

340

Ridgegourd

550

Cucumber

1100

Tinda

400

Pumpkin

700

Muskmelon

1000

Watermelon

900

Longmelon

900

Foundation
seed price

Certified
seed price

TFL
seed
price

Grain
price

Lec.No. 3. SEED PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES IN RICE

(Oryzae sativa. L)
Introduction
Paddy is the staple food of India botanically known as Oryzae sativa L. belongs to
the family Poaceae. It is an economic crop of India since most of the Indians are having
rice based food habits. It is also used as a raw material for cottage industries and infant
food industry. The straw is fed to cattle and oil extracted from bran is used for cooking
and has got high medicinal value.
Botany

Highly self pollinated crop

Suitable (mostly) to tropical climate and warm temperate regions.

Types of cultivation

Lowland cultivation (Mostly)

Upland cultivation.

Important cultural Practices that maintain different seed quality characters

Choice of field, Isolation, Parent seed
selection, Roguing

Genetic purity

Fertilizer, Spacing, Insect and Disease

control, Harvesting

Physiological Quality

Choice of field, Harvesting, Threshing,

Processing

Physical purity

But all are interrelated.

Seed Production guidelines
1.Stages of seed multiplication
Following two different stages of seed multiplication systems are being followed
in paddy
1. Breeder seed
2. Breeder seed

Foundation seed
Foundation seed

Certified seed
Certified seed1

Certified seed II

2. Choices of field
It should be a fertile one.
Saline / problem soils should be avoided
Should have adequate irrigation facilities
Should have drainage facilities
Previous crops should not be other paddy (for 12 months) varieties
If there is legume after paddy it can be selected.
If the previous crop is of the same variety and if it is certified then it can be
selected.
Before planting the field should be inspected by the certification officer and
approved for seed production
3. Isolation
Isolated from other varieties (Genetic purity) other crop (Physical purity)
Distance is 5-3 m (self pollination).
4. Selection of seed
Must be from authenticated source
Must be suitable generation class for further multiplication (Eg. Fs / Bs
Cs)
Must be checked by certification officer before sowing
5. Seed Rate

Types of cultivation

20-25 kg/ha

For transplanting lowland paddy (L/P)

30 kg/ ha

For drilling upland paddy (U/P)

120 kg / ha

For Broadcasting lowland/ upland paddy (L/P / U/P)

6.Seed Treatment
Can grade using salt water (1.06 density)
Dress with fungicide @ 2g /kg.
If dormant soak the seed with 0.5 % KNO3 FOR 16 h
5. Seed bed (Nursery) preparation (Low land paddy/ Transplanted paddy)
Land should be fertile
Puddle the land for good tilth
Form small beds and (Sunken Nursery) for easy operation (2 x 50m)
Let the width be small and length be long (easy handling)
200 sq.m. Nursery is needed for planting 1 hectare (depends on area)
Form separate channels for irrigating different beds of different varieties to
avoid genetic contamination
Level the bed uniformly before sowing
Allow thin film of water to stand on the bed before sowing and maintain upto
emergence
Let the water stand in nursery to a tune of 2.3 cm throughout the nursery period.
8. Seed Preparation (U/P) (L/P)
Loosely pack the seed in jute (pervious container).
Soak in water for 24 hours (Running H2O)
If possible change the water 2/3 times
Remove from water tightly pack
Incubate for 24 hours in dark
Sprinkle water to avoid drying
At slight radicle emergence the seed in READY FOR SOWING

9. Nursery Sowing
Broadcast the germinated seed on the thin film of water carefully and uniformly
(approximately: 2 handful of seed in m2 of seed bed; 5 kg / 100 m2) (2 x 50) bed.
Take care that seed should not reach the adjacent field.
Do not irrigate initially
After emergence irrigate and raise the level according to the seedling height
Weed the nursery and keep it clean
If needed spray or include in the irrigation water, the fungicide at lower doses.
Based on the growth if needed give some fertilizer (N and P)
10. Size of Main field
Depends on the availability of labour, machines, irrigation
Planting time can be altered depending upon the availability of accessories.
As self pollinated and isolation distance is low.
11.Mainfield preparation
Put cultivator at dry condition(U/P)
Harrow the soil to lossen the soil (fine tilth) (U/P)
Flood the field with water
Puddle for 2.3 times using cagewheel
Apply P and K at last puddling
Puddle as much that the water stands on the loose muddy soil
Proper levelling of puddled field is needed for uniform water stagnation
The bunds must be plastered well to have a check on weed growth and water control.
12.Transplanting
At the age 25-30 days (Depending on Var) pull out the seedlings (10.15 cm
height) from the nursery bed and transfer to mainfield.
Pull out seedlings based on need.
Avoid aged seedlings for transplanting

Stagnate water upto 2-3 cm and transplant the seedlings

Use 25 x 20cm spacing for planting soil
Use wire or board for precise and uniform planting
Planting depth may be 3-5 cm.
Transplant the seedlings at the rate of 1-2 seedlings / hill
On growing season standing water should be 5 cm (always).

13. Drilling
Sow the seed behind the tractor or manually in lines after dry preparation of the land
Irrigate if possible.
Adjust to rain.
14. Broadcasting
Mostly done as rainfed depending on rain
If in lowland, germinated seeds (irrigation) are broadcasted.
Done manually.
15. Planting / Sowing Time
Vary with area / type of cultivation
But adjust in such a way that there is dry period while harvesting (for easy
operation avoid insitu germination)
16. Fertilizer
Apply P and K at last puddling / ploughing
Apply N in 2 split doses 1st at tillering phase, 2nd at Panicle initiation stage.
Dosage (vary with area) (Eg.: 120:60:60 kg/ha)
Better if based on soil analysis.
If chlorosis seen at tillering phase apply FeSO4 (0.5% spray if necessary).
Spray Diammonium phosphate fertilizer at panicle initiation stage for effective
tillering.

17. Weeding
Use pre-emergence weedicide to control weeds at early stage.
Hand weed the crop at 20 days after transplanting and before panicle initiation stage
Avoid weeding at bloom stage and at later stage.
Common weeds : Cyprus spp., Echinocloa sp.
18. Insects and Diseases
Apply insecticides and fungicides as recommended to the area.
Common Diseases are :
Rust, Bunt, leaf spot, Rust.
Common insects are :
Brown plant hopper, leaf roller etc.
19. Roguing
Is important to maintain for maintenance of genetic purity
Remove all off types (deviants of the variety) and Rogues (variant of the crop)
Remove when doubt rule.
20. Roguing characters for paddy
General appearance (Tall, medium, short)
Leaf colour (Dark green, Pale green).
Leaf shape (Broad, narrow).
Panicle shape (open, close).
Awns (appendages) (Awned, Awnless)
Glume colour (Pink, green)
Boot leaf (Rectangle, erect)
Tillering (Heavy, Medium)
Maturity (Late, early Uniform)
Grain type (long, slender, short, bold).
Hull colour (Dark yellow, light).
Kernal colour (Red, white)

ROUGUING SHOULD BE DONE AS AND WHEN REQUIRED FROM THE

BEGINNING UPTO LAST (Harvest)
21. Field Inspection
-

Done by the Seed Certification Officer on registration for certification.

Done at
1. Tillering phase
2. Heading phase
3. Before harvest

21.1. Field condition required at field inspection

The field should be free of rogues / offtypes at the time of inspection
If the percent of rogues is above the certification standards then the field is
rejected (e.g. 0.2% Max. limit in India).
Wild rice should not be there in the field
The objectionable weed also should be below the maximum limit (e.g.: 0.02%
India) for getting the crop certified.
Look for : At the times of inspection the characters of variety grown will be
checked with the breeders discription of the varieties.
(E.g : If IR 20 variety)
Leaf color : Dark green;
Glume: Green;
Plant Structure : Medium;
Boot leaf : Erect;
Seed color : Yellow ;
Kernel color : White;
Grain type : Medium slender etc.
22. Bird Scaring
Done at milking stage to avoid damage

23. Physiological maturity

Earheads turn golden yellow color and will droop. (Lodging should be
avoided)
When 85% are so crop is ready for harvest
The moisture content will be about 18-20%
24. Crop duration
-

90-160 days highly depends on varieties specified (eg. : IR 20 : 120 days)

25. Harvesting
-

At 85% maturity drain the field and allow drying (field) for easy harvest.

25.1. Manual
Harvest with straw with sickle (manual)
Bundle the produce.
Transfer to thrashing floor for thrashing and drying
25.2. Mechanical
It is difficult to combine it needed the m/c should be 18.20%.
If it is to be cut with binder and stooked the m/c should be 23-28%.
26. Threshing
M/C should be 18-23%.
Clean the threshing floor, equipments, containers to avoid genetic and physical
mixture.
Produce can be threshed using tractor (with rubber tiers with deep grooves) or
mechanical thresher.
27. Winnowing, Cleaning and Drying
Tractor threshed produce winnowed and cleaned prior to drying.
Dry the seed (harvested/threshed producer) under sun to bring the m/c to 12-14%
Frequent stirring of material is necessary while drying.
Can also mechanically dried using driers (avoid high temperature to high moist seed).

28. Seed processing

Use air screen cleaner with oblong sieve (eg. (IR 20: and 1/14 oblong sieve)
At processing the certification officer will check and will take sample and will
sent it the STL for seed standard verification.
On having the minimum requirement of seed standards (eg : Physical purity
99.6%; Germination 80% etc.) the crop/produce will be as certified seed and the
concerned tags (Blue coloured) will be issued by the certification officer.
29. Seed Dressing
Based on the time of usage (disposol) the seed will be dressed with captan or
thiram @ 2gkg-1 of seed.
30. Bagging and Tagging
The dressed seed will be bagged according to requirement (20 kg, 50 kg) and the
bag will be given certification tags with the standard of its quality(Physical, .
Physiological and Genetic purity).
31. Expected yield
3 5 tons/ha (depending upon the area and variety)
32. Marketing
Seed may go to Govt. Depots, (or) to contractors (or) Private seed depots
(Depending on availabilities and practice of the farmers)
33. Achievement
HIGHER PRICE For the care

34. Field standards for certification (C.S. INDIA)

C.S.

F.S.

Isolation

3m

Off types (max.)

0.20%

0.05%

Inseparable other crop seeds

Nil

Nil

Objectionable weed (max.)

0.02%

0.01%

Plants affected by seed borne disease

Nil

Nil

Special care

No wild

Rice

C.S.

F.S.

Pure seed (min.)

98

98

Inert matter (max.)

Other crop seed (max.)

20

10 No/kg

Total weed seed (max.)

20

10 No/kg

Other distinct variety

20

10 No/kg

Objectionable weed seed (max.)

2 No/kg

Germination % (min.)

80

80%

Seed Standards :

Moisture content (%)

(i)

Ordinary container

13%

(ii)

Vapour proof container

8%

Seeds infected by diseases (max.)

0.5

Huskless grain (max.)

2% by number

0.1

Lec. No. 4.

SEED PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES IN SORGHUM

(Sorghum bicolor.L.)

Introduction
Sorghum botanically known as Sorghum bicolor L. is an important millet, crop of
belonging to Poaceae family and has got good nutritious value and often used as food and
feed. It also serve a raw material for industrial health drinks and domestic cottage industries.
Botany
It is often cross pollinated crop where cross pollination is expected upto 60 per cent.
Seed production techniques
Varieties are multiplied by open pollination under isolation.
1. Stages of seed multiplication
Breeder seed

Foundation seed

Certified seed

Commercial production

2. Popular varieties
CO 25, CO 26, CO 27,K6.
3. Season

The best season is Nov. Dec.

The pollination period should not coincide with rain (pollen wash will result in poor
seed setting).

The maturation of seed should coincide with dry weather.

The dry temperature favourable for seed setting is 37C.

4. Land requirement

Land should be fertile, and should not be problematic.

In problematic soil like calcarious and acidic soils the seed set will be poor.

The previous crop should not be other varieties of the same crop to avoid genetic
contamination.

The same variety can be the previous crop provided the previous crop is certified by
the certification agency.

5. Isolation
* For production of foundation seed

: 200m

* For production of certified seed

: 100m

6. Seeds and sowing

For production of founder seed, breeder seed and for production of certified seed
foundation seed should be used.

Seed should be from authenticated source with tag and bill.

The seed rate for varieties in 12 kg/ha or 4-5 kg/acre.

The spacing to be adopted is 45 x 15 cm.

The sowing depth is 2-4 cm as the plant has adventitious root system.

Seeds are sown in ridges and furrows.

7. Presowing seed treatment

For rainfed cultivation seeds are hardened with 2% KH2PO4 for 16 h with a seed to
solution ratio of 1:0.6 and dried back to original moisture content.

Seeds can also be hardened with 1% prosopis and pungam leaf extract for ecofriendly
treatment.

Seeds are treated with 5% carbofuran 3G to protect the seed from shootfly infection.

Seeds are dry dressed with bavistin @ 2 g kg-1 of seed to protect the seed from seed
borne pathogens.

Seed treatment with 10% prospis leaf extract reduces the black mould disease of sorghum.

8. Manures and Fertilizers

Compost

: 12.5 t/ha (at last ploughing)

NPK

: 150 : 50 : 50 kg ha-1

Basal

: 50 : 50 : 50 kg ha-1 (N & P & K) at last ploughing

Top dressing

: 25 kg N after 1st wedding (45 days)

25 kg N after boot leaf stage

Foliar spray

: Spray 2% DAP thrice at 10 days interval after

flowering to enhance the seed set and to increase
the seed size

Calcareous soil fields should sprayed with 0.5% FeSO4 thrice at 10 days interval
from primordial initiation stage.
9. Weeding

Application of Atrazine as pre-emergence herbicide check the weed growth from

seedling stage.

One hand weeding on 30th day keep the field free of weed.

Weeding after boot leaf stage is uneconomical and due to shade effect weed
population will also be less.

On nonchemical production 2 hand weeding at seedling stage and before boot leaf
formation keep the field free of weeds.

10. Irrigation

Crop should be irrigated once in a week for increased seed set and bolder size seeds.

The critical stages for irrigation are primordial initiation stage, vegetative stage,
milky and maturity stages.

If irrigation is withheld in these stage seed set will be affected.

11. Pest management

Common insects and their control measures

Shoot fly

Spray with monocrotophos 0.03%

Stem borer

Spray with rogor 0.3%

Gall midge

Spray with with endosulfan 0.07%

Earhead bugs

Spray with Endosulfan 0.07%

(at later stages)

Preharvest sanitation spray with endosulfan (0.07%) can be given 10 days before
harvest to avoid the primary infestation of storage insects. (Sorghum weevil)

Addition of bavitism @ 10 g / 10 lit with endosulfan will protect the seed well under
storage.

12. Disease management

Common diseases are black mould and sugary disease.

Disignated diseases are kernal smut and head smut.

13. Rouging

It is specific for seed crop to maintain genetic purity.

It is done from seedling stage to harvesting stage based on phenotypic characters of plant.

Offtypes are identified based on stem colour, leaf colour, waviness of leaf, leaf blade,
earhead shape, grain colour, plant structure, number of leaves, auricles, nodal colour
grain state, grain colour etc.

Field standards for certification is as follows

Rogues

Foundation seed

Certified seed

Offtypes (max)

0.01

0.05%

Designated diseased plants (max)

0.05

0.1%

14. Field inspection

The number of inspection are 4

The stages are before flowering (1st), during flowering (2nd 3rd) and at maturity stage (4th).

15. Harvesting

The crop attains physiological maturation 40-45 days after 50% flowering.

The seed moisture content at this stage will be around 25.30%.

The maturation is formation of dunken layer on the seed of the base (Fig.).

The earheads are harvest at harvestable maturity stage where 80% of the earheads
attained physiological maturation. The moisture content of the seed will be around 20%.

The crop is harvested as once over harvest.

16. Threshing

The earheads are dried under sun and threshed with fliable bamboo stick for
extraction of seed.

At the time of threshing the moisture content should be around 15-18%.

On bulk quantity, seed can be threshed using LCT threshers.

Avoid mechanical damage atmechanical threshing as it reduce the seed quality.

17. Drying

Seeds are dried to 8-10% moisture content either under sun or using mechanical quality.

18. Processing

Seeds are graded using 9/64" round perforated metal sieve to upgrade the quality of
seed.

Sieving of seed remove immatured and undersized, less vigorous seed from the lot.

Mechanical grading also can be adopted using cleaner cum grader.

19. Seed treatments

Seeds are treated with Bavistin @ 2 kg-1 of seed along with carbaryl @ 200 mg kg-1
of seed to protect the seed against storage pests.

20. Seed packing

Seeds are packed in new containers as unit packages as lac material or the material.

For short term storage gunny bay of cloth bag can be used.

For medium term storage polylined gunnybag or HDPE bag can be used.

For long term storage 700 gauge polyethylene bags or metal tin or Aluminium foils
laminated with polythene sheets could be used.

21. Seed standards

The processed seed should have the following standards to be accepted under seed
certification programmes.
Standards

Foundation seed

Certified seed

98.0

98.0

1.

Physical purity % (max)

2.

Inert matter % (max)

3.

Other crop seed (max)

5 kg-1

10kg-1

4.

Weed seeds (max)

10kg-1

20kg-1

5.

Other distinguishable varieties (max)

10kg-1

20kg-1

6.

Ergot disease (max) (by number)

0.020%

0.040%

7.

Moisture content (max)

a. Moisture pervious container

12.0

12.0

b. Moisture vapour proof container

8.0

8.0

21. Seed storage

The treated seed can be stored upto 12 months in open storage and upto 18 months in
vapour proof containers.

For long term storage controlled storage under low RH (35 .50%) and low
temperature (10-15C) in highly preferable.

The godown should be maintained properly with sanitation sprays with nuvan or
malathion periodically.

23.Mid storage treatment

The upgrade the quality of deteriorating seed under storage seed could be soaked in
double the volume of 10-4 m solutions of disodium hydrogen phosphate (3.6 mg/lit of
water) for 6 h and then can be dried back to original moisture content.

Lec. No.5

SEED PRODUCTION IN MAIZE (Zea mays)

Botany
Monoecious crop with flowers of protandry in nature.
Cross pollination is the rule in seed formation.
Pollinating agent is wind.
Stigma respectivity is for 13 days
Pollen viability for 7 days.
In maize, in addition to varieties and hybrids, composites and synthetics are also
available.

Method of seed production

(a) Varieties

Raise the varieties under isolation and allow the seeds to set by open pollination.

(b) Synthetics

The lines that combine well among themselves are mixed and allowed to set seed
by open pollination

(c) Composites
These are produced by open pollination among a number of outstanding strains
usually not selected for combining ability with each other.

1. Season

Best season is November-December.

Pollination should not coincide with rain for effective seed setting.

Dry temperature favourable for seed setting is 37C.

2. Land Requirement
Land selected should be fertile and should be free from volunteer plants.
The same crop should not have been grown in the previous season.

3. Isolation distance
Seed Production system
Varieties, synthetics, composite

FS (m)

CS (m)

400

200

4. Seeds and Sowing

Seed should be purchased from authenticated source with tag and bill.

Proper stage of seed should be used

The seeds should be sown in ridges and furrows system at 4 cm depth

5. Seed rate
Varieties: 10 kg/ha

6. Pre-sowing seed treatment

Seeds are treated with Thiram/Captan @ 4g/kg

7. Spacing
45 x 10 cm

8. Manures and Fertilizers

Compost

: 12.5 ton/ha

NPK

: 100 : 75 : 75 kg/ha

Basal

: 40:75:40 NPK kg/ha

Top dressing : 50:0:0 N kg/ha (20 days after sowing)

10:0:35 NK kg/ha (40 days after sowing)

9. Foliar application
2% DAP spray (50% flowering stage)

10. Roguing

Roguing, is the removal of unwanted, off type and diseased plant from the seed
production plot.

Roguing is done based on leaf waviness, tassel colour, cob shape, stem colour,
silk colour, number of leaf, and presence or absence of auricle.

11. Field standards

Character

Foundation seed

Certified seed

Off type (max)

0.01%

0.05%

Shedding tassel (max)

0.5%

0.5%

Diseased plants (max)

0.05%

0.1%

12. Shedding tassel

Some of the tassel, which may remain inside the book leaf during detasselling due
to improper removal of tassel. This may shed pollen and cause genetic contamination.
Hence detasselling should be perfect without shedding tassel.

13. Irrigation

Irrigation should be given once in a week after life irrigation (3rd day after
sowing).

Critical stages of irrigation are silk formation stage and milky stage of cob.

14. Harvesting

Crop reaches physiological maturation 45 days after flowering.

Darkening of silk and drying up of husk of yellow colour are the visual symptoms
of physiological maturation.

15. Dehusking
At threshing floor, the husk of the cob is to be removed either mechanically using
maize dehusker or manually.

16. Cobsorting

Important operation to maintain genetic purity in this crop.

The dehusked cobs are sorted out for true to typeness based on row number,
kernel colour, kernal size, pith colour and arrangement of seeds in the cob.

The odd ones are removed for the purpose of maintaining genetic purity.

The kernal colour variation in maize is termed as metazenia effect which is the
influence of foreign pollen on the female parent.

17. Shelling

At the moisture content of 15-18% the kernels are separated from the cob, either
manually by beating with sticks or mechanically using maize sheller.

In both cases mechanical injury caused to the seed should be avoided

18. Drying
Shelled seeds are dried to 12% moisture content for further safe handling.

19. Processing
The kernels can be size graded using 18/64 round perforated metal sieve as the
middle sieve in OSAW cleaner cum grader.

20. Seed standards

The following seed quality characters are must for a seed crop of maize
Standards

FS

CS

Pure seed (%) (min)

98

98

Inert melter (%) (max)

Other crop seed (%) (max)

10/kg

10/kg

Other distinguishable varieties based on kernal colour &

texture (max)

10/kg

20/kg

Weed seeds (max)

None

None

Germination % (min)

80

90

Moisture content (%) (max)

a. Pervious container
b. Vapour proof container

12
8

12
8

21. Storage

The seed can be stored well upto 1 year in gunny/cloth bags after seed treatment
with thiram @ g/kg or Decis @ 0.04 ml kg-1.

In moisture vapour proof container the seeds can be stored upto 2 years.

The important storage insect is Sitophilus oxyzae and storage fungus is

Aspergillus spp.

Lec. No.5

SEED PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES IN CUMBU

(Pennisetum typhoides. L.)

Introduction
Cumbu botanically known as Pennisetum typhoides L. is on minor millet crop of
tropical region. It is used as food and feed and the commercial product the seed is used as
raw material for cottage industry and health drinks of industrial background.
Botany

It is highly cross pollinated crop.

The flowers are protogynous in nature.

The crop is tillering in nature and produce 4-10 tillers depending upon the variety.

Method of seed production

It is by open pollination under isolation from other varieties.

1. Stages of seed production

Breeder seed

foundation seed

certified seed.

2. Popular varieties
WCC 75, CO 7.
3. Season

The best season is Nov. Dec.

The pollination period should not coincide with rain (pollen wash will result in poor
seed setting).

The maturation of seed should coincide with dry weather.

The dry temperature favourable for seed setting is 37C.

4. Land requirement

Land should be fertile, and should not be problematic.

In problematic soil like calcarious and acidic soils the seed set will be poor.

The previous crop should not be other varieties of the same crop to avoid genetic
contamination.

The same variety can be the previous crop provided the previous crop is certified by
the certification agency.

5. Isolation
Foundation seed

- 400m

Certified seed

- 200m

6. Seeds and sowing

For production of founder seed, breeder seed and for production of certified seed
foundation seed should be used.

Seed should be from authenticated source with tag and bill.

The seed rate for varieties in 18 kg/ha.

The spacing to be adopted is 45 x 20 cm.

The sowing depth is 2-4 cm as the plant has adventitious root system.

Seeds are sown in ridges and furrows.

7. Presowing seed treatment

Use graded seeds for sowing

Treat the seed with Azospirillum or pellet with arappu leaf powder before pelleting.

For rainfed sowing hardened the seed with 0.5% brassininoloid to defy drought.

Seeds are treated with metalaxyl @ 6g / kg of seed to avoid the incidence of downy
mildew.

8. Nursery management

Seeds are also raised in nursery and are transplanted in the main field.

At raised bed nursery, seeds are sown in lines.

The age of transplanting is 20-25 days.

9. Manures and fertilizers

Compost

: 12.5 ton/ha

NPK

: 100 : 50 : 50 kg/ha

Basal

: 50 : 50: 50 NPK kg/ha

Top dressing

: 50 kg of N at 30-35 days afters sowing at tillering phase.

Foliar spray

: DAP 1% is sprayed at peak flowering stage to enhance uniform

flowering and increased seed set.

10. Main field preparation

The field is made to fine tilth and is thrown as ridges and furrows.

The seedlings are transplanted from nursery or on direct sowing, the seedlings are
thinned at 20-25 days.

The gap tilling is done on 20-25 days after sowing or transplanting.

To avoid shootfly infestation a prophylactic spray with rogor can be practiced I week
after transplanting.

11. Weeding

Application of Atrazine as pre-emergence herbicide check the weed growth upto

seedling stage.

One hand weeding on 30th day keep the field free of weed.

Weeding after boot leaf stage is uneconomical and due to shade effect weed
population will also be less.

On nonchemical production 2 hand weeding at seedling stage and before boot leaf
formation keep the field free of weeds.

12. Irrigation

Crop should be irrigated once in a week for increased seed set and bolder size seeds.

The critical stages for irrigation are primordical initiation stage, vegetative stage,
milky and maturity stages.

If irrigation is withheld in these stage seed set will be affected.

14. Rouging

It is specific for seed crop to maintain genetic purity.

It is done from seedling stage to harvesting stage based on phenotypic characters of

plant.

Offtypes are identified based on stem colour, leaf colour, waviness of leaf, leaf blade,
earhead shape, grain colour, plant structure, number of leaves, auricles, nodal colour,
grain state, grain colour etc.

Field standards for certification is as follows

Rogues

Foundation seed

Certified seed

Off types (max)

0.01

0.05%

Designate diseased
plants (max)

0.05

0.1%

15. Field inspection

3 inspections are done at seedling stage, tillering and grain formation stage.

16. Field standards

Maximum permitted (%)
Characters
Foundation stage seed

Certified stage seed

Off types

0.050

0.10

Downy mildew disease plants

0.050

0.10

Ergotted earheads

0.020

0.040

16. Pest and diseases

16.1. Pests
Aphids and Jassids

- Spray with Rogor or monocrotophos

16.2. Disease
Ercot

- Spray with carbendazium @ 500 g/acre. in 2 stages viz. 10% of

population is in flowering and 50% of population is in flowering.

Rust

- Spray with wettable sulphur @ 2.5 kg/ha on initiation of

symptom and 10 days thereafter

Downy mildew

- Spray with metalaxyl 500 g or ridomil MZ WP 2 @ 2 kg/ha or

Mancozeb @ 1 kg/ha.

17. Harvesting

Seed attain physiological maturation at 30.35 days after 50% flowering.

Maturation stage coincide with change of seed colour from green to straw yellow and
formation of dunken layer.

The moisture content of seed at this stage will be 30-35%.

Due to the tillering, the maturation of earhead may not be uniform, hence the harvest
can be done in 2 pickings to avoid the ill effects of delayed harvest, where seeds are
exposed to adverse environmental condition, which may invite fungal and insect
activity.

Selection of 5 to7 tillers for seed purpose is preferable.

18. Threshing

The erarheads are dried for 2-3 days on the threshing floor.

Threshing is done at a moisture content of 25-18% either manually (stick beating) or

mechanically (LCT thresher).

19. Processing

The seeds should be processed in OSAW cleaner cum grader using 4/64" round
perforated metal sieve as the middle one for obtaining uniformity in the sample.

For WCC 75 alone 5/64" round perforated metal sieve should be used as middle
sieve.

Lec. NO. 6. SEED PRODCUTION TECHNIQUES IN BLACKGRAM

AND GREENGRAM
Introdcution
Blackgram and greengram are the important pulse crop of India. It is widely used
as dhal for consumption and have higher market value owing to the protein requirement
of each and every human from baby to grand parents. The seed coat is used as manure,
cattle feed and the crop is ploughed in situ for improving the organic content of field.
The speciality with these crops is they can fix the atmospheric nitrogen through their nodules
because of which nitrogen requirement of the crop will be lesser than other crops.
Botany

It is self pollinated annuals

Flower structure favour self pollination

The flowering is continues and is indeterminate in nature.

Selection of seed

High yield population varieties should be selected

Seed should be from on authenticated source

Proper stage of seed should be used as a source for next generation

Stages of multiplication
Breeder seed

Foundation seed

Certified seed

Seed production technique in varieties

* Varieties are multiplied by open pollination raised under isolation.
1. Popular varieties
Blackgram

: CO 5, KM 2 T9, CO4, TMV, VBNI, VBN2

Greengram

: CO 4, Co 5, MK2, VBN1, Paiyur 1, K1, ADT1

2. Season

Grown in all 3 seasons viz., June - July (Kharif / Adipattam), Sep Oct (Rabi /
Puratasipattam and in Feb. March (Summer crop).

It is also raised in rice follows during January February and ADT varieties are
suitable for rice follows.

3. Land requirement

Field should free of macrophimine infection (root rot)

The previous crop should not be either other varieties or same variety uncertified.

The land should be fertile and put to fine tilth.

4. Isolation

Pure crop should be isolated for 10 m at foundation class and 5 m at certified seed
class from other varieties and the noncertified same variety.

5. Seeds and sowing

Seeds should be from authenticated source.

Treat the seed with the formulation of Trichoderma viridi @ 4 g/kg of seed or Pseudomonas
fluorescence @ 10 g/kg of seed against Macrophomina infection either soil or seed.

Treat the seed with Rhizobium culture for effective nodulation and fixation of
atmospheric nitrogen.

Biocontrol agents and biofertilizers are compatible so treat with Trichoderma and
then with Rhizobium.

Seeds can also be treated with captan/thiram @ 2 g/kg of seed against seed borne diseases.

But biocontrol agents and fungicides are incompatible. So choose any one of them.

24 hours after fungicidal treatment seed can be treated with Rhizobium culture.

3 pockets of Rhizobium culture is required for treating one hectare material.

For rainfall sowing harden the seed 1/3 volume of ZnSO4 100 ppm solution for
blackgram and MgSO4 100 ppm solution for greengram.

Seed could also be hardened with 1% Prosopis leaf extract for ecofriendly organic
treatment.

Sometime greengram seeds may have more than 50% hard seed due to seed coat dormancy.
Treat the seed with commercial sulphuric acid @ 100 ml / kg seed for 2.-3 minutes.

The seed rate required is 20 kg/ha for both the crops.

The treated seed may be sown at a spacing of 25 x 15 cm for blackgram and 30 x 15 cm

for greengram.

Seeds should be dipped at a depth of 3.4 cm.

Seeds can be sown either under ridges and furrows system or beds and channels system.

6. Manures and fertilizers

The field should be applied with 12.5 t/ha of FYM or composted coirpith.

The fertilizer schedule recommended for the crops are follows.

Blackgram

: 25 kg N and 50 kg of P2O5/ha

Greengram

: 25 kg N and 50 kg of P2O5/ha

7. Foliar application

At flowering (1st) stage the crops may be sprayed with 2% DAP solution. For good
seed set and to increase the seed size second spray is given 15 days after 1st spray.

Supplementary foliar application spray with 250 litres of aqueous solution containing
the following per hectare is recommended for good seed set

Chemicals

Blackgram

Greengram

Urea
DAP
Murate of potash
K2SO4
Succinic acid
Teepol
First spray
Second spray

7.5 kg
1.95 kg
1.313 kg
1.05 kg
40 g
125 ml
25th day after sowing
40th day after sowing

10 kg
2.5 kg
1.75 kg
50 g
50 g
125 ml
25th day after sowing
40th day after sowing

Foliar spray with NAA 40 ppm twice at first appearance of flowering and after a
fortnight is also recommended for rice fallow pulses under seed production.

8. Weeding

Spray pendimethalin 2 1/ha on 3 days after sowing using backpack sprayer.

Give one hand weeding on 30 days after sowing.

If herbicides are not given weed the crop at 15 and 30 days after sowings.

9. Irrigation

Irrigate the crop immediately and give the life irrigation on 3rd day.

Subsequently irrigate the field once in 10 15 days depending on soil and climatic
conditions.

The critical stages of irrigation are flowering and pod formation stage.

Water stagnation should be avoided at all stages of crop production.

KCl at 0.5% is applied as foliar spray could be practiced against drought phase during
vegetative stages.

10. Pests and diseases

Pest / Diseases

Control measures

Sucking pests

Phosphomedon 85 EC 250 ml/ha in 250 lit of water

Pod borer

Endosulphan 0.07% or monocrotophos 36 WSC

500 ml in 500 lit of water/ha

Powdery mildew

Carbendazi. 250 g/ha

Rust

Mancozeb

Leaf spot/tip blight

Carbendazim 250 g/ha

Yellow mosaic, Leaf curl and leaf Destroying plant + monocrotophos 500 ml/ha
crinckle
Root rot

Trichoderma @ 4g/kg of seed Neem cake

@ 150 kg/ha

11.Roguing

Based on leaf colour, leaf blade, stem colour, pod colour, plant stature, pod angle
flower colour and flower orientation the offtypes are identified from vegetative to
reproduction stage and are rogued out.

12.Field inspection

Under certification field inspections are two. One at vegetative phase and another at
flowering to harvesting phase.

Field standards for the crop

Rogues

Foundation seed

Certified seed

Off types

0.10

0.20 (Black and greengram)

Designated diseased plant

0.10

0.0 (Blackgram)

0.10

0.20 (Greengram)

13. Preharvest sanitation sprays

Application of neem seed kernal extract 5% twice starting from 50% flowering
stage followed with one round of Endosulphan 0.07% 10 days before harvest will give
protection against carry over of eggs of bruchids from field to store.
14. Harvesting

Pods should be harvested 30 days after the 50% flowering stages.

Seeds obtain physiological maturation 27-30 days after flowering.

At this stage, the colour of the majority of the pods (80%) will be black in blackgram
and brown in greengram.

The pod mositure content at this stage will be 17-18%.

The seed coat colour of blackgram in will be black while for greengram it is olive
green in colour.

15. Thrashing

Pods are dried to 12-13% moisture content.

Pods are threshed with pliable bamboo stick or mechanically using pulse thresher.

16. Grading

The seeds are dried to 10-12% moisture content.

The seeds of blackgram are graded using BSS 7 x 7 and that of greengram using BSS
8 x 8 to bring uniformity in the seed lot.

Discoloured and broken seeds are to be removed from the lot to upgrade the quality of
seed.

17. Seed treatment

Seeds are treated with captain / thiram @ 2 g.kg of seed + carbaryl 50% w.p @
500mg kg-1 seed to protect the seed against bruchids and seed borne pathogens.

Seed may be treated with activated clay @ 1:100 ratio against bruchid infestation for
dual purpose storability of seed both for seed and grain.

18. Seed standards

The seed produced should have the following minimum standards for sale as certified seed.
Component of seed lot

Foundation seed

Certified seed

Physical purity (min) %

98

98

Innert matter (min) %

Germination (max)

75

75

Other crop seed (No. / kg)

10

Weed seed (No. kg)

10

Objectionale weed seed (No. / kg)

10

20

Moisture pervious

Moisture vapour proof

Other Distinguishable Variety (No. / kg)

Moisture content

19.Seed storage

Seeds can be stored upto 9 months under ambient storage in cloth/gunny bag.
If bruchid infestation is carried over to storage from field, then the total seed quality
will be lost within 3 months.

For long term storage and for storing the seed at humid areas seed should be packed
in vapour proof containers like 700 guage polyethylene bags.

For storing in sealed containers store the seed upto brim and close it airtight.

Store the bags in wooden pallets in a dry storage room.

20. Seed yield

1000 1200 kg/ha (depending upon varieties it will vary)

Lec.No.7. SEED PRODUCTION IN REDGRAM, COWPEA zAND

SOYBEAN
Particulars
Botany
Isolation
FS
CS
Important varieties
Season
Seeds and Sowing
Seed Rate

Pre-sowing treatment

Spacing
Fertilizers

Pollen application
Pre-harvest sanitation
spray
Physiological
Maturation
Type of harvesting
Seed standard
Germination (min)
Grading-Sieve size
Colour grading
Seed treatment
Seed Storage
Short term
Moiture content
Long term
Sealed container

Redgram
Often cross pollinated
crop

Cowpea
Self pollination

Soybean
Self pollination

200m
10m
3m
100m
5m
3m
CO3, CO4, CO5, SA- CO1, CO2, CO3, CO4 CO1, CO2
1, BSK-1
June-July
June-July
June July
Sep-Oct
Sep-Oct
Sep-Oct
Ridges and furrows
Ridges and furrows
Ridges and furrows
20 kg/ha
80 kg/ha
25 kg/ha short
duration
10 kg/ha long
duration
a. Bruchid damage and off colour seed should be removed
b. Treat the seed with Bavistin @ 2g/kg against Macrophomina
infection
SD 45 x 30 cm
LD 90 x 30 cm
Compost 2.5 t/ha
Basal: 25 : 50 : 0
kg/ha

45 x 20 cm

Pickings (2-3)

Pickings (3-4)

30 x 10 cm

Compost 2.5 t/ha

Basal: 25 : 50 : 0
kg/ha

Compost 2.5 t/ha

80 : 80: 160 kg NPK
ha-1, 40 kg N as top
dressing at flowering
stage
1% DAP at 50 %
1% DAP at 50 %
1% DAP at 50 %
flowering
flowering
flowering
Spray endosulfan or malathion at 10 days interval for 3 times before
harvest
30-38 days
27-30 days
23-25 days
Once over harvest

75%
75%
75%
10/64
10/64
14/64
Off coloured seeds occurred due to rain at harvest. These to be removed
at the time of seed grading.
Thiram @ 2g/kg or Notchi or Neem leaf powder @ 1:100 ratio
Gunny bag
10-12%
Aluminium foil
Low temperature
below 5C

Gunny bag
10-12%
Aluminium foil
Low temperature
below 5C

Gunny bag
10-12%
Aluminium foil
Low temperature
below 5C

Lec. No.8 SEED PRODUCTION IN COTTON

(Gossypium hirsutum)
Introduction
Cotton botanically as Gossypium sp. is a fibre yielding crop,
It serves as a cash crop to the farmer as the lint serves as the raw material for the
textile industry.
As quality study on seed production aspects is warranted in this crop.

Botany

Cotton Gossypium spp is an often cross pollination crop

Eextend of cross pollination is >60%.

Four different species are in popular usage, viz. G. .arborium (eg. K10)
G..herbaceum (eg. Uppam) G. hirsutum

(eg. MCU varieties) and G.

barbadense (eg. Suvin and Suguna).

Based on staple length of fibre and cultivars can be classified into Extra long
(Suvin), short (K10) and Medium (MCU7)

Method of Seed Production

Under isolation,
Open pollination.
Nucleus seed production selfing of flowers is done with cotton (lint) or red
earth.

1.Land requirement
Field should be fertile and formed into ridges and furrows.
Black cotton soils are highly preferable than other soils.
Land should be free from volunteer plants and designated diseases especially
the wilt disease.

2.Season
Winter crop

: Aug Sep (After Aug. 15th)

Summer crop : Feb March (Before Feb. 15th)

3.Seeds and Sowing

Seed should be obtained from an authenticated source with tag and bill.

4.Pre-sowing management
Seeds can be hardened with 1% prosopis and pungam leaf extract for rainfed /
summer sowing to resist water stress problem
Use of delinted seed is better than fuzzy seed to avoid diseased and injured seed.

5.Seed rate
Varieties

: 15 kg/ha (fuzzy seed) 7.5 kg/ha (naked seed)

6.Spacing
Commercial purpose : 70 x 30 cm
Seed crop
1. Long duration

: 90 x 30 cm

2. Short duration

: 60 x 30 cm

7.Isolation distance
Isolation (m)

Foundation seed

Certified seed

Varieties

50

30

8.Manures and fertilizer

Compost

: 12.5 tons/ha

Total

: 100 : 50 : 25 NPK kg/ha

Basal

: 50 : 50 : 25 NPK kg/ha

Top dressing : 25 : 0: 0 NPK kg/ha

(70-75 days after sowing)
Foliar spray

: DAP 25 at 50% flowering stage

9.Roguing
Crop should be rogued for offtypes, selfed plants, from vegetative phase to
harvest phase depending on plant stature, leaf size, leaf colour, hairiness, stem colour,

flower colour, petal spot, pollen colour, No.of symbodia, boll size, boll shape, pittedness
etc. to maintain genetic purity.

10.Field standards
Maximum permitted %
Foundation seed varieties
Off types
Pollen shedders

Certified seed varieties

0.1%

0.2

----

----

11.Pests and Diseases

Pests

: Aphids, Jassids, whiteflies and Boll worms

Control measures

: Spraying of systemic insecticides monocrotophos,

endosulphan at final stages and rogar to control white
flies, aphids and jassids

Diseases

: Wilt (Fusarium), Rust (Puccina)

12.Irrigation
Once in 10 days.
Critical periods are boll formation to boll maturation stages.

13.Specific problems
Boll shedding either due to extreme dry climate or lesser frequency of irrigation
or physiological disorder.
By spraying 40 ppm of NAA and cycocel at 20 ppm this can be minimized.

14. Harvesting
Seed attains physiological maturation 45 days after anthesis.
Initiation of hair line cracks on the dried bolls are the physical symptoms of
physiological maturation.
At that time the moisture content will be 30-35%.
The bolls are harvested as pickings in cotton.
Due to continuous flowering habit once over harvest is not practiced.

When the bolls burst with hair line cracks the bolls are collected and dried. 5-7
pickings can be practiced in a crop.
Early 4-5 pickings are recommended for seed purpose.

15.Kapas sorting
The outer shell of boll is removed and kapas is sorted manually to pick good
quality seeds.
Hard locks are to be removed (kapas without proper bursting and lint is light
yellow in colour).
While kapas sorting, since these kapas mostly result in poor quality seeds, due to
boll worm or other insect attack.

16. Ginning
It is the removal of lint from the seed.
Done in approved ginneries using ginning machine with proper blade sharpness
and gap to avoid mechanical injury

16.Processing
The ginned seeds 9or) the fuzzy seeds are graded by hand picking and pressing on
wiremesh sieves to remove the under sized seeds and dust.

17.Acid delinting
Fuzzy seeds will cog with one another. For easy handling the seeds are delinted
using H2So4 @ 100 ml / kg of seed for 3 5 mins
17.1.Procedure
Weighed quantity of fuzzy seeds are taken in a plastic container and required
quantity of the acid is added. Stir well with wooden rod till a shinny black colour appears
(Tar like) wash with more of water (5-6 times) shade dry the seeds to reduce the moisture
content to 12% before further handling.

18.Processing of delinted seed

Free flowing delinted seeds can be graded using 10/64 round perforated metal
sieve.
Seeds can also be grade by specific gravity method by using floatation technique
using water.
The seeds will separate into floaters and sinkers. The sinkers are good seeds.
From floaters reddish and damaged (sed with insect hole) are removed.
Brownish seeds which are good seeds are hand picked and used for sowing /
storage.

19.Seed Standard
Characters

Foundation seed

Certified seed

Physical purity % (min0

98.0

98.0

Inert matter % (max)

2.0

2.0

Other crop seed (max)

5 kg 1

10 kg1

Weed seed (max0

5 kg 1

10 kg1

65

65

a. Moisture previous

10

10

b. Moisture vapour proof

Germination (min) %
Moisture content (max)

20.Seed storage
Seeds can be stored upto 8-9 months in moisture pervious container 12-15 months
in moisture vapour proof containers.
Seed treatment with Thiram @ 2.5 kg1 or chlorine based halogen mixture
@ 3 g kg1 will protect the seed room storage fungi Aspergillus spp and preserve
and storability.

21.Mid storage correction

Seeds are soaked in double the volume of 104 molar solution of KH2PO4 for 6 hr.
Then the seeds are shade and sun dried to bring back to the moisture content of
10-20%.

Lec.No.9

SEED PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF

GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogea)

Introduction
Groundnut Arachis hypogea belongs to the family fabaceae under the under
leguminosae. It was originated form Brazil and was introduced in India by about the
sixteenth century. Economically it is an oilseed crop and the oil extracted from kernel is
edible and extensively used for industrial purpose. The oilcake and plant are utilised as
nutritious cattle food.
The seed production in the multipurpose crop fetches importance owing to their
lowest multiplication ratio which varies from 1:8 to 1:5 in Indian subcontinent.
But adoption of good production technique can aids in production of good quality seed
with higher yield potential. The important seed production techniques to be adopted form
sowing to harvest are as detailed below.
1. Selection of land
It is important for production of genetically pure seeds. The land should be free
from volunteer lands and the previous crop should not be groundnut. Further the land
should be free from root rot caused by Macrophomina sp. The land should be prepared to
fine tilth for better establishment.
2. Isolation
It is also important for maintenance of genetic purity and the field should be
isolated from other groundnut varieties with a distance of 3 m at all sides.
3. Season
It is important for maximising the yield. The selected season should be such that
the maturation period should not coincide with rainy season because it will cause
vivipary at the time of harvest. Anyhow December January is recommended for
irrigated crop and June July is recommended for rainfed crop.

4. Seed rate and spacing

Based on the growing habitate the seed rate and spacing varies as below:
Plant habitate
Buch type
Spreading type
Semi spreading type

Seed rate (pod kg ha.-1)

Spacing (cm)

100-120 kg/ha
80-100 kg/ha
80-100 kg/ha

20 x 15
60 x 15
45 x15

5. Presowing seed management

5.1. Selection of pod
The seeds used for sowing should be or certified class (Foundation and certified
seed) certified class with higher physical, physiological and genetic purity. Shrivelled,
damaged, naked, undersized, fungal (aflotoxin) infected seed (kernel) should be separated
from the seed material.
5.2. Seed treatment
The seeds should be treated with thiram on Mancozed or carbendazim @ 2 kg-1 of
seed. The seeds also can be treated with Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg of seed before
sowing. It is compatible with biofertilizers and is not compatible with fungicides. Treat
the seeds with 3 packets of rhizobial culture (TNAU 14) using the gruel as binder.
5.3. Breaking seed dormancy
Some varieties of groundnut (TMV 7, TMV 10, CO 1, VRI 2) possess seed
dormancy, particularly when fresh seeds are used for sowing. This fresh ungerminated
dormant seed can be identified through terazolium testing. These seeds are treated with
200 ppm of ethrel for 6 hours and are used for sowing.
5.4. Seed hardening / removal of dead seed
The seeds are hardened for dryland sowing by soaking in 0.5% Cacl2 (50% seed
volume) for 6 hours. After 6 hr seeds should be spread over moist gunny bag and covered
with another moist bag for 24 hr. After 24 hr the seeds with sprouted radicle (Just visible
expression of radicle) should be separated and dried under shade. It should be repeated
for 2-3 times with 2 hr interval and all the viable seed with expressed radicle emergence
should be separated and dried under shade. The dead seeds are separated by this process
and showing of viable seed enables establishment of required plant stand.

6. Sowing
The treated seeds are dibbled at 4 cm depth under irrigated condition and line
sowing is better for the rainfed crop. The gap filling should be done with the
pregerminated seed within 10 days. Upto 1 week the sown seeds are to be protected from
the crows and squirrels.
7. Manures and fertilizers
At last ploughing 12.5 tonnes of farm yard manure and full doses of PK 40:60 kg
ha-1 are applied to the soil. Nitrogen @ 40 kg ha-1 and Borax @ 10 kg ha-1 is applied to
the soil before sowing. The micronutrient mixture 12.5 kg ha-1 should be applied on the
surface after sowing.
8. Nutritional disorders
Groundnut is highly susceptible to nutritional deficiencies. Nutrient deficiencies
and their symptoms in groundnut are as follows.
Nutrient

Deficiency

Remedy

Zinc

ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 as
Light yellow stripes along with veins and leaf
blade under actue condition. Veinally chlorosis basal
and cessation of growth of terminal bud

Iron

Interveinal chlorosis depression of growth of Spray 1% FeSO4 on 30, 40

aerial parts and stunted root growth
and 50 days after sowing

Boron

Rosette appearance, pod development is

affected resulting in production of 'pop' pods

Sulphur

Stunted growth chlorotic plants, thin stemmed Application of gypsum at

and spindle appearance
45 days after sowing

Calcium

Hallow heart seeds, single seeded pods

Borax 10 kg + gypsum
200 kg ha-1 at 45 days after
sowing

Application of gypsum at
45 days after sowing

9. Weed management
Pre emergence application of herbicide namely, Fluchloralin @ 2.0 lit/ha
followed by hand wedding at 40 days after sowing or tow hand weeding at 20 and 40
days after sowing can be followed.

10. Pest management

This crop is susceptible to several pest and diseases. The effective control
measures are as follows.
Pest
Leaf minor and other insect pests

Phosalon 4% D, Endosulphon 4% D, Carbary1 10%,

Monocrotophos 25 EC 750 ml/ha, Quinalphos 25 EC
750 ml/ha

Rust

Moncozed 1 kg/ha Wettable powder 2.5 kg/ha

Leaf spot

Carbendazim 250 g/ha-1

Rust and Tikka leaf spot

Carbendazim 250 g/ha, Mancozed 500 g/ha

11.Earthing up
It is the most important operation during which each plant is earthed up with
porous soil which helps in peg formation and their easy penetration. It should be done
40-45 days after sowing. During earthing up gypsum is applied @ 400 kg/ha and
incorporated in the soil. This gypsum application encourages pod foramtion and better
filling up of the pods.
12. Irrigation
Even before sowing the pulverised soil is irrigated and after 1 day when soil
moisture is optimum seeds are sown. Life irrigation is given on 3rd day followed by once
in 10 days depending on the climatic conditions. The critical periods for the irrigation are
peg formation stage (40-45 days), flowering phase (25-60 days) and maturity phase
(60-90 days). Spraying of 0.5% KCl at flowering and pod development stages will aid to
mitigate the effects of water stress.
13. Rouging
It is an important field operation needed for maintenance of genetic purity. It is
done from seedling stage upto harvesting based on habitate (spreading, bunch; semi
spreading) leaf foliage colour (dark / light green), flower characters, number of pods /
plant, pod characters (length, beak shape, 2/3 seeded etc.) and seed characters (colour of
testa). The off types that deviate from the original characters are removed from the plot
and are destroyed.

14. Physiological maturation and harvesting

Drying and falling of older leaves and yellowing of the top leaves indicates
maturity. At maturation time the inner side of the pod will be black in colour instead of
white and pod will give rattling sound. At the time of harvest, the field is irrigated and at
sufficient moisture level the plant is pulled as such. Maleic hydrazide 0.5% is to be
sprayed between 65-70 days to control vivipary.
15. Stacking
The pulledout plants are stacked near the field in such a way that the pods are
exposed to outside for easy drying. The height of the heap should be minimum to avoid
heating up of pods during heaping.
16. Stripping
The pods are stripped from plant for its collection either manually or with
groundnut stripper.
17. Yield
Depending upon the varieties, season and agroclimatic condition prevailed in the
area the yield of pods may be varied from 1400 to 2500 kg per ha.
18. Pod grading
Mechanically injured, immatured, shrivelled, insect / diseased infected, germinated
and the undersized pods are removed by grading them with groundnut pod grader using
22/64" (8.8 mm) 22/64" (9 mm) round perforated metal sieves.
19. Pod verification
For evaluation of genetic purity, the pods are verified fro their variation as off
type based on number of seed / pod, beak character, length and size of pod etc.
20. Decordication
The pods are decordicated before sowing using groundnut decordicator.
21. Kernel / seed grading
The seeds obtained from decordication should be graded using 18/64" round
perforated metal sieve to remove shrivelled and undersized seeds.

22. Drying
Pods should be dried to 7-8% moisture content either by sundrying or by artificial
driers at 110F for 1 1 hr.
23. Pod storage
Pod storage is the general practice of seed storage in groundnut because the
kernels loose their viability faster than pods. The pods can be dry dressed with thiram or
bavistin @ 4 g kg-1 of pod for better storage. The pods can also be treated with chlorine
based halogen mixture @ 3 g kg-1 of pod.
For long term storage (upto 2 years) the pods can be stored in 700 gauge
polyethylene bags where the containers are heat sealed. For medium term storage (upto 1
year) the pods can be stored in interwooven polyvinyl bag. For short term storage, seeds
can be stored in new gunny bags containing calcium chloride @ 250 g / 30 kg of pod in
plastic containers.
24. Storage condition
The bags should be stacked on wooden pallets to avoid ground moisture contact
with pod in a zigzag manner under well vantilated, rat and rain proof room. The bags are
to be rearranged once in a month. The pods can also be fumigated with celphos @ 3 g cu
m-1 as a preventive measure to avoid pest infestation. The godown should be kept clean
and neat with periodical cleaning. Malathion spray has to be avoided for groundnut as it
causes malathion injury.
However storage of pod depends on place of production and places of storage. In
Tamil Nadu among five different tested locations viz., Coimbatore, Killikulam, Madurai,
Kumular and Tirur, Coimbatore has been identified as a best storage place for groundnut.
25. Mid storage correction
Seed are microbiotic in nature. Hence, the seeds / pods which are started to
decline viability and vigour should be moisture equilibrated for 96 hrs and dried back to
original or moisture content to slow down further deterioration of seeds in storage.

Lec. No.10

SEED PRODUCTION IN SUN FLOWER

(Helianthus annus)

Botany
Cross pollinated crop.
Inflorescence is a head / capitullum with 2 types of flowers viz. (unisexual) and
disc florets (bisexual).
Seeds sets in disc florets alone.
Anthers are syngeneious
Pollinating agents are honey bees.

Method of seed production (Varieties)

The elite seeds (nucleus seeds) are produced by adoption of Pistowat model by
open pollination among themselves.

1.Varietal renovation method

In open pollinated variety, selection of superior plants are made based on the
quality characters viz. Plant yield, 100 seed weight and oil content.
The selected plants are harvested separately.
Then they are raised in rows individually.
Seeds from promising plants are collected and this form the super-elite seeds.
Elite seeds multiplied from these seeds.
Popular varieties COL, CO2, Morden, CO3, K1, K2, EC,68414, EC68415

2.Land requirement
Land should be free form volunteer plants.
Field should not have been grown with the same variety in the previous season
provided it is certified under seed production programme.

3.Isolation
Varieties

FS (m)

CS (m)

400

200

4.Season
Crop can be grown in all 3 seasons (kharif, rabi and summer)

5.Seeds and Sowing

The seeds should be purchased from authenticated source with concerned tag and
bill.
Fresh seeds possess dormancy which limits to 45-60 days.
Hence for good germination in field, 2-3 months old seeds should be used.
To enhance the germination, the fresh seeds can be soaked in 300 ppm of ethrel
for 8 hours or 0.5% KNO3 for 16 hours.
Slow hydration of seeds in between moist gunnies for 24 hrs and drying seeds are
treated with thiram @ 2.5 g/kg increse the field emergence of the crop.

6.Seed rate
15 kg/ha (except CO1-30 Kg/Ha)

7.Spacing
45 X 20 cm

8.Manures and Fertilizers

Compost

12.5 t/ha

NPK

60 : 45 : 45 kg/ha

Basal

45 : 45 : 45 kg/ha

Top

15 kg N at 30 days after sowing

Foliar

2% DAP (30 and 60 days after sowing)

20 ppm NAA (30 and 60 days after sowing)

9.Supplementary pollination

Lack of honeybees may result in poor seed set.

Hence pollination may be supplemented either by rubbing the earhead with

muslin cloth or by sibmating.

Supplementary pollination is done during the mid flowering (58-60 days after
planting) in long duration varieties and 45-48 days after planting in short duration
varieties, on alternate days between 7 and 11.00 a.m. dor 2 weeks.

10.Roguing
Plants rogued from their vegetative phase to harvesting, based on plant, height,
head size, branching habit, number of heads and colour of seeds.

11.Field standards
Factor

Maximum permitted (%)

FS

CS

Off types at and after flowering

0.10

0.20

Objectionable weed

None

None

Plants affected by downy mildew

0.050

0.50

Plants infested with orabanche

None

None

12.Harvesting
Change of thalamus colour from green to yellow is the visual symptom of
physiological maturation. Heads are harvested as once over harvest.

13.Threshing

Harvested earheads are dried in sun and at a moisture content of 15-18%.

seeds are removed, from the head either by hand threshing or mechanically using
sunflower thresher.

14.Drying
Seeds are dried under sun to reduce the moisture content to 10-12%

15.Processing
Seeds can be processed using 9/64 round perforated sieve as middle sieve using
OSAW cleaner cum grader.
The graded seeds can be further upgraded using specific gravity grader.

Heavy and midllings can be used for seed purpose while the undersized can be
rejected.

16.Seed Standards
The seed should possess the following characters.
Seed Standards

FS

CS

Physical purity (min) %

98

98

Inert matte (max) %

None

None

70

70

Huskless seed (max) (By number)

2.0%

2.0%

Total weed seeds (max)

5/kg

10/kg

Objectionable weed seed

None

None

Seed infested with Orabanche (max)

None

None

a. Pervious container (max)

9.0

9.0

b. Vapour proof container (max)

7.0

7.0

Other crop seed (max) %

Germination (min) %

Moisture content %

17.Seed storage
Seeds stored in gunny bag can be stored upto 10 months, while in 700 guage
polyethylene bags upto 15-18 months

18.Mid storage correction

Seeds are soaked in double the volume of 10-4 KH2PO4 solution for 6 hrs and
dried to original moisture content.

Lec.No.10

SEED PRODUCTION IN GINGELLY AND CASTOR

Particulars
Botany
Isolation
FS (m)
CS (m)
Method of seed
production
Important vrieties
Season
Seeds and sowing
Seed rate
Presowing treatment

Spacing
Fertilizer

Foliar application
Field standard
Off types
Physiological
maturation
Type of Harvesting
Seed standard
Germination (%)
Grading
Seed treatment
Seed storage
Mid storage correction

Gingelly
Often cross pollinated

Castor
Cross pollinated
(monoecious)

100
50
Open pollination

300
150
Open pollination

Co1, SUPR 1, TMU 1, TMU 2,

TMU 3
Rabi, kharif , summer
Beds and channel
3-4 kg/ha
Seeds pelleted with MnSo4 @ 50
mg kg-1 using maida 10% as
adhesive and arappu as a filler
material
30 x 30 cm
Compost 12.5 t ha-1
NPK : 50 : 50 : 25 kg ha 1 + 5 kg
MnSo4
DAP 1% at first flowering and 15
days after 1st spray
0.1 FS
0.2 CS
75-80% of pods become brown
and bottom 1-2 pods have
dehisced
Once over

TMU 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

80%
5/64
------Soaking seeds in double the
volume of Disodium hydrogen
phosphate 10-4 Solution for
3 hrs.

Kharif
Ridges and furrows
10 kg/ha
Seed hardening with water
(l6h) improved the field
stand under rainfed
condition
90 x 20 cm
Compost 12.5 t ha-1
30 : 50 : 0 kg NPK ha 1
---0.1 FS
0.2
CS
Drying of capsules

Once over
70%
18/64
----------

Lec.No.11

SEED PRODUCTION IN VEGETABLES

Introduction
Vegetable seed production is completely different from vegetable production where
the fully matured reproductive part is not the economic produce.
The reproductive part in younger stage are consumed as vegetables in mot cases.
Vegetables broadly can be classified as solanaceous vegetables (Tomato, Brinjal and
Chillies) malvaceous vegetables (Bhendi), cucurbitaceous vegetables (Snakegourd,
Ridgegourd, Bittegourd, Ashgourd, Pumpkin and Bottlegourd) and crucifereous
vegetables (Carrot, Cabbage, Knolkhol , cauliflower) based on the family origin.
The leafy vegetables are Amaranthus, Lettuce, Spinach and Fenugreek where
vegetative part is used for consumption.

1.Solanaceous Vegetables
The familiar 3 vegetable crops are raised on transplants.
First the seeds are raised on transplants. First the seeds are raied in nursery as
seedings.

2.Nursery bed preparation and Management

Nursery bed should be in other field and not under shade.
Apply farm yard manure to the nursery area and incorporate well before
formation of raised nursery beds.
The bed size of 1m breath, 2m length and 30 cm height will be ideal for nursery.
The soil should be porous and lose for easy penetration of roots.
The lines are drawn at 10 cm apart.
Seeds are sown sparsely at 1 cm depth and covered with river sand.
Water with rose can initially and later can be irrigated.
Seeds germinate within 8 days.
Drench the beds with fytolan (copper oxy chloride) @ 5 g/lit of water once in 7
days to prevent damping of disease.
Apply 2 kg of DAP 10 days prior to pulling out of seedlings.

Spray rogar or metasystax @ 1ml/lit of water, if sucking pests are noticed.

Seedlings are transplanted to main field at the age of 35-40, 25-30 and 30-35 days
respectively in chillies, Tomato and Brinjal.
Fruits ae harvested when fruit colour changes from green to red in chillies and
tomato and to yellow colour in brinjal.

3.Fruit Grading
Based on fruit size and shape true to type fruits are selected for seed extraction
and large to medium sized fruits alone to be used for extraction of higher seed
recovery in the above vegetables.
In tomato seeds are extracted from fully ripened (reddish) fruits by different
methods. They are

I. Fermentation method
The fruits are pulped by trampling under foot or using a pulper and collect the
pulp in plastic container or cement tank.
The pulp is allowed to ferment overnight.
The next day seeds get separated from the pulp.
The floating fraction is removed by discarding and the seeds are colleted, washed
well and dried in the shade and then in sun between 8-12 Noon and 2-5 pm.

2.Hydrochloric acid Method

The fruits are pulped by trampling under foot or by using a pulper and collect the
pulp in a plastic container or cement tank.
Add commercial hydrochloric acid @ 10 ml kg-1 of pulp and keep it for 45 min
with occasional stirring.
The seeds get separated from the pulp and sink to the bottom.
The floaters can be removed by discarding.
The seeds are collected, washed well with water 3-4 times and dried in shade.
The advantages of this method are the seeds are attractive in colour, recovery is
very high, remove the external seed borne pathogens and do not clog each other
while drying. Seed quality is also very high.

3. The other methods

Seed are also extracted by alkali method and citric acid method but are injurious
to seed storage.

4. Mechanical Extraction
Tomato seeds are also extracted by using Tomato seed extractor or pulper for large
scale seed extraction.
The seed extraction consists of two units operated by electric motor, one is fruit
pulper or crasher and second one is seed and pulp separator.
The whole unit is made of stainless steel.
Here extraction is immediate seed recovery is high and pulp/juice can be further
used for making by product like jam, jelly etc.

5. Seed Production details in Solanaceous and Malvaceous vegetables

Particulars
Isolation distance
(m)
Season
Varieties

Seed rate/acre
Age of seedlings
(days)
Spacing (cm)
Fertilizers / (NPK
kg/acre)
Plant protection

Tomato
FS
CS
50
25
June-July & Dec
Jan
CO1, CO2,
PKM1, CO3
(Marutham), Pusa
ruby, Paiyur 1

Brinjal
FS
CS
200
100
June-July

125 g
25
60 x 30
60:40:40
Fruit borer, virus

Chillies
FS
CS
400
200
June-July & AprilMay
Samba:
K1, K2, CO1,
PKM1, CO3, Pusa
jwala.
Gundu:
CO2, PKM1,
PLR1

Bhendi
FS
CS
400
200
June-July & FebMarch
Pusa Sawani,
MDU1, CO1,
Parbhani kranti,
Arka anamica

200g
30-35

400g
35-50

3-4 kg
Direct sowing

75 x 60
60:30:30

60 x 30
60:30:30

60 x 30
8:0:16

CO1, MDU11,
CO2, PKM1,
PLR1, Annamalai

Blight little leaf

Thrips, Aphids,
Yellow vein
disease, Fruit
Anthracrose
mosaic, Fruit
borer
borer
To control fruit borers, one or two spray with endosulfan or monocrotophos at
fruiting stage. Remove and destroy the virus affected plants

Physiological
maturity

Change of fruit
colour to red

Change of fruit
colour to yellow

Change of fruit
colour to red

Change of fruit
colour to brown

Harvesting

Up to 8 pickings

Up to 6 pickings

Upto 3 pickings

Up to 4 pickings

Seed Extraction

Fermentation Hcl
acid and
mechanical
method, Tomato
seed extractor

Fermentation
method

Pods are dried for

2-3 days. Seeds
extracted by
manually or by
using chilli seed
extractor

Pods are dried for

2-3 days seed
extraction by
manual

Processing (Wire
mesh sieves)

BSS 12

BSS 12

BSS 10

BSS 7

Seed treatment
Fruit to seed
recovery (%)

Slurry treatment with Captan @ 2g/kg seed

0.6-1.0

5-6

50

45-50

6.Seed standards
Factors

Tomato

Chillies

Brinjal

Bhendi

FS

CS

FS

CS

FS

CS

FS

CS

Pure seed (min) (%)

98

98

98

98

98

98

99

99

Inert matter (max) (%)

Other crop seed (max) (kg-1)

10

10

Weed seed (max) (kg-1)

10

Germination (%) (min)

70

70

70

70

70

70

65

65

Moisture content (%) (max)

a. Open storage
b. Moisture vapour
proof container

10

10

2.CUCURBITACEOUS VEGETABLES
1.Botany
Cucurbits are highly cross pollinated and female and male flowers are borne in the
same plant at different places and in different proportions.
Seasonal variations will influence the proportion of female and male flowers in most of the cucurbits.

2.Method of Seed production

The seeds of varieties are produced by open pollination raised under isolation.

3.Stages of seed multiplication

Breeder seed

Foundation seed

Certified seed

4.Land requirement
Sandy loam or soils rich in organic matter with good drainage is preferable.
The land should be free of volunteer plants and wild varieties of cucurbits.
5. Seed production details in Cucurbitaceous vegetables
Particulars
Isolation distance (m)
Season
Varieties

Seed rate/ac
Treatmetn for increase
female flower
Spacing (cm)
Fertilizers / (NPK
g/pit)
Physiological maturity

Processing
Fruit to seed recovery
(%)
Seed yield (kg/ac)

Bittergourd

Snakegourd

Ribbedgourd

Ashgourd /
Pumkin

Foundation 1000 and certified seed 500 m

June-July and Feb-Mrch
CO1, CO2,
CO1, CO2,
CO1, CO2
CO1, MDU1,
PKM1, MDU1
PKM1
Coimbatore long
green and
Coimbatore long
white
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
Spraying of Ethrel 200-250 ppm at true leaf stage and a week of 1st spray
Take pits of size 45x45x45 cm at 2.5x2.0 m distance
6:12:6
12:24:12
9:15:9
6:12:6
Change of fruit colour in any part or
1/3 of fruit tip to yellow or red

Hand picking

Hand picking

30

15-16

120-150

220-250

Complete drying
of fruits

BSS 4 wire
mesh sieve
13-14
200-250

Change of fruit
colour to orange
brown in pumkin
and ashy coating
and metallic
sound in ash
gourd
16/64 round
perforated seive
1.0-1.3
120-150

6.Seed standards (Bittergourd, Snakegourd, Ribbedgourd, Ashgourd and Pumpkin)

Factors

FS

CS

Physical purity (min) (%)

98

98

Inert matter (max) (%)

Other crop seed (max) (%)

Weed seed (max) (%)

Germination (%) (min)

60

60

a.Open storage

10

10

b.Moisture vapour proof container

Moisture content (%) (max)

Lec.No.11

SEED PRODUCTION IN ONION

1. Introduction
Onion is a biennial crop where 2 seasons are required for seed production. Onion
belongs to Alliaceae family and from seeds, bulbs are produced in the 1st season which
are economic produce and from bulbs in the 2nd season seeds are formed.
Onion is highly cross pollinated crop
The isolation distance required is 1000 m for foundation seed and 500 m for certified seed.
Method of seed production involves two steps.
Seed to bulb to seed
Seed to seed.
For all bellary onion type this method of seed production holds good. In addition the
country onion in some species (Mutloortype, CO 5) seed are produced adopting the
above procedure
Seed to seed in insitu method where the seedlings are left and allowed to bolt and
flower in the same field. This method is not good for seed production as genetic
purity maintanence is problematic, quality of seed will also be poor and land has to be
left as such for longer duration which will invite damage due to insect attack, fined
attack and seed species accumulation.
2. Seed to bulb to seed method
This method produces seeds as pure as offtypes are removed during bulb sorting
which aid in selection of true to type bulb.
3. Seed production technology
Sandy loam, silt loam and heavy soils are suitable to onion seed prodcution.
It is a tropical crop and require 13-24C before bolting and 16-21C during bolting.
Sowing season
Season

Sowing

Transplanting

Kharif

June, July

July, August

Rabi

Otc. Nov

Dec. January

6-7 week seedling are selected transplanting

Seed rate 8-10 kg / ha.

As a presowing seed treatment : seeds are soaked in 100 ppm GA3 for 3 h
In raised bed nursery, the seeds are sown.
At 48-50 days seedlings will be readily for transplanting
NPK requirement for bulb production in 30:60:30 kg ha-1 along with 25 tonnes of
FYM and 50 kg of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 as basal application (Tamil Nadu).
Spacing for transplanting is 30 x 10 cm.
Crop is given with preharvest sanitation spray to avoid sprouting 10-15 days before
harvest with 2000 ppm maleic hydrazide.
Harvesting to bulb is done one week after 50% of tops following.
Then the bulbs are cured for 4-5 days either in field or in open shade.
During bulb storage sprouting should be avoided
For replanting bulbs are selected.
Bulbs weighing >95 g or bulbs with 4-5 cm width are selected for sowing
As a presowing seed management 1/3rd cut is given to bulbs before sowing to increase
the number of flower stalk production.
Bulbs are sown during 1st and 15th October for effective bolting.
The fertilizer recommendation is 60:60:30 kg of NPK ha-1.
The spacing adopted between bulb is 45 x 30 to 60 x 30 depending on varieties.
Bolting is seed stalk formation and is normally coincided with low temperature.
Rogueing is done during flowering seed setting etc.
Seed maturation occurs 45-60 days after the flowering.
Seeds are harvested when the black seed are exposed outside in the umbels.
Harvested umbels are dried and beaten with fliable bamboo stick for removal of
seeds.
Cleaned seeds are graded using BSS 10 x 10 sieve.
Seeds are treated with thiram @ 2 g kg-1 of seed and storage under ambient condition
and low temperature storage and moisture vapour proof containers prolong the
storability of seeds.
Seed yield 5-7 Quintals / ha

Hydrating the seed in thrice the volume for 3-6 h prolong the storability of seed
during storage.
Field and seed standards of onion are
3. Field standards
Factors
Bulbs not confirming to the varietal
characteristics
Off types

Maximum permitted
Foundation

Certified

0.10% (by number)

0.10% (by number)

0.10%

0.20%

4. Seed Standards
Factors

Maximum permitted
Foundation

Certified

Pure seed (minimum)

98.0

98.0

Inert matter (maximum)

2.0

2.0

Other crop seeds (maximum)

5/kg

10/kg

Weed seeds (maximum)

5/kg

10/kg

Germination (minimum)

70%

70%

Moisture (maximum)

8.0%

8.0%

For vapour proof containers (maximum)

6.0%

6.0%

Lec. NO.12

STEPS IN MAINTENANCE OF GENETIC PURITY

IN SEED PRODUCTION PLOTS

Genetic purity is maintenance of true to type nature of the plant in such a way that
the plant resembles its mother at all outlooks i.e., from seed to plant to seed.

In a seed crop the basic seed used for sowing and the resultant seed should be
genetically pure. Hence steps are being from sowing till harvest and in storage for
maintenance of genetic purity at higher orders.

The important steps involved in genetic purity maintenance for any seed production
plots are as follows.
The seed source used for multiplication should be from an approved source.
Fields should be provided with proper isolation.
Rogues should be removed from the field totally from sowing to harvest.
Field should be inspected for adequately for insect attack, pathogen inspection,
inseparable weed species and other abnormalities due to environmental influence
which all could reduce the seed quality.

Harvesting and post harvest handling of seeds should be taken care to avoid mixing
of seeds with other crop / impurities.

1. Individual influence of the above factor and methods for maintenance of

genetic purity is as follows
1. Selection of seed

Seed should be from universities, state seed farm, National Seed Corporation etc.

It should be from identifiable authenticated sources.

It should be certified class.

Based on the stage of multiplication, seed should be selected i.e., Breeder seed for
foundation seed production and foundation seed for certified seed production.

Seed should be > 99.5 100% genetically pure.

2. Isolation
Isolation is separation of seed crop from other crops of same variety or other varieties
or source of contamination (Weed spp.) for maintenance of genetic purity.
The different types of isolation are space isolation, time isolation, barrier isolation
and geographical isolation.
3. Space Isolation

It is the measurable distance provided between contaminants.

It varies with crops depending upon the pollination behaviour. If self-pollination the
isolation distance will be less, if cross pollination it will be more.

Isolation should be seen even for contaminating weed species.

The isolation distance recommended is as follows.

4. Isolation distance requirement for different crops as per certification standards

Sl.No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.

Crop
Barley
Paddy
Maize Varieties., Composites & Synthetics
Sorghum
Pearlmillet
Black gram, Bengal gram, Green gram, Cowpea,
Lab lab, Horse gram
Pigeon pea
Castor
Groundnut
Gingelly
Sunflower
Cotton
Mustard
Linseed
Tomato
Safflower
Chillies
Brinjal
Gourds

F.S (M)
3m
3
400
200
400
10

C.S. (M)
3m
3
400
100
200
5

200
300
3
100
400
50
50
50
50
400
400
200
1000

100
150
3
50
200
30
25
25
25
200
200
100
500

20.

Bhendi

400

200

The isolation distance will be different for varieties and hybrid where varieties will
have lesser isolation than hybrids.

It is must for genetic purity maintenance (GPM).

It is easiest management technique for genetic purity maintenance.

5. Time isolation
]

It is separation of varieties / species / contaminants by adjusting the sowing date in

such a way that both crop does not come to flowering one at the same time.

It is not widely practiced in crops of indeterminate growth habit due to their

continuous flowering habit.

Here as the crop comes to flowering at different date / duration the crossing is
prevented and genetic purity in maintained.

Time isolation is not accepted under certification.

6. Barrier isolation

It is separation of crop by raising a barrier in between the crops / varieties expected

for contamination.

The barrier may be either living or non-living.

Polythene sheet can be used as barrier.

Thickly grown dense tree crops like Casuarina, Daincha, Seabania can be the
barrier to avoid contamination between 2 crops / varieties / contaminants.

It acts as a filter for pollen from one field to other.

7. Geographical isolation

It is the isolation provided by sowing the crop with different altitudes.

It is possible in hilly areas.

Crops raised in lower terrace will not contaminate crops of higher terrace as there
will be flowering difference between terraces and the pollination will be possible.

8. Roguing

It is important field operation warranted for maintenance of genetic purity of field level.

Proper roguing can even improve the genetic purity of the resultant seeds.

Roguing is done from sowing upto harvest in field and after harvest at processing
yards during post harvest handling of seeds.

Field roguing helps in maintenance or improving the genetic purity of seeds.

The roguing at post harvest handling stages helps in preservation of the genetic purity
that has been maintained of field level by avoiding mixing of other varieties or crops
with the seeds.

During rouging other crop plants, objectionable weed plants, offtypes (Varient of
originals) are removed completely and transferred totally from the field.

Roguing should be on almost everyday or minimum possible intervals to avoid

contamination.

The perfection in roguing is checked by seed certification officer during field

inspection in certified and production and by the monitoring term in breeder seed
production.

On engineering labour, the persons well versed in key characters of crop as specified
by the breeder during release should be engaged.

Roguing at sunny hours is not good.

Always sun should be at your back for perfect roguing.

Roguing should be started from a definite place and should end with a definite place
and should be continued. This should be repeated after completion.

The characters to be observed during rouging at different stages are

1.

Seedling stage

Colour of stem, angle of cotyledonery leaves hairiness,

colour of leaf.

2.

Vegetative stage

Plant status, leaf colour, stem pubescence, leaf

characters, branching, plant colour etc.

3.

Flowering stage

Flower colour, type of inflorescence, flower position,

infected plants, harmful weeds, height of plant

4.

Maturation stage

Pod/fruit characters, seed characters, Shattering /

lodging habit, height of the plant etc.

5.

Post harvest handling :

Pod / cob/ kapas characters, seed characters, maintaining

stage

cleanliness of machineries.

In field by visual and careful observation of plant/seed/fruit characters the genetic

purity is maintained.

At post harvest level by maintaining cleanliness at threshing floor, area around

threshing floor, the processing machinery's, other machinaries and the processing
yard the genetic purity of crop can be better preserved.

Important post harvest operations for genetic purity maintenance as per certification
programme is as follows.

Maize - Cob sorting

Groundnut - Pod verification

Cotton - Kapas sorting

Vegetative propagules - Sett/rhizome/tuber/bulb/root verification

The genetic purity required for some of the crops are as follows as per seed
certification standards.

Class

Standards for minimum genetic purity (%)

Breeder (by breeders)

99.9%

Foundation seed

99.0%

Certified seed (varieties, composites,

synthetics and multilines)

98.0%

Hybrids

95.0 85.0 %

10.Precautions to be adopted in genetic purity maintenance at post harvest handling

operations

The harvest crop should not be stacked in field.

The bunds should be free of weeds.

The threshing floor should be clean.

The crevices in threshing floor should be cleaned properly

The blown seeds grown near the threshing floor should be cleaned properly.

Two crops/varieties should not be harvested and threshed at the sometime.

On use of vehicle for transport the vehicle should be cleaned properly.

On use of winnowers / threshers for seed extraction the machinaries should be well
cleaned without any seed using air blow/aspirator.

On transport gunny bags should not be any other variety/crop.

On processing, the floor and machines should be clean.

On drying also clealiness of the user area is highly warranted.

On packing only fresh bags should be used to avoid mixing of seed with previously
handled seed adhere in between the network of jute thread.

Hence for genetic purity maintenance equal steps taken in field by rouging the unwanted
plants, cleanliness maintained in the post harvest handling yard are must.
As genetic purity in the foremost important character of seed crop with seed quality
characters.

Lec.NO.13 PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURATION AND HARVESTING

TECHNIQUES IN SEED CROPS

Harvesting is one of the agronomic management practices that require technical
knowledge on maturation of the crops. This knowledge is much important in seed
production than in commercial production.

1.Advantages on correct method of harvesting

Seed quality will be more
Seed yield will be protected without loss due to shattering
Processing loss will be reduced
Seed storability will be more
Above aspects will improve the seed marketability

2. Physiological maturation (PM)

The correct stage of harvesting for seed crop is termed as physiological maturation
i.e., only after the attainment of physiological maturation crop should be harvested.
Physiological maturation is the stage at which the dry matter accumulation of the seed
will be the maximum and it will be associated with maximisation of seed germination
and seed vigour. The moisture content of the seed will be in decreasing order.
Diagrammatic representation of PM is as below.
Moisture
content
Physiologic
al maturity
characters

Growth Phase

Physiological maturation stage where

drymatter production, germination and
vigour will be more
Senescence phase

Time (Growth period)

The attainment of physiological maturation is represented by sigmoid curve of growth pattern.

The physiological maturation can be represented both as duration and visible symptoms.

Physiological maturation during is the days taken for maturation after the anthesis /
flower opening / fertilization.

2.a. Days for physiological maturation of some of the crops are as below:
Crop

Duration

Crop

Duration
45 days

Paddy

27 30 days

Cotton

Sorghum

40 45 days

Sunflower

Cumbu

30 35 days

Groundnut

Maize

45 days

Tomato

Redgram

30 38 days

Brinjal

Green gram

30 days

Chillies

Black gram

30 days

But fixing the days and harvesting is difficult. Hence the for physiological

maturation is identified based on visual symptoms that occur in fruit and seed
characters. The visual symptoms are:

3. Physiological maturity symptoms in different crops

Crop

Symptoms of Maturity

Paddy

Change of green colour to straw yellow colour panicle

Sorghum

Formation of dunken layer (Black), change of earhead colour to

pale yellow (depending upon the variety)

Cumbu

Formation of dunken layer (Black), Earhead colour changes to

Ivory

Maize

Husk dries and become straw yellow. Drying of silk

Cotton

Hairline crack in Bolls

Sunflower

Back side of thalamus turning lemon yellow in colour

Groundnut

i.

Black colouration in inner side of the shells

ii.

Rattling sound of kernal

iii.

Yellowing of older leaves

Pulses

Turning of pod colour to Brown / Black

Soybean

Withering of leaves. Pod colour change to brown

Gingelly

Browning / Yellowing of pods. Seeds become chocolate brown in

colour.

Brinjal

Yellow colouration of fruits

Tomato

Reddish colouration of fruits

Bhendi

Hairline crack formation in dried fruits

Ashgourd

Ashy coating over the fruit

Pumpkin

Yellowish browning of fruit rind

Ribbed gourd

Rattling sound of seed in fruit. Browning of dried fruits.

Snakegourd &
Bittergourd

Change of fruit colour yellow / red at distal end or any part of fruit.

Onion

Umbel colour change into yellow colour (10 20% - Black seeds
visible)

Caution in this visible symptom is sometime due to insect attack the visible
symptom will be obtained with fruits earlier to physiological maturation

These symptoms are easy to identify even by illiterates and alarms for harvesting
crop with good seed quality.

4. Problem with physiological maturation

Harvesting the crop of physiological maturation is difficult at physiological

maturation based on days is calculated more or less based individual seed and
physiological maturation based on visible characters, all fruits of a population will
not come to physiological maturation storage at single phase which will be more
common in plants with indeterminate flowering habit than with determinate type.

The solution for the problem is harvesting of crop at harvestable maturity.

5. Harvestable Maturation (HM)

This harvestable maturation is for the population.
This will be later to physiological maturation.
At this stage, more than 80% of the population will attain physiological maturation
and hence without economic loss crop can be harvested.
The seed quality will be more or less similar to physiological maturation. But
moisture content will be lesser than PM (18.20%).
6. Caution On Harvesting Seed Crop

Harvesting should be done after PM at HM.

The influence of pest attack and environmental influence should not be mistaken for
PM or HM.

The crop should never come to harvest (HM / PM) at rainy or high RH situation.
This will reduce the seed quality characters drastically.

7. Methods of harvesting

Harvesting of crop can be done either mechanically or manually.

Mechanical harvesting can be done only as single or once over harvest.

Care should be at mechanical harvesting to avoid mechanical injury by adjusting

blade size, gap between blades, speed of operation etc.

Manual harvesting is done in two methods which is single harvest or periodical

harvest.

Either single or periodical harvest termed as picking is depending upon the growth
habit of the crop.

In determinate type where flowering is confined to a shorter duration once over or

single harvest is recommended.

In crops with indeterminate growth habit, periodical harvest or picking is

recommended.

Picking is harvesting the crop as and when a part of the population attains HM.

The number of picking varies with crop depending on the growth habit of plant.

Usually seeds of later picking are not considered for seed purpose.

The type of harvest recommended for different crops is as follows.

8. Types of harvests recommended for different crops

Crop

Types of harvest

Paddy, Sorghum, Maize Once over harvest

Cumbu

Two harvests

Pulses

Two-Three harvests or pickings

Cotton

5-6 pickings

Sunflower, Groundnut

Once over harvest

Bhendi

4-5 pickings

Tomato

6-8 pickings

Brinjal

6-8 pickings

Gingelly

Once over harvest (when 80% of capsules start yellowing and

1 or 2 capsules at the bottom are dehiscing)

Gourds

4-5 pickings

9. Need to know PM, HM and Harvesting method

If these factors are considered, the harvest produce will have the maximum seed
quality characters in terms of germination, vigour and storability.

Lec.No.14

GRADING AND UPGRADING OF SEEDS

Grading is one of the post harvest handling techniques and the major operation
under seed processing is the seed grading.
1. Seed grading
It is done after threshing and before seed treatment in any seed production cycle.
Grading reduces the heterogenity of seed lot and improves the seed quality,
storability, planting value and marketability.
The morphological characters used for grading are size, weight, colour, shape and
surface texture.
Seed lot can be graded adopting any one of this characters or 2 or 3 characters in sequence.
2. Size grading
Mostly the seeds are initially graded based on size to bring uniformity (homogenity)
in seed lot. It is also termed as basic grading.
For size grading different sieves of uniform hole size are used.
The sieves sizes recommended for grading different crops are as follows.
S.No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Crop
Maize
Paddy
Pearlmillet
Sorghum
Bengalgram
Cowpea
Blackgram
Greengram
Redgram
Gingelly
Sunflower
Soybean
Cotton fuzzy

Sieve size
(Perforated round metal sieve)
18 / 64
1 / 14 x 3 / 4
4 / 64 (5 / 64 for WCC5)
10 / 64
10 / 64
10 / 64
10 / 64
7 / 64
10 / 64
4 / 64
9 / 64
12 / 64
12 / 64

14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Acid delinted
Tomato
Chillies
Brinjal
Bhendi
Gourds
Onion
Groundnut seed
Groundnut Pod

10 / 64
5 / 64
5 / 64
5 / 64
10 / 64
16 / 64
5 / 64
18 / 64
24 / 64

For size grading the seeds, two different systems are used viz. American system
(AST) and British system (BSS).
In AST system sieves are available with round, oblong and triangular opertures.
For linear seeds like paddy and wheat oblong holed sieves are used for grading. But
for round to oblong seeds, sieves with round holes are used for grading. Triangular
sieves are not in wider use.
In AST system for fixing the hole size are inch is divided into 64 parts (1 / 64) and
more number of parts are united to make the hole size (1 / 64 + 1 / 64 + 1 / 64 + 1 / 64
+ 1 / 64 5 / 64). The sieve size is the largest width of the seed that can pass through
the hole the seeds more than the width are retained on the seeds. Based on the
retention in higher quantity, the recovery of seed in a sieve is determined. If the
recovery is more that sieve is combined with seed quality then it is fixed as the sieve
size for the seed.
Example
Sieve No.

Recovery (%)
(Based on weight to
total weight)

Germination (%)

Vigour index

10 / 64

96

1205

11 / 64

10

94

1200

12 / 64

80

94

1200

13 / 64

88

1000

If the recovery and seed quality characters are as above 12 / 64" round perforated
metal sieve is fixed as the sieve size for the examined crop.
In BSS system 1 inch is divided into equal parts, depending upon the number of equal
parts the size is mentioned
(eg.) BSS 4 x 4 (Inch 2.5 cm) divided into 4 parts vertically and horizontally).
BSS 10 x 10 (Inch 2.5 cm) divided into 10 parts vertically and horizontally).
Here the shape of the hole will only be square. Hence also as wire mesh sieve.
In AST system higher the number more will be the size of seed while in BSS system
higher the number less will be the size of sieve.
3. Grading based on weight
Based on weight also seeds are being graded.
It can be done either using water (Based the efficiency of buoyancy of seed to float
due to the difference in seed weight, eg. insect damaged seed float, while good seed
sink due to their weight difference) using machine known as specific gravity
separator.
In some species like cotton, bhendi sunflower weight grading of seeds will be
accurate than size grading due to the genotypic of seed coat and embryo arrangement.
In these seeds space exist between there two seed structures and this seed the
buoyancy will not be there. Hence for these seed specific gravity grading of seeds
will be an accurate grading.
In paddy upgrading technology practiced with salt water is only a specific gravity
grading.
On some crop like marigold, Casuarina mild organic solvents used for specific
gravity grading (eg.) Acetone.
Examples
Crop

Weight grade technique

Paddy

Salt floatation using egg

Sunflower

Use of specific gravity separator

Cotton, Bhendi

Water floatation technique

4. Grading based on colour

Seed are having their original seed colour which is genotypic. Any deviation from the
colour is known as colour variation and is termed as off coloured seed which may
either dull or dark from original colour.
Off colour seed occur in seed lot due to rain of harvest or due to harvesting of
immatured seed or due to over maturing of seed in plant or due to aging of seed in
storage.
Off coloured seed are poorner in quality in terms of germination, vigour and
storability.
Removal of off coloured seed is known as colour grading.
It can be done either manually or mechanically.
The machine used for colour grading is electronic colour sorter (Fig.).
5. Grading based on shape
Seed vary in shape as oblong, rectangular, round, triangular, square, hexagond within
a seed lot and sorting of this shape to single shape is known as shape grading.
It is not a usual practice in commercial crop as this shape variation occur only with
wild and ecotypes that are prevalent mostly in perennial tree species (eg.) Tamarind,
pungam and neem (round and oblong).
In processing cylinder separator or inclined separator is used for homogenising based
on shape it linear and round seeds are mixed together.
6. Grading based on surface texture
The surface texture of seed may either smooth or corrugated. Based on the difference
by removal of one from other the seeds are graded.
Example : Peas round and wrinkled peas.
Adoptability for this grading is also rare occur only due to genotypic varieties.
In processing magnetic separator is used for separating lucerne seed from dodder seed
with corruguated .
7. Upgrading of seeds
In seed production cycle, during in processing. grading of seeds is followed by
upgrading of seeds.

Upgrading additional grading for further seed quality improvement.

Size grading is known as basic grading. Any other grading followed by size grading
is known as upgrading (eg.).
Size grading followed by colour grading (greengram)
Size grading followed by weight grading (paddy, bhendi)
Size grading followed by weight and colour grading (greengram on insect attack)
Size grading followed by shape grading (wheat)
8. Some of the machinaries used in processing unit
Machines

Usuage

Direr

For reducing the moisture content mechanically

Cleaner cum grader

For separation of seeds based on size using seives

Specific gravity separator

For grading seeds based on weight

Indented cylinder

For grading seeds based on shape

Magnetic separator

For separation seeds based on surface texture

Electronic colour sorter

For separation of seeds based on colour

9. Other machines based on specificity

Machine

Usage

Crop

Debearder

Removal of appendages

Barley / Carrot

Decordicator

Shelling of pods

Groundnut

Pod grader

Grading based on size

Groundnut

Sheller

Shelling of husk

Maize

Ginner

Removal of Fuzz from seed

Cotton

Delinting

Removal of lint from seed

Cotton

Chilly seed exactor

Breaking pods

Chillies

Tomato pulper

Pulping of fruits

Tomato

PACKING MATERIAL FOR SEEDS

Lec. No.15

Seeds are also to be purchased by the consumer hence require packaging in attracting
manner. Seed require packaging for (i) easy handling (ii) easy transport (iii) easy sole
of material for unit area (3 kg/ac) (iv) for attractiveness (v) For seed quality
preservation.
In seed, selection of packaging material is important as it decide the storage life of
seeds.
Seeds are classified by microbiotic (upto 1 year) mesobiotic (1-3 years) and
macrobiotic (>3 years) based on their genetic storage behaviour.
For carry over seed from season to season or long term above trend has to be
modified so that such can be stored for longer periods.
The necessity for long term storage are (i) cost involved in seed production will be
less (ii) genetic purity can be maintained (iii) repeated production can be minimised.
The long term storage of seed is possible by selection of packaging material. Hence
study on packing material is must.
Common packaging material used for seeds are cloth bag, paper bag, gunny bag,
300 gauge polythene bag, 700 gauge polyethylene bag, polylined gunny bag, butter
paper cover, HDPE bags, paper laminated polythene bag, polythene laminated
aluminium foil pouch, cellopone paper, muslin cloth 600 gauge polythene bags glass
bottles, tins etc.
Packing materials classified into 3 based on their relation with moisture
(i)

Moisture pervious container : Allows transmission of moisture from to

seed to atmosphere and atmosphere to seed either in the form of liquid or
gaseous form (eg.) 1 to 7.

(ii)

Moisture resistant container : Allows transmission of moisture on either

side only in gaseous form (eg.) 8-10.

(iii)

Mositure vapour proof containers : The container allow moisture

neither in the form of liquid in the gaseous stage (e.g.) 4-15.

2. What is moisture transmission

When a seed is kept in an atmosphere, since both are having moisture, the
transmission of moisture from one to another will happen till they attain uniformly in
moisture which is known as moisture equilibrium status. Hence due to the process, the
moisture content of seed at ambient condition will be varying widely and too often
depending on the changes in the atmospheric condition causing weather and drying of
seed that reduces the quality of seed in storage.
Proper selection of packaging material can alter this frequency of wetting and
drying and preserve the quality of seed.
3. Containers and storability
For long term storage seeds are to be stored in moisture vapour proof containers.
Precaution :
1. Seed moisture should be below 8%
2. Seed should be filled upto brim.
3. Sealing of container should be without leakage.
4. Once used containers should not be used
5. Cost involved is high.
Advantages :
1. Long term storage (> 3 years)
2. Insect attach will be less
3. Pathogen infection will be less
4. Seed germination and vigour will be preserved
5. Keeping the seeds packed in MVPC at low temperature <5 will prolong the
storability for still longer duration.
For medium term storage moisture resistant containers are used.
Advantages
1. Cost is less
2. Materials are easily available

3. Moisture content need not be too low (10%).

4. Optimum drying is enough
5. Store the seed upto 3 year will lesser reduction in seed quality characters.
For short term shortage moisture previous containers are used.
Advantages
1. Economic
2. Ecofriendly
3. Moisture content of seed can be 10-13 per cent. Hence adequate drying is not
needed.
4. Handling is easier.
5. No seedling is needed.
Disadvantages
1. Lesser period of storage (<1 year)
2. Attack by biotic organism will be more.
Further improvement in storability
Combining other factors with these packaging material will give additive storage
period.
1. Low temperature storage (1 - 5C)
2. Seed treatment before storage
3. Fumigation of seeds before storage
4. Storage godown sanitation before storage.
Advanced storage
Cryopreservation of liquid nitrogen storage is known as advanced storage
technique where seeds are stored in above the nitrogen liquified at 196C in nitrogen gas.
But the seed moisture should be 4 5 %.
Practical work
To evaluate the storability of seeds in months, for the different crop, the work
carried out in the Department were culled out and tabulated. The influence of packaging
material and treatment were also included for the study.

Lec.No.16

BREEDER SEED PRODUCTION IN TNAU

1. Status of Breeder seed production

Seed is a crucial input agriculture. Seed act as the catalyst for other inputs to be
cost effective in farming. Quality seed alone contributes to the extent of 20-25%
increased yield. Quality seed can be produced through generation system of seed
production. The breeder seed assumes the first generation seed in the multiplication of
quality seed for supplying to the farming community.
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is taking up nucleus and breeder seed
production in all crop varieties released by the State as well as few national varieties,
which are adapted to Tamil Nadu. The varietal spectrum of Tamil Nadu is too large and
the University in currently taking up breeder seed production in as many as 158 varieties
falling under 19 crops excluding the vegetables. Under vegetable crops, breeder seed
production is carried out in as much as 20 varieties covering 10 crops. The varietal
spectrum of Tamil Nadu is furnished in Annexure I.
The total demand and supply of breeder seeds for the past five years (from 1997-98
to 2001-2002) is also given in Annexure II.
1.1. BSP unit under NSP (Crops)
The breeder seed production is the mandate of ICAR and the Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University is having one BSP unit under NSP (crops) functioning at
Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar with separae staff. The ICAR scheme for
breeder production of annual crops, namely, groundnut is functioning at RRS,
Vridhachalam and ARS, Bhavanisagar. The breeder seed production for the GOI indents
is being carried out in three centres. The monitoring of breeder seed production and
supply is being carried out at Coimbatore. The Director, Centre for Plant Breeding &
Genetics is the Nodal Officer for breeder seed production in Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University.

1.2 BSP centres for GOI indents & single Window system
The BSP centres responsible for carrying out the breeder seed production of GOI
indents in order to satisfy the Single Window System of ICAR are furnished here under.
1. Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar
2. Agricultural Research Station, Vaigaidam
3. Agricultural Research Station, Vridhachalam
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is implementing the Single Window System of
breeder seed production as far as the GOI indent is concerned. The entire GOI indents are
taken care of in the above three main centres. The breeder seed production is also carried
out in other 24 centres to meet the demands of the State as well as private seed producers.
Totally 27 centres are engaged in the breeder seed production.
1.3.Financial assistance
The major financial assistance was received through the Government of
Tamil Nadu under the seed component of Tamil Nadu Agricultural Development Project
(TNADP) during 1990-1998. A sum of Rs.731.857 lakhs was provided from the World
Bank assisted TNADP for strengthening the infrastructure facilities in TNAU required
for breeder seed production.
A sum of Rs.45.00 lakhs was received through ICAR for strengthening
infrastructure facilities needed for breeder seed production at Agricultural Research
Station, Bhavanisagar, under NSP (Crops) phase III, during 1992-1996.
Similarly, a sum of Rs.37.3 lakhs was also received through Oilseeds Production
Programme (OPP) for improving the infrastructure facilities in the identified few centres
for breeder seed production in oilseed crops during 1994-95, 1995-96 and 2001-02.
Consequent on the strengthening of infrastructure facilities at various BSP
centres, the production potential and the quality of breeder seeds have been considerably
increased during the last five years. The demand and supply gap of breeder seeds existed
in the early nineties have been removed in the recent past.

1.4. Streamlining the breeder seed production in TNAU

The Vice-Chancellor has constituted two committees to monitor and streamline
the breeder seed production in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during 1999.
1. Steering Committee on breeder seeds.
2. Task Force Committee on breeder seeds.
The Vice-Chancellor is the chairman of the Steering Committee. The committee
will monitor the work on breeder seeds and its related issues. So far, seven meetings were
held to discuss and sort out various problems and issues on breeder seed production.
The Director of Research is the chairman for the Task Force Committee.
The committee will monitor the implementation of the breeder seed production and seed
quality aspects. So far, three meetings were held and the problems experienced in the
breeder seed production were brought to the notice of the Steering Committee for
discussion and solving them.
Both the committees are convening meetings at periodical intervals to streamline
the breeder seed production in TNAU.
1.5. Review Meetings at National Level
The breeder seed production is being reviewed at the Annual Breeder Seed
Review Meetings at New Delhi every year under the Chairmanship of Deputy Director
General (CS). The production, lifting and non-lifting and also fixation of uniform sale
price of breeder seed will be discussed.
Similarly, the breeder seed production is also reviewed in the Annual Group
Meetings of the National Seed Project (Crops).

Lec.No.17

BREEDER SEED PRODUCTION - PLANNING

Seed is being a crucial input in agriculture and also acts as a catalyst for other
inputs to be cost effective. Quality seed alone contributes 20-25% increased yield.
Quality seed can be produced through generation system of seed multiplication.
The breeder seed assumes the first generation seed in the multiplication of quality seed
for supplying to the farming community.
Breeder seed production is the mandate of the ICAR. The TNAU is continuously
engaged in the breeder seed production of state released varieties and also few
national varieties well adapted to Tamil Nadu conditions based on the indents.
Breeder seed production is being taken up in 158 varieties covering 19 agricultural
crops and 20 varieties covering 10 vegetable crops (Annexure I).
Director, Centre for Plant Breeding & Genetics in the Nodal Officer for breeder seed
production in TNAU. At present, the breeder seed production in vegetable crops is
monitored by the Dean (Hort.). Horticultural College & Research Institute,
Coimbatore.
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University if fulfilling the breeder seed indents of the
Agriculture Department, private seed producers as well as GOI agencies.
The demand and supply of breeder seeds for the past five years (1997-98 to 2001-02)
is furnished in the Annexure II.
The surplus quantities of breeder seeds are supplied to the private seed producers,
besides their regular indents.
During 2001-02, we have distributed 1975 qtl. of breeder seeds in paddy, millets,
pulses, oilseeds, cotton and forage crops as against the indent of 1824 qtl. to
Agricultural Department, Private and GOI agencies.
TNAU has been categorized as one among the 25 good performing breeder seed
production centres of the country based on the total breeder seed production, type of
mandated crops and size of the centres.

During, 1996, we have prepared a Seed Plan for Tamil Nadu to assess the
requirements of the breeder seed in various crops, based on the total area under
different major crops, Seeds Replacement Rate (SRR) and Seed Multiplication Ratio
(SMR) for each crop (Annexure III).
The breeder seed production has been strengthened by improving the infrastructure
facilities in various BSP centres of the University by getting financial assistance from
TNADP (Rs.731.857 lakhs), National Seed Project (Crops) through ICAR (Rs.45.0
lakhs) and Oilseed Production Programme (OPP) through Agriculture Department
(37.3 lakhs).
Land Development, construction of seed godown, thrashing floor, seed testing
laboratory, open wells,bore wells, purchase of tractors and farm implements,
machinery, seed processing units and jeeps were carried out to strengthen the
infrastructure facilities through TNADP, NSP and OPP.
The breeder seed production in TNAU in monitored by s Steering Committee under
the Chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor and also by a Task Force Committee under
the chairmanship of the Director of Research. Periodical meeting were held to sort out
the problems in the breeder seed production and solutions have also been arrived at.
Revolving fund has been provided to us from the ICAR for breeder seed production.
A sum of Rs.800 lakhs is under operation at Bhavanisagar (3.0 lakhs), Vaigaidam
(2.00 lakhs), Vridhachalam (1.0 lakh), Palur (1.6 lakh) and Pattukottai (0.40 lakh).
We have earned 38.68 lakhs over a period of 10 years of operation of revolving fund
for breeder seed production. But, we have not ploughed back the profits as per the
ICAR norms.
The breeder seed production is reviewed at National level during the Annual Breeder
Seed Review Meeting and also in the Annual Group Meetings of the National Seed
Project (Crops).

VARIETAL SPECTRUM OF TAMIL NADU

S.No

Crop

1.

Paddy

2.

Millets
Sorghum
Ragi
Bajra
Maize
Tenai

3.

Pulses
Redgram
Blackgram
Greengram
Cowpea
Horsegram
Bengalgram

4.

Oilseeds
Groundnut
Sesame
Castor
Sunflower
Soybean

5.

Cotton

6.

Forage

7.

Vegetables
Tomato
Biltergourd
Snakegourd
Bibberedgourd
Chilli
Bhendi
Moringa
Ashgourd
Brinjal
Pumpkin

Varieties
ADT 36, ADT37, ADT 38, ADT 39, ADT40,ADT 42, ADT 43, ADT 44,
ADT 45, ADT 46ASD 16, ASD 17, ASD 18, ASD 19, ASD 20,MDU5,
CO 43, CO 46, CO47, TKM 9, TKM 10, TKM 11, TKM 12, PKM 2,
Improved white ponni, TPS 2, TPS 3, CR 1009(Ponmani), IR 20, IR 36, IR
50, IR 64, TRY 1, TRY 2, Parental lines of CORH 2 and ADTRH 1,
APK 1, K 8, K 9, K 10, K 11, Paiyu 1, CO (S) 28, BSR 1, Parental lines of
K tall , COH 4
CO 13, TRY 1, Paiyur 1
ICMV 155, ICMV 221, Parental lines of CO H (Cu) 8
CO BC 1, Baby corn, CO 1, Parents of COH 2, COH 3, COH (M) 4
TNAU 43, TNAU 186
Millets Total
CO 5, CO 6, BAR 1, Vamban 1, Vamban 2, APK 1 and Parents of COPH
2
ADT 3, ADT 4, ADT 5, TMV 1, T 9, VBN 1, VBN 2, VBN 3, CO 5, K1
K 851, KN 2, K 1, ADT 3, VBN 1, VBN (Gg) 2, CO 4, CO 6, VRM (Gg) 1
Paiyur 1, P 152, Vamban 1, Vamban 2, CO 6, CO (CP) 7
CO 1, CO 2, Paiyur 1, Paiyur 2
CO 3, CO 4
Pulses Total
VRI 2, VRI 3, VRI 4, VRI(in) 5, CO2, CO3, CO(Gn)4, CO(Gn)5, ALR 2,
ALR 3, TMV 2, TMV 7, TMV 10
TMV 3, TMV 4, TMV 5, TMV 6, CO 1, SVPR 1
TMV 5, TMV 6, Parents of TMVCII 1
Morden, CO 3, CO 4, CMS 234 A, CMS 234 B, 6 D-I, Parents of TCSH 1
CO 1, CO 2
Oilseeds Total
ADT 1, SVPR 2, SVPR 3, MCU 5, MCU 7, MCU 9, MCU 12, K 10, K 11,
KC 2, Parents of TCHB 213
Maize African tall, Sorghum CO 27, CO (FS) 29, Cowpea CO 5, Luceme
CO 1
PKM 1, CO 1, CO 3
CO 1, MDU 1
PKM 1, CO 1, CO 2
PKM 1, CO S,
PKM 1, K 1
MDU 1, Arka Anamica
PKM 1
CO 1, CO 2
CO 2
CO 1, CO 2
Vegetables Total
Grand Total

Total
Numbers
39

14
3
5
7
2
31
8
10
9
6
4
2
39
13
6
3
8
2
32
12
5

3
2
3
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
20
178

Lec.No.18

AN ANALYSIS OF SEED QUALITY OF COTTON cv.MCU 5

IN TAMILNADU AT PRODUCTION AND MARKET POINT

An experiment and survey were conducted to study the seed quality production
and marketing of cotton cn. MCU 5.
All the seed quality parameters showed that the seed at points were better in
quality when compared to dealer points. About 0.2, 1, 15, 12, 13 and 17 per cent
reduction in purity, 100 seed weight, germination, root length, shoot length, dry matter
production and vigour index respectively were recorded in dealer points over producer
points. Further, 14 per cent increase in Electrical conductivity and 14 per cent decrease in
dehydrogenase activity were also recorded in dealer samples. Dealer points also showed
6 per cent reduction is oil content and 48 per cent increase in free fatty acid content.
In the survey, majority of the seed growers belongs to middle age group and had
an experience of more than 20 years in seed production. All the seed growers followed
recommended spacing but majority did not applied fertilizer based on soil test
recommendation. Most of the seed growers required high yielding drought tolerant
varieties with pest and disease resistance.
All the seed firms used to check seed quality during production and post harvest
operations. All the companies treated the seeds with fungicides but did not follow
recommended dosage. Competition was the major problem faced by the seed firms in
cotton seed marketing.
From the dealer's point of view, farmers preferred seeds based on the name of the
company. Competition was the major problem faced by dealers, in seed marketing.

Lec.No.19

FINANCE FOR SEED PRODUCTION

Seed being the basic input for agriculture, seed industry has to play a key role in
inducing collaboratire action and bring sustainable growth. The seed industry has a
greater responsibility in this context to make available quality seeds of new strains to
saturate the target area at a right time. The financial institutions need to provide the
needed credit for seed production as also for the adoption of improved packages by the
farmers.
Positive Factors for the Involvement of Financial Institution
Seed industry in the country has fairly well organised infrastructure network of
Indian Agricultural Research System, streamlined seed production certification, state
sector and private production setups. As a result, the distribution of quality seeds
increased from 1.8 lakh quintals in 80-81 to 68.80 lakh quintals in 1995-96. However ,
the rate of seed replacement is considered to be low, particularly in Oil seeds, pulses and
rice. Though the growth rate of production/distribution has been impressive, the
institutional credit absorption in the seed industry has been very low. The public sector
corporations like NSC and SSCs have been mainly supported and subsidized by the
Government. Commercial outlook and profit generation role perhaps may not have been
there and a result, they could not attract institutional credit as much as required to
establish infrastructure, distribution network etc. to meet the present challenges.
However, with the entry of private participation in the seed industry the situation has
slightly changed. With the world bank assisted NSP programme the flow of institutional
credit has picked up and the targets set for NSP-III were fully achieved.
Credit for seed sector
The credit flow to the seed production sector has only commenced systematically
with the adoption of new seed policy in October 1988 by GOI. Under this policy, the
private seed industries were encouraged as also the import of seeds and planting materials
was liberalized and other concessions for import of machinery etc, was allowed.

The erstwhile ARDC and now NABARD successfully implemented National

Seeds Projects I, II and III under World Bank assistance. One of the components of the
project was providing investment credit by NABARD through banks to meet the
requirement of seed industry to take up seed production of all the three types viz.,
breeders, foundation and certified seeds, as also build up infrastructure needed for
processing, storage and marketing.
Eligible Investments Considered Under Investment Credit
Public and private seed companies (10 states)
For refinance, commercial banks and co-operatives are eligible.
Land Development for captive production of breeders, foundation and quality
commercial seed. This item includes land development related items like levelling
reclamation, drainage, fencing, run-off conservation etc.
Seed processing plant and machinery
Storage facilities like godowns, bins, trays storage units etc.
Start up working capital
Research facilities to take up R & D and quality control lab
Capitalization of 25% of working capital
Lease rental capitalization during the initial period.
Associated civil works and buildings
Farm machinery and equipment for farm operations
Vehicles for transport etc.
Establishment of Green House / Glass Houses.
The eligible borrowers include public sector corporations and private seed companies.
Seeds of cereals, oilseeds, pulses, fibre crops, forage crops, potato and vegetables were
given priority in NSP-III. For normal schemes, there is no restriction of the crops or
varieties but they should to be in tune with the National policies.
Establishment of tissue-culture laboratories and nurseries are also considered
under this broad category of seed sector. All related infrastructure including labs, culture
medium, consultancy/expertise, training etc. are financed.

General Procedure and Terms

Eligible financial institutions would apply their primary criteria and yardsticks on
technical feasibility, financial parameters and institutions viability.
Project report with all technical and financial parameters viability analysis, drawings,
assumption etc are to be incorporated along with the market potential survey by the
entrepreneur in the project report.
The existing companies to give audited accounts of their past performance.
Production plans clearly drawn for captive as well as organised production in the
farms of contract farmers.
The stock to be stored and retained to be worked out clearly and relate the storage
infrastructure proposed.
The machinery and equipment proposed should be technically justified indicating
clear specification and quotations.
The repayment can be upto 15 years maximum with 2-3 years grace period
(depending upon cash flow).
The financing banks should ensure that adequate system of internal controls,
monitoring and accounting procedures followed by the borrowing firms/institutions.
The financing banks should also study the strengths and weaknessess of public sector
corporation and ensure subsequent follow up and monitoring of progress in the
implementation of the action plans drawn based on the recommendation of
consultants as per NSP-III requirements.
The rate of interest on refinance and ultimate beneficiary are as per the RBI and
NABARD policies announced from time to time.
Trend of Financing
i)

Out of 14 State and Central Seed Corporations in the country, loans were
sanctioned to 6, out of them only 4 availed to the tune of Rs.36.5 crores. The
remaining major chunk of loan assistance goes to private industries.

ii)

Out of total sanctions considered, 2% has gone to Tissue Culture schemes.

iii)

14 states availed the facilities. Out of these, the states of Maharashtra, A.P.,
Karnataka account for the major credit flow followed by U.P., Tamil Nadu Gujarat.

iv)

In addition to the direct loans to seed industry, the related infrastructure like MI,
drainage requirement, farm mechanization and other on-farm infrastructure were
financed in districts/blocks having substantial registered seed growers, in order to
create congenial condition for seed production. This amounts to about Rs.300
crores during 1996-97.

v)

NABARD and World Bank have also undertaken review studies. They indicated that
the breeder seed availability from the SAUs increased substantially.

Privately

produced "truthfully labelled seed" availability improved considerably, but could not be
assessed whether is made available at the farmers level due to the credit support.
vi)

The quantu0m of loan availed can be divided on anaverage into four major items,
namely
35% for civil works,
39% for machinery and equipment,
3% for land development and
23% for other infrastructures.

Short Term Crop Loans to Farmers

In the existing financing pattern no separate limits are sanctioned for seed
growers. Out of the total NABARD's assistance to cooperatives and RRBs, substantial
amount to seed farmers. The limits also include purchase and distribution of fertilizers.
Separate limits are also sanctioned for oil seed production and pulse development.
To Conclude increased food production would continue to be a key issue and in
that the role of quality seed is pivotal. Gap between the requirement and availability of
quality seed also is wide. In this background, the role of institutional credit is vital both in
supporting seed industry, as also the production costs of commercial farmers. Banks have
been meeting the targets set before them. The investment credit for seed industry picked
up with the implementation of National seeds Programme.

BREEDER SEED PLAN FOR TAMIL NADU

S.
No.
I
II
1.
2.
3.
4.
III
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
IV
V
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Crop
Paddy (total)
Millets
Ragi
Sorghum
Bajra
Maize
Millets total
Pulses
Redgram
Blackgram
Greengram
Cowpea
Bengalgram
Horsegram
Pulses total
Cotton (total)
Oilseeds
Groundnut
Sesame
Sunflower
Castor
Soybean
Oilseeds total
Grand Total

17

3,94,910

Actual
Requirements
of Breeder
seeds (kg)
7,900

1.75
5.98
2.36
0.42
10.51

8
6
6
8
-

14,000
35,880
14,160
3,360
67,400

0.6
13.0
1.3
4.0
19.0

0.90
18.00
2.00
6.00
27.00

1.41
3.76
1.59
1.20
0.09
1.40
9.45
2.54

14
14
14
14
14
14
15

19,740
52,640
22,260
16,800
1,260
19,600
1,32,300
38,100

525
3,011
1,273
961
113
980
6,863
800

790
4,527
1,915
1,445
170
1470
10317
1200

11.97
1.53
0.57
0.38
0.31
14.76
60.49

5
15
50
30
20
-

59,850
22,950
28,500
11,400
6,200
1,28,900
7,61,610

19,152
15
385
57
63
19,672
35,254

28,730
23
570
86
94
29,530
52,897

Total
area in
lakh
ha.
23.23

Coverage of certified
seeds
% (SSR) Area in ha

Under
50%
exigency
11,850

Annexure II
Demand and Supply of Breeder Seeds for the past five years (1998-99 to 2002-03)

(Unit in kg)
S.
No

1998-1999

1999-2000

2000-2001

2001-2002

2002-2003

Average

Crop
Demand

Supply

Demand

Supply

Demand

Supply

Demand

Supply

Demand

Supply

Demand

Supply

1.

Paddy

22,715

41,455

48,537

56,849

63,210

78,872

63,200

78,119

53,976

78,822

50,384

66,823

2.

Millets

361

852

439

642

532

783

257

477

179

352

433

621

3.

Pulses

4,180

7,306

14,832

13,225

16,846

20,552

13,121

14,224

9,669

14,635

11,751

13,988

4.

Oilseeds

98,187

89,263

77,691

90,278

1,17,814

1,19,518

1,04,344

1,30,015

1,29,456

1,33,432

1,05,498

1,07,101

5.

Cotton

80

666

756

852

944

961

848

892

482

842

627

843

6.

Forage

236

332

266

284

248

318

121

121

703

450

271

301

177

328

93

316

271

271

603

603

208

304

1,25,936

1,40,200

1,42,614

1,62,446

1,99,865

2,21,275

1,97,451

1,97,451

1,94,465

2,28,533

1,69,172

1,89,981

Crops
7.

Vegetable
crops