Seed Certification :: Quality Control

Seed Processing

TNAU Seed Centre

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SEED QUALITY CONTROL

As per the section 6 (a) of the seeds Act 1966 the minimum limits of germination and purity standards have been notified for different kinds and according to section 6 (b) of the act a mark or label should be attached with the seed container with required particulars.

Under section 7 of the said act the sale of seeds of notified kinds and varieties are regulated. Every person selling seeds should sell seeds

Which are identifiable to its kind and variety.

Should posses the minimum required seed standards for germination, physical purity and genetic purity.

Should affix a mark or label with correct particular to the seed container.

Should carryout such other instruction given by the State Government as prescribed under rules.

Also under Rule -13 there are some requirements for every dealer to comply with

No. person shall keep for sale any seed after the date of its validity
The mark of label should not be tampered
Every person selling seeds should keep complete lot wise records of seeds for atleast for a period of three year which also include a seed sample from each lot which may be kept for one year.

Notified seed inspectors inspect the seed selling points to verify the quality of the seeds. They also draw seed samples when they suspect the quality of the seeds being sold. Seeds are then, sent to Seed Testing Laboratories for analysis. Legal actions are initiated against the defaulters based on the analytical results. Seed selling licenses are issued under Seed Control Order 1983. Seed Inspectors also take appropriate action as and when complaints are received from farmers.

Role of farmers in maintaining the quality of seeds

Farmers should purchase the seeds only in the licensed seed selling points. Verify the details furnished in the producers label attached to the seed bag.
The label should possess the following details
SL.No.
Crop
Variety
Lot No.
Date of Test (Date/Month/Year)
Validity period (Date/Month/Year)
Germination %( Minimum)
Physical purity (Minimum)
Genetic purity (Minimum)
Net weight
Chemical used for seed treatment
Name and address of the producer

(Caution in red ink should be furnished for Name of the chemical, and “Do not use for Food, Fodder, or Oil purpose)

Certified seed Tag

When the farmers suspect the quality, they should report the matter to the concerned seed Inspector. Further they should keep with them the tag, label and the container of the seed bag. If the seeds do not germinate properly, the fact should be reported to the seed inspector concerned.

Whenever the farmers purchase seeds they should verify the variety and its performance. They should avoid purchasing un notified varieties.

The farmers should obtain receipt for the purchase of seeds without fail. In the receipt, details on variety, Lot number and validity period should be verified at the time of purchase.

Seed testing

Seed testing is the science of evaluating the planting value of the seeds. The primary aim of the seed testing is to obtain accruable and reproducible results regarding the quality status of the seed samples submitted to the Seed Testing Laboratories.

1. Service samples for the farmers, producers and sellers on payment of cost @ Rs. 30/- per sample to know the seed standard of their seeds. This type of samples is drawn and send to the seed testing lab by the Farmers, Producers and the sellers to know their seed standards.

The samples received from the three categories are analysed and results are communicated to the concerned within 30 days from the date of receipt of the samples.

Anybody including farmers can test their samples for it standard before the seeds are being certified, sold or sown.

2. Certified samples for certification purposes on payment of Rs. 20/- per sample by the producers as testing charges collected at the time of registration.

This type of samples is drawn by the certification officers and send them to the seed testing lab through the Assistant Director of Seed Certification with a secret code No. On receipt of the results the code will be decoded by the ADSC and then the results are sent to the producer for further certification procedure to be completed.

2. Official samples for the quality control purpose at government cost. This type of samples are drawn by the seed inspectors for the quality control as per the seed control order and Seed act to assure the availability of quality seeds to the farming community.

The seed samples received in the Seed Testing Laboratories are analysed and results are communicated to the concerned.
The following tests are conducted

Germination
Physical purity
O.D.V.( Other Distinguishable Variety)
Moisture

The Seed Testing Laboratory is the hub of seed quality control. Seed testing services are required from time to time to gain information regarding planting value of seed lots. Seed testing is possible for all those who produce, sell and use seeds.

Minimum seed standards

Sl.No	Crop	Submitted sample (in gm)		Working sample	Phy. purity %	Germi- nation %	Moisture %	O.D.V.
Sl.No	Crop	CS	SS	Working sample	Phy. purity %	Germi- nation %	Moisture %	FS	C
I	Cereals &Millets
1.	Paddy	400	50	40	98	80	13	0.05	0.2
2.	Cumbu- Hy & var	150	25	15	98	75	12	0	0
3.	Ragi	60	25	6	97	75	12	0	0
4.	Sorghum- Hy & var	900	100	90	98	75	12	10/kg	20/kg
5.	Maize - inbreds	1000	500	900	98	80	12	0	5/kg
	Maize - others	1000	500	900	98	90	12	5/kg	10/kg
6.	Barley	1000		120	98	85	12	10	20
7.	Oats	1000		120	98	85	12	10	20
8.	Wheat	1000		120	98	85	12	0	0
	Pulses
9.	Redgram-Hy &var	1000	150	300	98	75	9	10	20
10.	Black gram	1000	100	150	98	75	9	10	20
11.	Green gram	1000	100	120	98	75	9	10	20
12.	Cowpea	1000	150	400	98	75	9	5	10
13.	Bengal gram	1000	400	1000	98	85	9	5	10
14.	Horse gram	500	100	500	98	80	9	5	10
15.	Peas	1000	250	900	98	75	9	5	10
16.	French bean	1000	450	700	98	75	9	5	10
17.	Field bean	1000	450	600	98	75	9	0	0
	Oil seeds
18.	Ground nut	1000	500	1000	96	70	9	0	0
19.	Sunflower-V/Hy	1000/250	100	250/125	98	70	9	0	0
20.	Gingelly	70	25	7	97	80	9	10	20
21.	Castor	1000	250	1000	98	70	8	5	10
22.	Soybean	1000	150	500	98	70	12	10	20
	Fibre crops
23.	Cotton (Hy)	350-L 250-DL	200 100	35 25	98	65	10	0	0
	cotton (var)	1000-L 350-DL	350 150	350 35	98	65	10	0	0
	Vegetable crops
24.	Ash gourd	700	100	70	98	60	7	0	0
25.	Bittergourd V/Hy	1000	250	450	98	60	7	5	10
26.	Bottle gourd	700	100	70	98	60	7	0	0
27.	Ridgegourd Hy/var	1000	150	400	98	60	7	5	10
28.	Snakegourd	1000	250	250	98	60	7	0	0
29.	Watermelon V/Hy	1000	100	250	98	60	7	5	10
30.	Cucumber V/hy	150	100	70	98	60	7	0	0
31.	Pumpkin V/Hy	350	100	180	98	60	7	0	0
	Fruit vegetables
32.	Brinjal V/Hy	150	10	15	98	70	8	0	0
33.	Chillies	150	10	15	98	60	8	0	0
34.	Bhendi	1000	100	140	99	65	10	10	20
35.	Tomato V/Hy	7(hy),70	10	7	98	70	8	0	0
36.	Greens	70	50	7	95	70	8	10	20
	Cole crops
37.	Cabbage	100	10	10	98	70	7	0	0
38.	Caulliflower	100	10	10	98	65	7	0	0
39.	Knol kohl	100	10	10	98	70	7	0	0
	Bulb crops
40.	Onion V/Hy	80	10	80	98	70	8	0	0
	Root crops
41.	Carrot V/Hy	30	10	3	95	60	8	5	10
42.	Beet root	500	50	50	96	60	9	0	0
43.	Radish V/Hy	300	50	30	98	70	6	0	0
44.	Turnip V/Hy	70	10	7	98	70	6	0	0
45.	Cluster bean	1000	100	100	98	70	9	10	20
	Forage crops
46.	Sunhemp	700	50	70	98	80		0	0
47.	Daincha	900	25	90	98	70		0	0
48.	Lucerene	50	25	5	98	80	10	0	0
49.	Cenchrus	25		3	80	30	10	0	0
50.	Stylosnathus	70		7	90	40	10	10	20
51.	Kolinji			90		70		0	0
	Miscellaneous
52.	Palak	250	25	25	96	60	9	0	0
53.	Spinach	250	25	25	98	70		0	0
54.	Papaya	400		40	98	60	12	0	0
55.	Moringa	1000		750	96	70	8	0	0
56.	Coriander	400		40	95	65		0	0

ODV: Other Distinguishing Variety
CS-Certified Sample; SS-Service Sample; FS – Foundation Seed
HY-Hybrid; Var-Variety

Seed Treatments

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Seed Certification

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Seed Storage

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