Flower Seed Production | Horticulture

The Commercial flower seed production of F₁ hybrids and open pollinated is considered a profitable venture and, hence, it is popular amongst farmers on limited scale. Earlier, seed production was being done on limited scale in Sri Nagar and plains of North India and in other localities due to limited demand.

Mr. Man Mohan Attawar of M/s Indo American Hybrid Seeds, (India) Pvt. Ltd., and Bengaluru has started producing F₁ hybrid seeds of Petunia for 100% export during mid-sixties. However, production of seeds of open pollinated flower crops was revolutionized by Mr. Avtar Singh, M/s Beauscape Farms, Sangrur, and Punjab who started flower seed production involving farmers on large scale.

Now many companies have started producing seed on large scale for export to Holland, U.K., USA, France, Germany, and Japan etc. At present in India, the area under flower seed production is about 600-800 ha. The main areas of flower seed production in India are: Punjab (Sangrur, Patiala, and Ludhiana); Haryana (Panipat, Sirsa); Karnataka (Bengaluru, Rani Banur); Himachal Pradesh (Kullu Valley); J & K (Sri Nagar Valley); and West Bengal (Kalimpong).

The cost of seed production per ha varies from Rs. 10,000 to 15,000 and generate a net profit of Rs. 25,000 to 75,000. Farmers have started using innovative techniques for harvesting seed as well as their cleaning which made the seed production easy and profitable. However, flower seed production is labour intensive.

It has been observed that for wheat and paddy the labour requirement is 50 men days/acre whereas for flower seed production the labour requirement varies between 120-366 men days per crop. In a survey conducted in Ludhiana Dist. it has been observed that farmers mostly prefer those crops which are easy to harvest, clean and whose seed size is bigger but this preference seems to have no value as they have to grow those crops which the companies suggest.

Climatic Requirement for Seed Production:

Seasonals as term indicate are divided in to three seasons—Summer, Rainy and Winter season. Summer and Rainy seasonal in India are available in limited number whereas winter annuals are rich in kinds and available in large range of colours and height and bring riot of colours in the garden and, hence, very popular amongst gardeners.

Thus from seed production view point also winter annuals cover large area. Ideal climate condition for seed production is long duration of cool and dry season which helps in good seed setting of bold size. While excessive hot and dry season hampers seed setting of summer annuals in north Indian plains. Excessive rain at the time of flowering washes away pollen grains resulting in poor seed set.

According to climatic requirements, the production of flower seed is divided in following climatic zones.

1. Mild climate (Kashmir Valley, Kullu Valley etc.)—Delphinium, Giant Pansy, Zinnia, etc.

2. Sub-Topical area—Antirrhinum, Anchusa, Ageratum, calendala, Brachycome, Lineria, Californian poppy, Candytuft, Carnation, Dianthus, Daisy, Dimorphotheca, Nasturtium, Petunia, Portulaca, etc.

3. Tropical—Tagetes, Salvia, Ipomea, etc.

Mode of Pollination:

For successful seed production of flowers, it is necessary to know whether the particular flower is self, often cross or cross pollinated crop. To find out whether a particular flower is self or cross pollinated, the very simple method of bagging or growing in complete isolation may be followed. A number of plants are grown in flower bed and when flowers are about to open some of them may be covered with muslin bags and tied properly at the base so that no insect can enter.

If the plants or flowers which were covered with muslin bags produce seeds, then it is obvious that variety or species is self-pollinated. If the bagged flowers do not produce seeds, it is an indication that flowers have to be hand pollinated. Some-time this is not true of certain species or varieties. (Table 13.1)

For production of pure seeds numerous devices are adopted for cross pollination. Most common method is to grow them in isolation. (Table 13.1) This means to grow two species/variety or strain of the same species at certain distance from one another.

Other methods such as bagging flowers, growing them under nets or in glass houses, emasculation or special methods e.g. collection of pollen grains with vacuum pump in petunia, use of floor guns etc. or use of male sterile line for seed production are followed to produce seeds in cross pollinated crops.