ADVERTISEMENTS:
Everything you need to know about seed production techniques !
Q. 1. What is seed?
Ans. In broad sense, any plant part which is used for commercial multiplication of a crop is called seed. In strict sense, the product of fertilized ovule which consists of embryo, seed coat and cotyledon(s) is known as seed.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Q. 2. What is variety?
Ans. A genotype released for commercial cultivation either by State Variety Release Committee (SVRC) or Central Variety Release Committee (CVRC) is called variety. A variety is notified by the Government of India.
Q. 3. What is improved seed?
Ans. Seed of a released, notified and popular variety produced by scientific method is called improved seed.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Q. 4. What are advantages of improved seed?
Ans. Improved seed results in:
(i) Better germination.
(ii) Vigorous seedling growth.
(iii) Higher crop stand.
(iv) Better quality of produce, and
(v) Higher crop yield.
Q. 5. What are types of improved seed?
Ans. Improved seed is of following five types:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(i) Nucleus seed
(ii) Breeder seed
(iii) Foundation seed
(iv) Registered seed
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(v) Certified seed.
Q. 6. What is nucleus seed?
Ans. Initial seed of an improved variety which is always limited in quantity and produced by the originating plant breeder is called nucleus seed.
Main features of nucleus seed are given below:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(i) It is produced at the research farms under the direct supervision of originating plant breeder.
(ii) It is genetically and physically cent per cent pure.
(iii) Certification is not required for nucleus seed.
(iv) It is used for production of breeder seed.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Q. 7. What is breeder seed?
Ans. Progeny of nucleus seed or breeder seed produced under strict supervision of original plant breeder is known as breeder seed.
Main features of breeder seed are given below:
(i) It is produced in isolation from other varieties.
(ii) It is genetically and physically pure,
(iii) Certification for breeder seed is not required. The breeder seed plot is inspected by the monitoring team consisting of original/sponsored breeder and one representative each from National Seeds Corporation and State Seed Certification Agency.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(iv) It is used for production of foundation seeds.
Q. 8. What is foundation seed?
Ans. Progeny of breeder seed produced by National Seeds Corporation/State Seeds Corporation is called foundation seed.
Main features of foundation seed are given below:
(i) It is produced by NSC/SSC under the supervision of trained staff.
(ii) It is genetically pure and has physical purity of 100%.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(iii) Certification is done by State Seed Certification Agency.
(iv) It is used for the production of certified seed.
Q. 9. What is registered seed?
Ans. It is the progeny of either foundation seed or registered seed. In India, this category of seed is omitted and certified seed is produced directly from the foundation seed.
Main features of registered seed are given below:
(i) It is produced at the farms of progressive farmers under the supervision of National Seeds Corporation.
(ii) It is genetically pure,
(iii) It has physical purity of 98%.
(iv) Certification is done by State Seed Certification Agency.
(v) It is used for production of certified seeds.
Q. 10. What is certified seed?
Ans. It is the progeny of either foundation or registered or certified seed.
Its main features are as follows:
(i) It is produced on the fields of progressive farmers under the strict supervision of State Seed Certification Agency.
(ii) It is genetically pure.
(iii) It has physical purity of 98%.
(iv) Certification is done by State Seed Certification Agency.
(v) It is distributed/sold to the farmers for commercial crop production.
Q. 11. What is seed certification?
Ans. A legal system which ensures production of high quality seed in terms of genetic purity and germination is called seed certification.
The basic requirements of seed certification are given below:
(i) An improved variety
(ii) Genetic purity
(iii) Physical purity
(iv) High germination.
Q. 12. What is genetic purity?
Ans. It refers to absence of seeds of other variety of the same crop as well as of other crops. The genetic purity is determined by grow out test. It differs from crop to crop. Generally, more contamination is allowed in cross pollinated species and hybrids than in self-pollinated species.
Q. 13. What is physical purity?
Ans. The freedom from inert matter and defective seeds is known as physical purity. It varies from 95% to 98% in different crops.
Q. 14. What is inert matter?
Ans. Inert matter includes non-living materials like sand, pebbles, soil particles, straw etc.
Q. 15. What are defective seeds?
Ans. Seeds which are broken, disease infested, insect damaged, undeveloped and unfit for germination are called defective seeds.
Q. 16. What is germination?
Ans. Emergency of normal seedlings from the seeds under ideal conditions of light, temperature, moisture, oxygen and nutrients is called germination.
Q. 17. What are components of seed based on germination?
Ans. Based on germination, seed is divided into following five components:
(i) Normal seedlings: It includes seedlings with normal growth of root and shoot.
(ii) Abnormal seedlings: Seedlings which are unable to develop into normal plants.
(iii) Hard seeds: Seeds which do not absorb water.
(iv) Fresh un-germinated seeds: Viable seeds which can absorb water but do not germinate and remain fresh in the germination test.
(v) Dead seeds: Inviable seeds.
Q. 18. What is seed testing?
Ans. Process of evaluation of seed in terms of purity and germination is called seed testing.
Q. 19. What is roguing?
Ans. The process of removal of off types (phenotypically different) plants from the field of an improved variety to avoid contamination is known as roguing.
Q. 20. What is isolation distance?
Ans. Separation of the field of a variety from that of another variety of the same crop to prescribed standard distance to avoid contamination is called isolation distance. It differs from crop to crop. Generally, more isolation distance is required for cross pollinated species than self pollinated species.
Q. 21. What is grow-out test?
Ans. The test which is conducted by growing the seed in the field for determining genetic purity is known as grow out test.
Q. 22. What is seed viability test?
Ans. The test which is conducted in the laboratory for determining the percentage of living seeds is called seed viability test.
Q. 23. What is seed viability?
Ans. The living state of seeds is called seed viability.
Q. 24. What is seed health test?
Ans. The test which is conducted to examine the presence or absence of pathogen in the seed is called seed health test.
Q. 25. What is true seed?
Ans. The product of fertilized ovule which consists of embryo, seed coat and cotyledon(s) is called true seed.
Q. 26. What are off types?
Ans. Phenotypically different plants which are found in the field of an improved variety are called off types.
Q. 27. What is seed science?
Ans. A science which deals with various aspects of seeds such as development, structure, production, testing etc. is called seed science.
Q. 28. What is seed technology?
Ans. A science which deals with production, processing, testing, packaging, storage and marketing of crop seeds is known as seed technology.
Q. 29. What is seed processing?
Ans. Various operations related to seed such as drying, cleaning, grading, packaging refer to seed processing.
Q. 30. What is composite seed sample?
Ans. A seed sample which is true representative of a seed lot is called composite seed sample.
Q. 31. What is working seed sample?
Ans. A small seed sample which is drawn from the composite seed sample for seed testing purpose is called working seed sample.
Q. 32. What is seed production technology?
Ans. A branch of plant breeding which deals with principles and methods of improved seed production is known as seed production technology.
Q. 33. What steps are involved in quality seed production?
Ans. Quality seed production consists of following steps:
(i) Proper isolation distance.
(ii) Roguing at appropriate stages of crop growth.
(iii) Use of standard package of practices.
(iv) Adoption of recommended plant protection measures.
Q. 34. What is the objective of field inspection?
Ans. In the seed crop, field inspections are made to examine:
(i) Isolation distance,
(ii) Proportion of off types,
(iii) Objectionable weeds,
(iv) Incidence of diseases and insects, and
(v) General crop health.
Q. 35. What is varietal deterioration?
Ans. Permanent reduction either in the genetic or agronomic value of a variety is called varietal deterioration. Varietal purity can be maintained by keeping proper isolation distance and removing of off types.
Q. 36. What are causes of varietal deterioration?
Ans. There are several causes of deterioration of a variety which can be divided into following two groups:
(i) Genetic causes:
It includes:
(a) Natural out crossing.
(b) Spontaneous mutation.
(c) Residual variability at the time of release of a variety, and
(d) Adaptive changes.
(ii) Non-genetic causes:
It includes:
(a) Mechanical admixture.
(b) Disease infestation, and
(c) Adverse agro-climatic conditions.
Q. 37. What are seed producing organizations in India?
Ans. Following organizations are engaged in seed production in India:
(i) National Seeds Corporation (NSC)
(ii) State Seeds Corporations (SSCs)
(iii) State Seed Certification Agencies (SSCAs)
(iv) Private Seed Companies.
Q. 38. When was NSC established?
Ans. The NSC was established in March 1963. However, it started functioning in July 1963. It is located in the Pusa Campus in New Delhi. It was established to take up the work of quality seed production and promote seed industry in the country.
Q. 39. What are functions of NSC?
Ans. Main functions of NSC are given below:
(i) Production of quality seed (breeder, foundation, certified) of selected crops.
(ii) Interstate seed marketing of national varieties.
(iii) Impart short term training about seed production work.
(iv) It coordinates the work of certified seed production with State Seed Corporations.
(v) It provides consultancy about designing, procurement and installation of seed processing plants.
(vi) Takes up seed certification work in those States where State Seed Certification Agencies have not been established.
(vii) Also deals with import and export of seeds.
Q. 40. When was National Seed Project launched?
Ans. The NSP was launched in 1976 to establish State Seed Corporations.
Main functions of NSP are as follows:
(i) Establishment of New State Seed Corporations.
(ii) Strengthening of existing State Seed Corporations.
(iii) Strengthening facilities for breeder, foundation and certified seed production, processing and storage facilities at selected research Institute of ICAR and SAUs.
Q. 41. In which states SSCs have been established?
Ans. State Seed Corporations have been established in the following states:
i. Uttar Pradesh
ii. Punjab
iii. Andhra Pradesh
iv. Orissa
v. Bihar
vi. Rajasthan
vii. Haryana
viii. Karnataka
ix. Maharashtra.
Q. 42. What are States where State Seed Certification Agencies are available?
Ans. State Seed Certification Agencies are available in following states:
i. Uttar Pradesh
ii. Andhra Pradesh
iii. Bihar
iv. Haryana
v. Punjab
vi. Maharashtra
vii. Karnataka
viii. Orissa
ix. Rajasthan
x. Tamil Naidu
xi. Himachal Pradesh
xii. Delhi
xiii. West Bengal
xiv. Gujarat
xv. J&K
xvi. Kerala
xvii. Madhya Pradesh
xviii. Assam.
Q. 43. What are various types of seed tests?
Ans. Seed testing included following tests:
(i) Genetic purity test
(ii) Physical purity test
(iii) Germination test
(iv) Seed moisture test
(v) Seed viability test
(vi) Seed health test.
Q. 44. How will you test seed viability?
Ans. Seed viability is tested with tetrazolium test. The seeds are first soaked in fresh water for 24 hours. Then seeds are split longitudinally into two haves and are dipped into 1% aqueous solution of tetrazolium chloride in the petri-dishes for 4 hours. Then these seeds are taken out and washed with fresh water and examined for colour. Only viable seeds take the stain and dead seeds remain colourless.
Q. 45. What is objectionable weed in wheat?
Ans. In wheat, convolvulus arvensis (Hiran Khuri) is objectionable weed.
Q. 46. What is objectionable weed in rapeseed and mustard?
Ans. In rapeseed and mustard, Argemone maxicana is objectionable weed.
Q. 47. What is objectionable weed in rice?
Ans. In rice, wild rice is objectionable weed.
Q. 48. What is objectionable weed in Okra?
Ans. In okra, wild okra is objectionable weed.
Q. 49. What is objectionable weed in Lucern?
Ans. In lucern, Cuscuta spp is objectionable weed.
Q. 50. What is objectional weed in Methi?
Ans. In Methi, Melilotus spp is objectionable weed.
Q. 51. What is full form of ISTA?
Ans. ISTA-refers to International Seed Testing Association.
Q. 52. Compare UPOV acts of 1978 and 1991.
Ans. Comparison of UPOV Acts 1978 and 1991 is presented below in Table 35.1:
