SEED PRODUCTION OF ONION (Allium cepa L.) - Efresh India

Seed Production of Onion(Alliun cepa L.) 

SEED PRODUCTION OF ONION (Allium cepa L.) 

Agricultural production and productivity are influence by several factors. Of them, seed is 

the vital input which significantly helps in enhancing the productivity of crops. The seed 

production of onion is very difficult phenomena as it is produced in two phases. In first phase, the 

bulb production is required, while under second phase the seed production takes place from the 

bulbs. 

Method of Seed Production 

Seed- to- seed method 

Seed sowing in rows Healthy onion nursery Seedling Transplanting 

Bulb storage 

Transplanted Field 

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Bulb harvesting 

Onion bulb production 

The bulb is as such left and allows bolting and flowering in the same field where the transplanting 

was earlier done. The seeds are sown in the nursery from June to August and transplanting is done 

from August to October. Bolting starts in January-February and seeds are ready for harvesting by 

mid May. Seeds of onion varieties like Agrifound Dark Red, Baswant-780, Arka Kalyan and other 

kharif varieties are produced this method. 

Merits 

• Low-cost method of seed production 

• Early maturity 

• No need to store the bulbs. 

Demerits 

• It is not possible to select the true type 

bulbs and thus high quality seed 

production is not possible. 

• Seed yield is low. 

Bulb- to -seed method 

Bulb Transplanting 

Growing 



Distribution 

Flowering stage 

Packaging 

Pollination 

Final seed cleaning 

Harvest ready 

Pre-cleaning 

Drying of umbels 



In this method the bulbs are lifted from field and after proper selection they are replanted in 

the field. There are two methods used for seed production. 

Annual method: The seeds are sown in June – July, transplanting in August – September. Bulbs 

are ready by November–December. The bulbs are lifted and cured. Selected bulbs are replanted 

in another field after 10-15 days that is from mid-November to mid-December. The bolting in this 

case starts in January-February and seeds are ready by May. Seeds of onion Agrifound Dark 

Red, N-53, Baswant-780, Arka Kalyan and Phule Safed are produced by this method. 

. 

Biennial method: The seed of onion is sown in October-November and seedlings are 

transplanted in December-January. The bulbs are ready by April end to mid May. The selected 

bulbs are stored up to mid-October and planted in well-prepared fields. Since this takes about one 

and half year, it is called as biennial method. The seeds of Agrifound Light Red, NHRDF Red, 

Pusa Red, N-2-4-1, and other rabi onion varieties are produced by this method. 

Merits 

• Selection of true-to-type bulbs is possible 

and quality seeds are produced by this 

method. 

• Higher yield is obtained. 

Demerits 

• It takes more time 

• Losses of onion bulbs during storage 

• Cost of seed production is more 

The bulbs to seed methods is better method and gives pure and high quality seed. 

Storage of mother bulbs 

In annual method, selected bulbs are planted in well-prepared beds after curing for 10-15 

days, but under biennial methods bulbs are stored from June to October in well-ventilated godown 

for further use for planting during October-November. 

Manglore tiled storage 

Improved ventilated 

storage strucrure 



Cultivation Practices in brief 

Climate 

Temperatures of 4.5-14 o C is favourable for seed stalk formation. Longer these prevails more 

flower stems will each plant produce and more flower will be there in each umbel. The best seed 

producing areas are those where there is low humidity. Long rainy periods or heavy dew and fog, 

favour the development of Stemphylium blight and Purple blotch. During flowering of onions, clear 

and bright days are necessary to ensure activity insects for pollination. It is equally important to 

have hot and dry weather during the harvesting, curing and threshing of seeds. 

Soil 

Onion seed crop can be grown on a wide range of soils but very light sandy soils are avoided. 

Light heavier soils should be preferred because they are cooler, have a high water retaining 

capacity and are more productive. 

Selection of Bulbs 

Medium sized bulbs (4.5-6.5 cm) especially single centered should be selected for planting to get 

maximum yield. Though the big sized bulbs give more number of sprouts and thus give higher 

seed yield but it is not economical as the cost increases. Medium sized bulbs are better and 

economical for seed production. 

Land Preparation 

The field is ploughed by tractor-drawn implements or deshi plough to a fine tilth by giving four 

ploughings with a sufficient interval between two ploughings. The planking should be done for 

proper levelling. The field is then divided into beds and channels. The water logging affects 

production and quality of seeds. The beds for planting of bulbs under drip irrigation system should 

be raised as per system the fitted in the field. 

Planting Time of bulbs 



Last week of October to first fortnight of November is best time for planting of bulbs in rabi onion 

varieties. Kharif onion bulbs since are available during November end or early December, they 

should be planted by 15th December from the same crop and this way seed production can be 

taken within a year. The cutting of one third top of bulb and dipping for 5 minutes with 1% 

carbendazim + 1% potassium nitrate or 1% potassium orthophosphate increases seed yield in 

kharif onion bulbs. 

Spacing 

Selected bulbs of 4.5 cm-6.5 cm size are planted in well-prepared field at the distance of 45 cm x 

30 cm in normal loam to clay loam soil. If the spacing is kept closer because of less ventilation, 

drying of field is slow after irrigation, thus heavy dew and rains favour the disease. In sandy soils, 

spacing may, however, be reduced to even 30 cm x 30 cm. The depth is kept 7.5 cm. Irrigation is 

given immediately after transplanting. The spacing can be reduced if seed production is being 

taken under drip system of irrigation. About 25-30 quintals bulbs are enough to plant one hectare 

area. 

Manures and fertilizers: 

About 20-25 tonnes of FYM/ha is required to use at the time of field preparation. The requirement 

of nutrients depends on soil type, region of growing, varieties and removal of major nutrients. 

About 80-100 kg of nitrogen, 60 kg of P 2 0 5 and 50 kg of K 2 0/ha is recommended in general. If soil 

is low in nitrogen 120 kg N/ha should be applied. Whole quantity of phosphorus, potash and half 

of nitrogen should be mixed in soil before planting. The rest half doses of nitrogen should be 

given as topdressing in two equal split doses, first dose should be applied 30 days after planting 

whereas second 45 days after planting. 

Irrigation and aftercare: 

Irrigation is given at 7-10 days interval depending upon the types of soils and seasons. Earthing is 

done after two months of transplanting to avoid lodging. Weeding and hoeing are done as per the 

requirement. Specific precautions are taken in irrigating the crop more frequently during flowering 

and seed setting. The use of drip irrigation and mulching with wheat or paddy straw recommended 

for effective management and getting higher seed yield. Use of paddy straws as mulch in seed 

crop with drip irrigation increases seed yield by 42% in onion variety Agrifound Dark Red with a 

higher net return. 

Drip Irrigation 

Sprinkler Irrigation 



Weed management: 

Weeds are to be kept down to get good yield. Use of stomp @ 3.5 litre / ha before bulb planting 

and one hand weeding at 45 days is required. 

Isolation 

Onion is highly cross pollinated crop. During seed production, onion varieties require isolation. 

The required isolation distances are given below: 

Contaminant 

Minimum isolation distance (m) 

Field of other variety 

Field of the same variety not conforming to 

varietal purity requirement for certification 

For mother bulb production 

Foundation seed 

1,000 

1,000 

Certified seed 

500 

500 

5 

5 

For breeder seed production isolation distance should be 1,500 m. 

Important Diseases and Insect Pests: 

Diseases: 

Purple blotch 

The disease is caused by Alternaria porri (Ellis) Cif. The typical eye-shaped symptoms 

appear on leaves and flower stalks as small, sunken, whitish flecks with purple colored centre. 

Further large purple area develops forming dead patches. The disease appears at the 

temperature of 28-30° C and RH 90-100%. The fungicides such as Mancozeb (Dithane M-45) @ 

0.25% or Chlorothalonil (Kavach) @ 0.2% or Iprodion (Rovral) @ 0.25% should be sprayed at 

fortnightly interval just after appearance of disease. The sticker, triton/indtron/sandovit should be 

mixed in spray solution @ 0.06%. 



Stemphylium blight: 

The disease is caused by Stemphylium vesicarium (Wallr.) Simmons. The symptoms occur on 

leaves and seed stalk from late-March to early-April. Infection appears as small yellow to pale 

orange spots or streaks in middle of leaves on inner side and flower stalks. The disease is more 

severe, after infestation of onion thrips. Thus both fungicides and insecticides sprays are required. 

Spraying of fungicide such as Mancozeb @ 0.25% or chlorothalonil (Kavach) @ 0.2 % along with 

insecticides deltamethrin (Decis) @ 0.10% and sticker triton at fortnightly interval should be 

followed just after appearance of the disease. 

Iris yellow spot virus: 

The disease is caused by Tomato spotted wilt virus (tospo virus group). The typical symptoms are 

yellowish, straw coloured, eyelike or diamond-shaped lesions on flower stalks. Some lesions on 

flower stalk have concentric rings altering with green and yellow colour pigment. The number of 

spots varies from one to several in a seed stalk at a time as well as spots appears on upper, 

middle and lower portion of stalk. The curling and banding of seed stalk are observed from the 

point of infection where necrotic spots develop. In severe condition, spots may griddle the scape, 

drying the umbel and reducing the seed yield and quality. 



Disease Transmission: Thrips (Thrips tabaci) is the only known vector for transmission of this 

disease. 

Control of the vector (thrips) is done by, 

spraying with Deltamethrin 2.8 % EC (Decis) @ 0.1 % or spinosad 2.5 % SC (Success) @ 0.1 % 

or Fipronil 5 % SC (Reagent) @ 0.15 % at 15 days intervals. 

Insect Pests: 

Onion Thrips 

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a regular and potential pest of 

onion in tropical areas. 

Thrips attack onion at all the stages of crop growth. Both nymphs and adults cause direct damage 

by puncturing the epidermis of the leaves and seed stalk and suck out sap with modified piercing 

and sucking mouthparts. Sometimes plants show twisting and curling. And the flowers become 

discoloured, deformed and dry. Good cultural practices can help reduce onion thrips infestation. 

Volunteer onion plants are an important source of infestation for thrips. So removal of 

unharvested plant parts from owns the field can reduced the thrips population. Weed are the 

alternate host for thrips, weed free plots/sanitation can also reduced the thrips population. 

Predators, parasitoids and insect pathogens comprise the biological agents for suppressing pest 

population. Many such natural enemies are successfully employed in pest management 

programme in various vegetable ecosystems. In India and abroad, many biological agents like 

onion Orius albidipennis, Aeolothrips collaris, Laius externotatus, Scymnus nubilus are reported 

attacking T. tabaci in onion fields. Spray formulations of Beauveria bassiana are recommended to 

control thrips. Insecticides likes Deltamethrin 2.8 % EC @ 0.095%, Lambda cyhatothrin 5 

EC @ 0.05%, Fipronil oscs @ 0.1%, spinosad 45% EC @ 0.1% EC and profenophos 50EC @ 

0.1% are found effective to suppress thrips population. The insecticides should reach the base of 

the leaves where the majority of thrips are located. Addition of sticker @ 0.06% is useful for 

retention and spread of spray fluid on erect leaves. 



Gram Caterpillar: 

Gram caterpillar (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner) is a polyphagous pest, occurring sporadically on 

onion grown for seed crop. Larvae feed inside the stem and move upwards to reach the base of 

the umbel at early stages of flowering. Subsequently, it invades the umbel and feeds on seeds. As 

a result, complete drying of flowers and complete loss of seed occurs. Spraying of Heliothis NPV 

@ 250 LE/ha, and Endosulphan @ 0.3% is effective in control of Helicoverpa armigera. 

Roguing 

Diseased and off-type plants are rogued out before flowering for quality seed production. 

Mode of Pollination 

Onion is highly cross pollinated crop and bees are main pollinating agents. So, it is necessary to 

have good number of bees for proper pollination and seed setting. 

Following points should be taken care for improving the pollination. 

• Bee colonies are kept in field 

• Irrigation should be given more frequently at the time of flowering and seed setting 

• Only safer insecticides for control of insects should be sprayed during flowering. The spray 

should be done in evening or early morning, when there are no bees. 



• In case of more wind, sometimes bees do not sit on flowers. The plant windbreaks all around 

the field should be grown. 

Harvesting and Curing 

Optimum stage of harvest 

All seed heads do not mature simultaneously, therefore, harvesting is done in instalments. When 

seed inside capsules become black and 20-25% black seeds are exposed the umbels should be 

cut with 10-15 cm stem attached. The umbels are spread on ground or canvas to avoid attack of 

mould for drying. 

Threshing, Cleaning and Seed Extraction 

After proper drying, the umbels are threshed either by rubbing with hands manually or by 

movement of bullocks or tractor on seed umbels. 

• Seeds are threshed when capsules are brittle and break readily. Threshing is done by flairing 

method. Cleaning is done by air screen machine by using 1 / l4 x 1 / 2 as grading screen. 

• Seed is cleaned by using hand winnowers and fans. 

• Use of seed cleaners, graders and gravity separator with appropriate sequence is useful for 

getting cleaning and graded seeds. 

• Dipping of seeds in water for cleaning, in no case is done for more than 2-3 minutes as 

otherwise the germination is affected adversely. Upgrading is further done on gravity 

separator. 

Drying, Packing and Storage 

For safe storage, seeds are dried to a level of about 6% moisture and then packed in aluminium 

foil or tins which are moisture proof. Seeds are then stored in air-conditioned and dehumidified 

stores having temperature of 16-20° C and relative humidity of 30-40%. In hot and humid climate 

the viability of onion seed is lost within a year. The onion seed if dried to 6.0% moisture level and 

stored in sealed containers, the life of seeds may be prolonged to 3-4 years without loss in 

germination. 



Seed Yield 

The normal seed yield is 6-8 q/ha. Sometimes when weather conditions are favourable 12-15 

quintals seed yield can be obtained from one hectare. 

Seed Certification 

The different steps/ requirements of certification for onion seed production are mentioned 

as under: 

Minimum seed certification standard 

Application and amplification of general seed certification standards 

The general seed certification standards are basic and together with following specific standards 

constitute for certification of onion seed. 

Land requirement 

The land to be used for seed production of onion shall be free from volunteer plants. 

Field inspection 

A. Mother bulb production stage 

• First inspection shall be made after transplanting of seedlings in order to determine isolation, 

volunteer plants, off-types including bolters and other relevant factors. 

• The second inspection shall be made after the bulbs have been lifted to verify the true 

characteristics of bulbs. 

B. Seed production stage 

• The first inspection should be made before flowering in order to determine isolation, off types 

including bolters and relevant factors. 

• The second and third inspection shall be made during flowering to check isolation, off types 

and other relevant factors. 

• The forth inspection shall be made at maturity to verify the true nature of the plant and other 

relevant factors. 

Field standards 

(A) General requirements 

Isolation 

Contaminant 

Isolation distance (m) 

Mother bulbs production 

Seed production 

Foundation 

Seed 

Certified 

Seed 

Foundation 

Seed 

Certified 

Seed 

Field of other variety 

Field of the same variety not 

conforming to varietal purity 

requirement for certification 

5 

5 

5 

5 

1,000 

1,000 

500 

500 



(B) Specific requirements 

Factor 

Maximum permitted limit 

* Bulbs not confirming to the 

varietal characteristics 

**Off-types 

Foundation 

0.10% (by number) 

0.10% 

Certified 

0.20% ( by number) 

0.20% 

* Maximum permitted at second inspection at mother bulb production stage 

** Maximum permitted at and after flowering at seed production stage 

v. Seed standard 

Factor 

Maximum permitted limit 

Pure seed (minimum) 

Genetic purity (minimum) 

Insert matter (maximum) 

Other crop seed (maximum) 

Weed seeds (maximum) 

Germination (minimum) 

Moisture (maximum) 

For vapour-proof containers (maximum) 

Foundation Seed 

98.0% 

98.0% 

2.0% 

5.0/kg 

5.0/kg 

70.0% 

8.0% 

6.0% 

Certified Seed 

98.0% 

98.0% 

2.0% 

10.0/kg 

10.0/kg 

70.0% 

8.0% 

6.0% 

Do’s and Dont’s: 



Do’s 

Dont’s 

1. Mother bulb production should be done 

by adopting improved methods of 

cultivation. 

2. The variety and bulbs selected for seed 

production should be of notified variety 

and bulbs should bear the specified 

characteristics like shape, colour, size 

etc. 

3. Avoid cultivating seed crop in highly 

alkaline and saline soils. 

4. Always adopt bulb to seed method of 

seed production technology. 

5. Avoid, planting seed crop in high humid, 

and rainfall conditions. 

6. Always select medium sized bulbs for 

seed production. 

7. Field should be ploughed to a fine filth for 

better crop growth. 

8. Bulbs for seed production should be 

planted in between last week of October 

to first fortnight of November for rabi 

onion varieties. 

9. For Kharif onion varieties, ideal time of 

planting is last week of November to 15 th 

December. 

10. Dip the 1/3 rd top cutted bulbs for 5 

minutes in the solution of 0.1% 

carbendazim + 1% potassium nitrate or 

1% potassium orthophosphate before 

planting for fast sprouting. 

11. Spacing of 45 cm x 30 cm is ideal for 

better crop growth and seed yield. 

12. Maintain recommended isolation 

distance for avoiding admixture in the 

variety. 

13. Roughing of off-type plants should be 

done regularly. 

14. Keep honey bee colonies in field for 

better pollination and more seed yield. 

15. Harvest umbels, only when 20-25% 

seeds become black in the capsules and 

are exposed. 

1. Don’t adopt seed-to-seed method. 

2. Don’t take seed production in the area 

where rainy periods are long or heavy 

dew and fog prevails. 

3. Avoid very light or sandy soil. 

4. Don’t select the bulbs below 4.5 cm 

diameter and above 5.5 cm, for planting. 

5. Never plant bulbs for seed production 

before November and after December. 

6. Don’t plant the bulbs in close spacing, as 

due to dense plants, the soil moisture will 

not evaporate, and leads to infection of 

disease. 

7. Don’t forget to maintain required isolation 

distance. 

8. After flowering, never spray insecticides 

for thrips control except endosulphon, as 

other insecticides may repell honey bees, 

and pollination will be affected. 

9. Never harvest immature seed umbells. 

Such umbells leads to low germination. 

10. Never store seed having moisture more 

than 6%. 

11. Don’t use diseased and insect affected 

bulbs for planting. 

12. Don’t select discolour, double, bruised 

bulbs for planting. 

13. Don’t purchase the seed from market 

unless, source of seed is known, and 

germination, moisture and purity is given 

on the seed packet. 



16. Thresh the seed only when the capsules 

are brittle and break readily. 

17. Seeds should be dried to a level of about 

6% moisture. 

18. Seeds should be stored at dry and less 

humid place, so as to avoid loss of vigour 

and vitality. 

19. Treat seed with thiram or captan 2 gm / 

kg seed before storage or before sowing 

in the field. 

20. For marketing and transportation pack 

the treated seed in cloth bags, and put 

polythene lining before packing in gunny 

bags. 

21. Before sowing the seed in the field, 

check germination. 

22. Before purchasing seed from market, 

see the year of production and 

germination report. 

Onion Seed Certification Proceduresd 

Phases of Seed Certification 

Certification shall be completed in six broad phases listed under 

• Receipt and scrutiny of application. 

• Verification of seed / bulb source, class and other requirements of the seed / bulb used for 

raising the seed crop. 

• Field inspections to verify conformity of the standing crop to the prescribed field standards. 

• Supervision of post-harvest stages including processing and packaging; 

• Seed sampling and analysis, including genetic purity test and / or seed health test, if any, in 

order to verify conformity to the prescribed standards and 

• Grant of certificate and certification tags, bagging and sealing. 

Seed Certification Procedures 



All the seed / bulb material to be used for seed production programme is subject to verification by 

the Agency. The seed producer should submit to the Agency relevant evidence such as 

certification tags, seals, labels, seed containers, purchase records, sales records etc, as may be 

demanded by the Agency during scrutiny of the application and/or during the first inspection of the 

seed crop in order to confirm that the seed / bulb used for raising the crop has been obtained from 

a source approved by the Agency and conforms to the class of seed / bulb required for seed 

production. A source-verification register containing relevant information as prescribed should be 

maintained by the seed producer for verification by Agency staff. After source verification 

application for certification should be submitted in the prescribed FORM-1 in triplicate to the 

concerned Seed Certification Office. FORM-1 is available with the divisional and zonal offices of 

the Agency. FORM-1 should be submitted within 30 days from the date of sowing or 15 days from 

the date of planting as the case may be. The relevant seed certification charges such as 

Registration fee, inspection fee grow out test charges (wherever necessary), seed testing 

charges, etc. should be remitted along with FORM-1. Separate FORM-1 should be submitted for 

certification of each variety. The FORM-1 should contain complete details of the name and 

address of the seed producer; season of production; name and address of the grower; location of 

the seed plot; crop/ variety and class of seed to be produced; area under seed production; details 

of parental seed materials used with lot number; date of sowing and the particulars of seed 

certification charges remitted. 

• In a single application, the maximum area that can be offered for certification is 25 acres. 

Additional area will require separate application. 

• No refund of inspection and registration fee will be made once the seed plot has been visited / 

inspected by the Seed Certification Officer. 

• The seed producer should assist the Agency staff in locating the seed plots during the first 

inspection. 

• Seed producers should guide their growers in agronomic practices, pest/disease control etc., for 

seed production. 

• Only seed from plots meeting all the prescribed field standards for certification is accepted for 

processing at the recognised seed processing plants. 

• All the necessary care should be taken to avoid admixture during harvesting, threshing and 

transportation. 

• Harvested seed produced from the approved fields should be brought to the seed processing 

unit and seeds are certified within 2 ½ months from the date of harvest. 

• Certification of a seed lot will be taken up only if the seed lots have met the prescribed field and 

seed standards. 

Field inspection 

Inspection of the standing crop is an essential step in verifying conformity of seed crop to 

prescribed minimum seed-certification standards. All the registered seed production fields will be 

inspected by qualified, trained and experienced officers of the Agency. 



Verification of all factors affecting seed quality in the field may not normally be possible in a single 

inspection as all the factors in the field may not be apparent or may not occur at the same time or 

all of them may not affect seed quality at the same stage of crop growth. Hence two or more 

inspections phased to cover all the important stages of crop growth are required for most crops. 

The number of inspections and the stages of crop growth at which they should be conducted vary 

from crop to crop depending on the crop duration, pollination behavior, susceptibility to 

contamination, disease-susceptible stages, nature of the contaminating factors, etc. 

Accordingly field inspection of seed certification plots is conducted at vegetative or pre-flowering 

stage; flowering stage, post-flowering and pre-harvest stage. 

Field Inspections at vegetative or pre flowering stages are done to confirm the actual acreage 

planted and compare it with the acreage allotted or for which the application was submitted and to 

record the excess area if any and to confirm actual date of sowing/planting. 

* advise the removal of all off types on the basis of vegetative characters. 

* detect occurrence of any contamination within the isolation distance and to determine the area to 

be rejected due to inadequate isolation. 

* verify morphological characters of the crop. 

* Confirm that the grower had done thorough roguing after the inspection at flowering. 

verify the removal of contaminating factors, objectionable weed plants and diseased plants/heads. 

* educate the grower about harvesting technology, give guidance regarding the care to be 

taken during harvesting, threshing and transportation, and assess the expected yield 

(approximate) from the seed crop. 

Prescribed field standards for onion under certification: 

Maximum permissible level of off types in Foundation seed 0.10 % Certified seed 0.20 % 

Field counts 

For all crops five counts are taken for an area up to 2 acres, and an additional count taken for 

each additional five acres as given below. 

Area of the field crop, 

Hectares 

No. of counts to be taken 

Upto 2 5 

2-4 6 

4-6 7 



6-8 8 

8-10 9 

Above 10 10 

In any inspection, if the first set of counts shows that the seed crop does not conform to 

the prescribed standards for any factor, 'a second set of counts should be taken for that factor. 

However, when the first set of counts shows a factor is more than twice the maximum permitted, it 

is not necessary to take a second set of counts. Two sets of counts are called double counts. 

Some crops tiller others do not, some are planted narrow. Others wide, thus the number of 

plants/heads comprising a single count differs from crop to crop. No. of plants/head per count in 

onion is 100. 

Seed crops meeting the prescribed field standards for certification will be harvested, threshed and 

transported to seed processing plants authorised by STATE SEED CERTIFICATION AGENCY 

alongwith Final Filed Inspection Report issued by the concerned Seed Certification Officer. 

Rejection of seed plots 

The agency has the authority to reject seed plots offered for certification on the following grounds. 

• The isolation distance is inadequate. 

• The seed crop does not conform to the prescribed field standards for any factor or 

contaminant 

• One-third or more is lodged just prior to or during flowering so that inspection during flowering 

is difficult / not possible. 

• The application in Form-1 has been submitted late viz., when the crop has crossed the 

flowering stage by the time of the first inspection. 

Re-inspection 

In case of seed fields rejected due to nonconformity to the prescribed field standards at a certain 

inspection, the Agency shall, at the producer's request and after removal of source of 

contamination or contaminant plants in the seed field by the grower, undertake one re-inspection 

over and above the number of inspections prescribed for the crop provided the removal of the 

source of contamination can ensure conformity of the seed crop to the standards prescribed and 



provided further that no irreversible damage has been caused to the quality of the seed by the 

contaminant(s) 

Harvesting, threshing and transportation 

A seed crop meeting the field standards for certification shall be properly, harvested, threshed, 

dried and transported to the registered seed processing unit and certified within 2+ months from 

the date of harvest. During these operations seed producers/growers should take all necessary 

precautions to safeguard seed quality by preventing seed admixture and other causes of 

contamination at any stage, not supervised by the Agency. 

************

SEED PRODUCTION OF ONION (Allium cepa L.) - Efresh India

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