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Horticulture Principles and Practices

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FIGURE 9–2 Commercial<br />

classes of seed. The differences<br />

depend on the quantities of seed<br />

h<strong>and</strong>led <strong>and</strong> the person responsible<br />

for seed maintenance.<br />

BREEDER SEED<br />

Small quantity of original seed produced by<br />

plant breeders through a carefully designed<br />

<strong>and</strong> conducted breeding program <strong>and</strong> according<br />

to specific objectives. Controlled by breeder/<br />

institution or company.<br />

FOUNDATION SEED<br />

An increase of the breeder seed by Agricultural<br />

Experimental Stations or reputable growers<br />

under supervision of researchers.<br />

REGISTERED SEED<br />

An increase of foundation seed by registered<br />

growers.<br />

CERTIFIED SEED<br />

An increase of registered seed (or foundation<br />

seed) that is inspected <strong>and</strong> approved by certifying<br />

agency for sale to farmers <strong>and</strong> other growers.<br />

Certified Seed<br />

The progeny of registered<br />

seed that is maintained at<br />

a satisfactory genetic<br />

identity <strong>and</strong> purity, <strong>and</strong><br />

approved <strong>and</strong> certified by<br />

an official certifying<br />

agency.<br />

3. Registered seed. Foundation seed is distributed to certified seed growers to be<br />

further increased for distribution.<br />

4. Certified seed. The progeny of registered seed is sold to farmers. During the process<br />

of increase, certifying agencies in the state or region of production monitor the<br />

activity to ensure that the product meets st<strong>and</strong>ards set for the crop. Before sale,<br />

the certified seed grower is required to perform certain basic analyses (seed quality<br />

analyses) of the seed as described in the following section.<br />

9.3 SEED LAW<br />

The seed law is an act intended to regulate the labeling, coloring, sale, offering,<br />

exposing, or transporting for sale of agricultural, vegetable, flower, <strong>and</strong> tree <strong>and</strong> shrub<br />

seeds, to prevent those in the industry from misrepresenting their products to customers.<br />

It is important to assure that seed offered for sale to growers of agricultural crops,<br />

l<strong>and</strong>scapers, <strong>and</strong> private homeowners meets quality st<strong>and</strong>ards set by the state in which<br />

the products are used or produced.<br />

The Association of American Seed Control Officials (AASCO), comprising officials<br />

from the United States <strong>and</strong> Canada, developed the Recommended Uniform State<br />

Seed Law (RUSSL) as a model law for states <strong>and</strong> federal programs. The RUSSL is to be<br />

enforced only after a state has enacted it into its own seed law by its legislature. The organization<br />

meets annually to be updated on new developments in the seed industry <strong>and</strong> to<br />

update the RUSSL as needed.<br />

Among other things, a seed law describes the issue of seed tags <strong>and</strong> what specific<br />

information goes on them, br<strong>and</strong> registration, seed permits, arbitration of seed complaints,<br />

<strong>and</strong> the enforcement of the law.<br />

286 Chapter 9 Sexual Propagation<br />

9.4 SEED QUALITY ANALYSIS<br />

Certified seed producers are required to declare their seed analysis on the seed packet or<br />

tag. The interpretation of the tag is provided in Table 9–1. To do so, a seed test must be<br />

conducted. The common seed tests available in the seed industry include the germination<br />

test, cold test, tetrazolium test, <strong>and</strong> purity test.

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