Seed
Technology
It comprises techniques of seed production, processing,
seed storage, seed testing and certification, marketing, distribution and
related research on these aspects. The role of seed technology is as follows
Seed
- as a
carrier of new technology
Seed
-
basic tool for secured food supply (green revolution by high yielding
varieties)
Seed
-
Principle mean to secure crop yield in less favourable areas of production (by
modifying variety suitable to the condition)
Seed
-
Medium for rapid rehabilitation of Agriculture in case of natural disaster
Goals
of Seed technology
·
Rapid multiplication
·
Timely supply
·
Assured high quality of seeds
·
Reasonable price
Importance
of Seed Technology
Seed technology involves development of improved crop
varieties, their evaluation and release, seed production, seed processing, seed
storage, seed testing, seed certification, seed quality control, seed marketing
and distribution.
·
Research would be of little use if a farmer doesn’t get
seeds which are genetically pure and possess other desirable qualities namely
germination percentage, vigor, purity and health of seeds etc.
·
Among the inputs used by the farmer, seed is the cheapest.
Without good seeds, the investment on fertilizer, water, pesticides and other
inputs will not pay the required dividends.
·
The pace of progress in food production will largely depend
upon the speed with which the seeds are multiplied and marketed with good
quality and high yielding potential
·
Seed is the easiest input for crop improvement in a shorter
period of time. Also it is the easiest one to be adopted by the farmers.
How
to maintain genetic purity?
·
Use of approved class of seeds Ex. Certified seeds
·
Isolation
Distance:
To avoid contamination which can occur natural crossing with offtypes and
nearby field varieties, mechanical mixtures during different harvest operations
and seed borne disease from nearby fields
·
Roguing
of Seed field: To avoid offtypes (plants different from that of seed variety).
Offtypes arise through recessive genes expressed during segregation, mutation,
volunteer plants and mechanical mixtures
·
Seed
Certification: Principle aim of seed certification is to maintain good seeding value
and true to variety. Seed certifying agency inspect at various levels of seed
production to inspect for field standards, isolation distance and other related
parameters, inspection of seed lot and conduction of quality test and draw of
samples from processed seed lot to maintain desired standards.
·
Grow
out test –
to test the genetic purity of the samples
Seed
Standards
Field
Standards
- Isolation
distance – between two similar fields, to avoid contamination of pollens
from two different sources
- Number
of field inspections – to take care of all other unwanted to mix with
desired seed production
- Off
types – to remove pollen shedders, off types, shedding tassel etc.
- Objectionable
weeds – To remove notorious weeds which are perennial and cause severe
loss by way of yield reduction and harbouring pest and diseases
- Inseparable
other crop plant – to remove those crop seeds which look similar to parent
seed lot
- Plant
heads affected by disease
Seed
standards
- Genetic
purity of seeds
- Germination
percentage
- Inert
matter
- Other
crop seeds
- Weed
seeds
- Objectionable
weeds
- Diseased
seeds
- Other
undistinguishable variety seeds
Seed
Inspections
- It is done by the seed certification
agency in order to ensure the field and seed standards
- Time of Inspections are planned and
fixed before, normally it is at
Field
inspections
- Time
of sowing
- Pre-flowering
stage
- Flowering
stage
- Post
flowering stage
- Harvest
stage
Seed
Inspection
- Seed
lot sampling done before and after processing of seeds
- Seed
testing for seed viability, health, germination and purity
Factors
affecting seed storage
- Kind/variety
of seed
- Initial
seed quality
- Seed
Moisture
- Humidity
- Temperature
- Oxygen
content
- Storage
condition
Types of seeds:
Breeder seed: Seed/vegetative propagating material
which is directly controlled b originating breeders/institution and which
provides fr the initial and recurring increase of foundation seed. The genetic
purity is rigidly maintained. In self pollinated species, mass selection is
often practiced to retain the genetic purity. It is also the source of all
other classes of seeds.
Foundation seed: seed stock so handled to maintain specific
genetic identity and purity that may be designated/distributed by an
agricultural experimental station. Carefully observed, supervised and approved
by representatives of the station. It is the responsibility of national and
state seed corporations to produce the seeds.
Registered seed: progeny of the foundation seed/so
handled to maintain genetic purity and purity and has been approved and
certified y a certifying agency. Its quality should be suitable for production
of certified seeds. It is usually produced by progressive farmers according to
technical advice and supervision provided by NSC. Often registered seed is
omitted and certified seed is produced directly from foundation seed.
Certified seed: Progeny of foundation/registered seed
that is so handled to maintain satisfactory genetic identity and purity and
that has been approved by certifying agency. Certified see is annually produced
progressive farmers according to standard seed production practices. To be
certified, seed must meet certain rigid requirements regarding purity and
quality. It is available for general distribution to farmers for commercial
crop production.
Requirements of certified seed
- Seed
must be of an improved variety
- Seeds
to contain standard genetic and physical qualities as required
- Germination
percentage prescribed for various crops ranges from 80-90 per cent
- Certified
seeds must be free from noxious weeds, diseases and pests
- Seeds
to contain optimum moisture content which does not affect its germination
and storage.
National Seed Corporation (NSC)
A body of government undertaking was
set up in 1963.
- It
plans for the production of breeder seed in consultation with ICAR and
organizes the production of foundation seed.
- It is
responsible for inter-state marketing of certified seeds.
- It
conducts biennial surveys of seed demand plan.
- Coordinates
research and sales promotion efforts.
- Provides
technical assistance to seed corporations and private sector agencies,
training facilities for staff participating in seed industry development
and also provides certification services for states not having established
independent seed certification agencies.
NSC is looked upon as an agency which
would promote the industry in India, initiate measures leading to production
for high quality seed and in particular produce, process and market seeds. It
has been given the primary responsibility for establishing an adequate system
of quality control inspection and for promoting scientific seed processing,
storage and marketing.
Seed
Processing
It
refers to all the steps necessary for preparation of harvested seed for
marketing. Seed processing becomes necessary because the seed lots received
from the field are often at high moisture content and contain trash and other
inert material, weed seeds, deteriorated and damaged seeds etc. Following are
some of the processing techniques followed after harvesting the seeds.
1.
Seed
drying: mainly to remove the moisture so as to store the seeds for long period
and also to maintain the viability of seeds. Seeds can be subjected to sun
drying and forced air drying.
2.
Seed
Cleaning: Separation of undesirable material namely, inert matter, weed seeds,
other crop seeds, light and chaffy seeds, damaged and deteriorated seeds from
desirable material.
3.
Seed
grading by removing the smaller and shriveled seeds from healthy one.
4.
Seed
treatment with fungicides, insecticides or combination of both to prevent seed
borne or soil borne pathogens and pests.
5.
Seed
packing (gunny bags) and handling (transport)
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