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Seed Testing and Certification

M M Rahman
Seed Certification Agency, Gazipur, Bangladesh

M K Basher
Seed Certification Agency, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

It has been internationally agreed that production of quality seed can be guaranteed under the system of seed certification. In this system quality of seed is regulated through some legal measures. These legal measures are (i) The Seed Ordinance, 1977 (ii) The Seed (Amendment) Act, 1997 (iii) The Seed (Amendment) Act, 2005 and (iv) The Seed Rules 1998. Seed Certification Agency (SCA) is the authorized body for certification of seeds of any kinds and classes. SCA provides its certification services to both private and public registered seed dealers as per provisions of these legal measures. Any registered seed dealer may apply to SCA for grant of certificate and the certificate is granted through inspection of seed plot and testing the quality of seed procured from the harvest of seed plot as per standard specified by the National Seed Board (NSB).The seed plot is accepted if the results of field count for undesirable plants like other crop plants, other variety, off type, obnoxious weed and designated diseased plants conform the field standard of the respective crops and classes. On the other hand seed lot is accepted if the test results for purity, germination and moisture content of the seed sample drawn from the seed lots conform the seed standard of the respective crops and classes. At present, certification system is not extended for all crops. Only four notified crops like rice, wheat, jute and potato are being taken care of for production of certified seed. In the year 2010-11 production of certified seed of rice, wheat, jute and potato were 10.43%, 9.06%, 36.79% and 5.82% respectively. As notified crop, Sugarcane seed may be produced under certification system. It needs also to extend the certification services for the production of seed of non-notified crops including horticulture crops. Seed carrying pathogen or seed borne disease cannot be treated as quality seed. So it needs to introduce seed health test as part of seed certification system to ensure the quality of seed.

Keywords: Seed, Testing, Certification

Location: Seed Certification Agency, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2013

End Date: 00-00-2013

Program Area: Seed Technology

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

To introduce seed health test as part of seed certification system to ensure the quality of seed.

Methodology:

Field inspection: Field Inspection is considered as one of the important tools in the whole process of certification for verification of the seed quality where the crop is standing in the field. Field Inspection is done timely and effectively to verify the isolation distance and to count undesirable plants like other crop plants, other variety, off type, obnoxious weed and designated diseased plants. The Seed plot is accepted if the number of undesirable plant remain within the limit of Field Standard and the seed plot is rejected if the number of undesirable plant exceed the maximum limit of Field Standard. In case of rejection of seed plot, seed inspector may advise the grower to rogue out undesirable plants within certain period of time to make the seed plot upto the Field Standard for acceptance. Cropping history of field and general conditions of seed plot are also observed for acceptance or rejection of seed plot during field inspection. In case of acceptance of seed plot, expected yield is estimated for procurement of seed by the grower. Seed Inspector records all the information regarding his inspection on the Crop Inspection Record form (CIRF) and preserve it in his office. Seed testing: Seed testing is also considered as one of the important tools in the seed certificate system for verification of the seed quality when the seed is arranged in the lot and waiting for packing for selling in the market. Representative sample is drawn from the seed lot and sent to the government seed laboratory for testing. Seed Analyst is the authorized officer for testing the sample of seed in the laboratory. Sample of seed is tested as per procedure developed by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). At present seed is tested for purity, germination and moisture content in the certification system. In purity analysis working sample is separated into three components like (a) Pure seed (b) other seed and (c) Inert mater and the result is expressed in terms of percentage by weight. In the germination test seedling is classified into normal and abnormal seedling which is also expressed in terms of percentage. The seed lot is accepted if the test result for purity, germination and moisture content conform the Seed Standard (Table-1). Certificate is granted on the basis of satisfactory test result and certification tag is also issued for attaching with container/packet to be sold in the market.

Source of Information: SSSB (Seed Science Society of Bangladesh). 2013. Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Quality seed for food security under changing climate, 8-10 February, 2012, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Seed carrying pathogen or seed borne disease can not be treated as quality seed. So it needs to introduce seed health test as part of seed certification system to ensure the quality of seed. As notified crop, Sugarcane seed may be produced under certification system. It needs to extend the certification services for the production of seed of non-notified crop including horticulture crops. It is also needed to strengthen Seed Certification Agency to provide its services efficiently and effectively to make best quality seeds of improved varieties of crop available to farmers for higher yield and better life.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings