Concept

of
PHYSICAL PURITY TESTING

Prof. Kumari Rajani

Department of Seed Science & Technology
Bihar Agricultural University
Sabour, Bhagalpur-813210
 Physical Purity Analysis

It refers to the analysis for classifying the

composition of a seed lot

It is important for evaluating whether the given

seed sample conforms to the prescribed purity
standards; and whether it can truly represent the
seed lot
The working sample should roughly contain at
least 2500 seeds or of working sample size given
for the species in ISTA Rules

The working sample is separated into four

parts (pure seeds, other crop seeds, weed
seeds, and inert matters) by hand, blowers, or
sieves; and the percentage of each
component is then calculated by weight
 Components of Physical Purity Analysis

1. Pure seed: Seeds of

kind/species stated by sender
or found to be predominant in
Pure
the test Seed

2. Other crop seeds: seeds of

other crop species Other Physical
Weed
Crop Purity
3. Weed seeds: Seeds of a Seed
common weed/noxious weed Seed Analysis

4. Inert matter: all other matters

including soil particles, plant Inert
parts, broken seeds, dust, Matter
chaff, dal etc or which are not
included in pure seed/other
crop seed/ weed seed
 Pure Seed
GRAMINEAE: (Paddy, Wheat, Pearlmillet, Sorghum etc)
Caryopsis, Piece of caryopsis larger than one-half the original size

LEGUMINACEAE: (Gram, Pea, Mung, Urd, Bean, Soybean and

Groundnut etc) and CRUCIFERAE: (Radish, Mustard, Cabbage and
Cauliflower etc)
Piece of seed larger than one-half the original size with testa
Seeds and pieces of seed without testa is regarded as inert matter
Separated cotyledons are regarded as inert matter irrespective of
whether or not the radical plumule axis or more than half of
the testa may be attached

SOLANACEAE: (Chillies, Brinjal, Tomato, Tobacco etc)

Seed with or without testa
Piece of seed larger than one-half the original size with or
without testa
Materials Required for Physical Purity Analysis

Purity work board or purity table

Seed divider
Analytical balance
Seed blower
Diaphanoscope using reflected light
Sieves
Sample pan, dishes, forceps, spatula and hand lens
Seed herbarium of crop and weed seeds
 Seed Blowers

Purity Work Board

Analytical Balance

Diaphanoscope
Boerner Type Divider Gamet Type Divider Soil Type Divider

Sample pan
Aluminum Purity Dishes

Flexible Arm Illuminator Magnifier Aluminum Purity Spatula

 Procedures
Prepare working sample
(Homogenize the submitted sample before reducing
it to the size of working sample )

Separate purity components

(Lighter materials with the help of sieves or blower and
examine each heavier particle individually on the
purity work board )

Weighing of purity components

(Weigh pure seed, other crop seed, weed seed
and inert matter in grams to the desired number of
decimal places)

Calculations and reporting of results

(Calculate the percentage by weight of each
component)
Weighing of each component (pure seed,
other crop seed, weed seed and inert matter) in grams
should be done according to the number of decimal
places shown below:

Wt. of working Sample No of decimal place

S.N. Example
(g) required
1. Less than 1 4 0.9025

2. 1 to 9.990 3 9.025

3. 10 to 99.99 2 90.25

4. 100 to 999.99 1 902.5

5. 1000 or more 0 1025

 Calculations
Add the weight of all the four components
Calculate the percentage by weight of each component to ONE decimal
place only
(based on the weight of all the four components)
The percentage of all component must be total 100

Example (Paddy Crop)

Weight of Percentage of
S.N. Components
Components (g) component (%)
1. Pure Seed 69.08 98.7

2. Other Crop Seed NIL 0.0

3. Weed Seed 0.66 0.9

4. Inert Matter 0.26 0.4

Total 70 100
 Reporting of Results
 If any component is less than 0.05%, report it as ‘TRACE’
 Component of 0.05% to 0.1% are reported as 0.1%
 If any component is NIL, this must be reported as 0.0%
 The results of purity test be given to one decimal place only
 The Latin names of the crop seed and weed seed should be
reported
The kind of inert matter should be reported

Seed Standards for Certified Class of Paddy

SN Components Paddy
1 Pure seed (Minimum) 98 % Indian Minimum Seed
2. Inert matter (Maximum) 2% Certification
3. Other crop seed (Maximum) 20/kg
Standards
(IMSCS)
4. Weed seed (Maximum) 20/kg
 The following guidelines need to be followed…
 Check the cleanliness of the divider and the containers, work board
and purity dishes

 Pour the entire contents of the submitted sample into the hopper
of the divider

 Mixing of the submitted sample by repeating above steps 2-3 times

to homogenize the submitted sample

 Divide the submitted sample into two half, the sample reduction
should be done till the weight of working sample is obtained

 Put the separated lighter portion on the work board and examine
under magnification for further separating into other crop seed,
weed seed and inert matter, if any present

 Identify the other crop seed, weed seed and record their names. The
kind of inert matter present in the sample should also be identified
and recorded
 Minimum Seed Certification Standard for Pure Seed
Percentage Recommended in Field Crops

Field Crops Foundation and Certified

Buffel grass, Dharaf grass, Guinea grass 80

Marvel grass, Stylo 90

Dinanath grass, Setaria grass,Tobacco 95

Groundnut 96

Sorghum, Sesame, Rapeseed, Mustard, Minor 97

millet, Taramitra, Jute, Forage Sorghum
Rice, Wheat, Maize, Pearl millet, Oat, Barley, Pea, 98
Triticale, Moong, Urd, Chickpea, Lentil, Pigeon pea,
Rice bean, Cow pea, Horse gram, Indian bean,
Niger, Lathyrus, Kidney bean, Rajmash,
Clusterbean, Soybean, Linseed, Safflower,
Sunflower, Castor, Cotton, Berseem, Indian clover,
Lucern, Teosinte
Napier grass (root cutting by number) 99.5
 Minimum Seed Certification Standard for Pure Seed
Percentage Recommended in Vegetable Crops

Field Crops Foundation and Certified

Amaranth, Carrot 95

Asparagus, Spinach, Sugarbeet 96

Celery, Parsely 97

All Cucurbits (Pointed and Little Gourd), Cabbage, 98

Cauliflower, Chinease Cabbage, Turnip, Brinjal,
Capsicum, Chilli, Rat Tail Radish, Tomato, Lettuce,
Raddish, Fenugreek, Onion
Okra 99
 Objectionable Weed Seeds

These are plants of weed species which are harmful in one

or more of the following ways:

The size and shape of their seeds are so similar to that of

the crop seed that is difficult to remove their seed
economically by mechanical means

Their growth habit is detrimental to the growing seed crop

due to competing effect

Their plant parts are poisonous or injurious to human and

animal beings

They serve as alternate hosts for crop pests and diseases

 Maximum Seed Certification Standard for Total no.
of Objectional Weed Seed in Field Crops

Crops Objectionable Weed Foundation Certified

Paddy Wild rice (O. sativa var. fatua) 2 5
Wild morning glory (Hiran khuri;
Wheat,
Convolvulus arvensis) and Gulli danda 2 5
Triticale
(Phalaris minor)
Rapeseed,
Mexican prickly poppy (Satyanashi ;
Mustard, 5 10
Argimone mexicana)
Taramira
Safflower Wild safflower (Carthamus oxyacantha) Nil Nil

Sunflower Wild safflower (Carthamus oxyacantha) Nil Nil

Lucerne Dodder Cuscuta spp.) 5 10

Berseem Chicory (Kasni; Cichorium intybus) 5 10

Oat Wild oat (Avena fatua) 2 5

 Maximum Seed Certification Standard for Total no.
of Objectional Weed Seed in Vegetable Crops

Crops Objectionable Weed Foundation Certified

Bittergourd Jangli karela (M. diocia), Nil Nil

Cucumber Cucumis hardwickii Nil Nil

Wild okra (Abelmoschus fioulneus, A.
Watermelon Nil Nil
manihot and A. moschatus)
Wild okra (Abelmoschus fioulneus, A.
Okra Nil Nil
manihot and A. moschatus)
Wild amaranthus (Kantewali chaulai;
Amaranthus 10 20
Amaranthus spinosus)
Fenugreek Senji (Melilotus spp.) 2 5

Lettuce Wild lettuce (Lactuca scariola) 2 2

Other crop seeds (Expressed in number/kg)

Other crop seeds are the plants of cultivated crops found

in the seed field and whose seed are so similar to crop
seed that is difficult to separate them economically by
mechanical means

Cause physical admixture with the crop seed only when

these crop mature approximately at the same time when
seed crop matures
 Maximum Seed Certification Standard for no. of
Other Crop Seed per kg in Field and Fodder Crops

Crop Foundation Certified

Castor, Groundnut, Safflower, Sunflower,
Nil Nil
Rajmash
Chickpea, Field pea, Rice bean Nil 5

Soybean, Horsegram Nil 10

Maize (Composite, Synthetic, OPV), Sorghum,
Lentil, Pigeon pea, Urd, Moong, Lathyrus, Bean, 5 10
Kidney, Cotton, Forage Sorghum
Rice,Wheat, Pearl millet, Minor millets, Barley,
Triticale, Oat, Rapeseed, Mustard, Taramira,
Jute, Linseed, Niger, Teosinte, Berseem, Stylo, 10 20
Lucerne, Cluster Bean, Indian clover, Marvel
grass
Buffel, Dharaf, Guinea and Setaria grass 20 40
 Maximum Seed Certification Standard for no. of
Other Crop Seed per kg in Vegetable Crops

Crop Foundation Certified

Indian Bean, Brinjal, Lettuce, Bitter Gourd,
Bottle Gourd, Indian Summer and Winter
Nil Nil
Squash, Pumpkin, Ridge Gourd, Snake Gourd,
Water Melon
Okra Nil 5
Cucumber, Little Gourd, Musk Melon, Long
Melon, Capsicum, Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower,
5 10
Onion, Carrot, Radish, Turnip, Chilli, Sugarbeet,
Amaranth, Asparagus, Celery, Parsley, Spinach
Fenugreek 10 20
 Designated diseases

It refers to the diseases specified for the certification of

seeds and for which certification standards are to be met
with. These diseases would cause contamination, when
they are present in the seed field or within the specified
isolation distance (eg. loose smut of wheat). For this the
certification distance has been prescribed as 180 meters.
 Designated Disease of Field and Vegetable Crops
Crop Designated Disease Causal Organism
Barley Loose smut Ustilag nuda
Paddy Paddy bunt Neovossia horrida
Loose smut Ustilago tritici
Wheat
Karnal bunt Neovossia indica
Sorghum Grain smut, Kernel smut Sphacelotheca sorghii
Tolyposporium penicillariae, Sclerospora
Pearl millet Grain smut, Green ear, Ergot
graminicola, Claviceps microcephala
Mustard Alternaria blight Alternaria sp
Sesame Leaf spot Alternaria sp
Brinjal Little leaf Datura Virus 2
Chillies Anthracnose leaf blight, Leaf blight Gloesporium piperatum, Alternaria solani
Cucurbits Mosaic Cucumis virus
Cowpea Anthracnose Colletotricum sp
Okra Yellow vein mosaic Hibiscus Virus 1
Pseudomonas solanacearum, Meloidogyne
Potato Brown rot, Root knot
incognita
Alternaria solani, Xanthomonas
Tomato Early blight Leaf spot
vesicatoria
 Designated Disease of Field and Vegetable Crops

Crop Designated Disease Causal Organism

Wheat Loose smut Ustilago tritici
Sorghum Grain smut, Kernel smut Sphacelotheca sorghii
Tolyposporium penicillariae, Sclerospora
Pearl millet Grain smut, Green ear, Ergot graminicola, Claviceps microcephala
Mustard Alternaria blight Alternaria sp
Sesame Leaf spot Alternaria sp
Brinjal Little leaf Datura Virus 2
Gloesporium piperatum, Alternaria
Chillies Anthracnose leaf blight, Leaf blight
solani
Cucurbits Mosaic Cucumis virus
Cowpea Anthracnose Colletotricum sp
Okra Yellow vein mosaic Hibiscus Virus 1
Pseudomonas solanacearum,
Potato Brown rot, Root knot
Meloidogyne incognita
Alternaria solani, Xanthomonas
Tomato Early blight Leaf spot
vesicatoria
 Determination of Other Distinguishable Varieties

“ODV testing is to estimate the number of seeds of other

distinguishable varieties present in a seed lot of designated variety”.

The determination is valid only if the cluster is stated by

the sender of the sample and if the authentic standard
sample of the cultivar is available for comparison in the
laboratory.

The determination shall be made only on the basis of readily

apparent differences in the stable and well-known
morphological characters of the seed.

Whenever difference is not clearly distinguishable or it has

occurred due to other physiological factors, such as frost, drought,
immaturity, storage or due to any other reasons which have
affected size, shape and luster of the seed the Seed Analyst should
not classify these seeds as ‘ODV’.
 Materials Required
I. Work Board, Magnifier, Stereoscopic Microscope, Spatula and
Forceps.
II. Authentic samples of the notified cultivars of different crops
and vegetable seeds.

This determination must be made before

conducting the physical purity analysis
 Procedure

Working Sample: The whole

submitted sample must be used for
marketing the determination. The
Analyst should, therefore, weigh the
submitted sample and record the
weight on the analysis card.

The sample should be examined

under magnification to determine the
number of seeds of the other cultivar
present in the sample.
Calculation and expression of the results

The results of the investigation are expressed as the number

of seeds belonging to the other cultivar found in the actual
quantity examined.

In addition, the number per unit weight (e.g. per kg) may be
calculated.

Reporting the results

The actual weight of the seed examined and the number of
the seeds of the other cultivar present in the sample shall be
reported on the Analysis Certificate.
 Determination of TSW

"The thousand-seed weight (TSW) is the weight of 1000

pure seeds from the submitted sample"

The object of the test is to determine the

weight of 1000 pure seeds from the
submitted sample

Pure seeds are counted and weighed by one of two methods:

i) Counting the whole pure seed fraction
ii) Counting replicates of 100 seeds
 Apparatus Required
Seeds can be counted:
• using a counting machine
• manually
• using a counting tool, e.g. counting boards or a vacuum
planting head

Vacuum Counting Head

Seed Counter
 Procedures

 The working sample consists of the whole pure seed

fractions for a purity analysis
 The whole pure seed fraction or replicates can be counted
either using counting machines or manual counting

(a) Weigh the whole pure seed fraction in grams to the

minimum no. of decimal places
(b) Count 100 seeds each in 8 replicates and weigh each
replicate in gram to the minimum no. of decimal places
 Calculate the weight of 1000 seeds from the weight of the
whole pure seed fraction

Weight of 1000 seeds = Weight of sample x 1000

No. of seeds counted

 Calculate the average weight of 1000 seeds from the

weight of 8 or more 100 seed replicates.

Weight of 1000 seeds = Ʃ Weight of 100 seed replicates x 10

No. of 100 seed replicates

The result of TSW test must be reported under

“Other Determinations” with the minimum no. of
decimal places