CROP SCIENCE 3

POST HARVEST
HANDLING AND SEED
TECHNOLOGY
 Learning Outcomes
at the end of the lesson the students should be able
to;
1. identify the different seed production principles
and techniques
2. understand the procedures in seed quality control
and seed certification.
3. appreciate the importance of seed testing
laboratory and to identify the characteristics and
different classes of seeds
 A. SEED PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES

The cultural practices in seed production are identical with

those applied for normal market production.
 Requirements Seed Production
Techniques
1. Seed source
➢ The use of an appropriate
class and approved source is
necessary for raising a seed
crop.
The following annual crops are
approved by the National Seed Industry
eligible for seed certification
 National Seed Industry Council
(NSIC)
The National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) is the new name of the Philippine Seed
(PSB) Board as per Republic Act No. 7308 since March 27, 1992.
The members of the council are as follows:
1. Secretary, Department of Agriculture- Chairman
2. Director, Bureau of Plant and Industry
3. Dean, UPCA- Member
4. Director, Institute of Plant Breeding- Member
5. Crops Research Director PCARRD - Member
6. Director, Phil Rice- Member
7. Two representatives from accredited farmer's organization
8. One representative from the seed industry
 Requirements Seed Production
Techniques
2. Isolation
➢ It is required when raising a seed
crop to avoid contamination due
to natural cross pollination and
disease infection caused by wind
and insects from neighboring
field during sowing, harvesting,
threshing and handling of seed to
avoid mechanical mixture.
 Types of Isolation

a. Isolation by time
✓ It is a method of avoiding cross pollination between
varieties by planting the crops at different period or simply
scheduling the planting time.
b. Isolation by strips
✓ plot of a crop which separates seed plots, preventing
crossing pollen and mechanical mixtures. This strip would
theoretically catch windblown pollen and distracts insects
from visiting the plots on either side of it.
 Types of Isolation

c. Caging and artificial barriers

✓ Cages can be constructed
with PVC and fabric row
covers. Brown paper or fine
meshed bags can also be
used, Non-porous bags are
not recommended because
they can led to rot.
 Types of Isolation

d. Isolation in distance
✓ When isolation by time is not possible, then isolation
by distance is to be followed. The maintenance of genetic
purity by preventing unwanted pollination especially for
cross pollinated crop like com, cucurbits and crucifiers
isolation by distance is recommended.
3. Field Inspection
The role of seed inspector is obligatory to check the isolation
distance requirement, off types, presence of other crops,
weeds and diseases.

In most countries when a crop is intended for certification it

must be inspected prior to harvest. A representative of the
certifying agency inspects the crop at least once during the
vegetative stage and normally once at pre-harvest stage.
 Table 1. Recommended Isolation
Distance For Selected Crops
CROP ISOLATION CROP ISOLATION
DISTANCE (M) DISTANCE (M)
Corn 800-1000 Eggplant 200
Rice 15-30 Pepper 400
Carrot 540 Mungbean 50
cabbage 400 Ppole bean 50
Cauliflower 400 Cucumber 400-800
Chinese cabbage 400 Squash 400-800
Radish 1000-1600 Upo 400-800
Lettuce 100 Bitter gourd 400-800
Tomato 50 Onion 800-1000
 Requirements Seed Production
Techniques
4. Roguing
➢ is the process of removing
undesirable plants from the
main crop. Such plants are
commonly called rogues and
they may be weeds, plants of
other crop species, plants of
another cultivar of the same
species, or off-type plants
 Importance of Roguing

1. Seed certification schemes set very strict limits to the

number of each kind of rogues that is tolerated.
2. Seeds of rogues are harvested with the crop seeds and
being similar in size and shape cannot be separated from it
or, if they belong to the same cultivar of the same species,
cannot even be recognized (Thompson, 1979).
3. Seeds of rogues lower seed quality due to contamination.
4. Seeds of rogues create problems in the succeeding crops.
 Factors to consider in determining
distinctness of the crop for efficient
rouging
1. Maturity
2. Morphological differences:
a) growth habits
b) leaves and stems
c) flowers and fruits
3. Uniformity of the cultivar
 Timing of Roguing
✓ Roguing should be done several times at different stages
of the crop development.
✓ The best time is when the crop is in full bloom for during this
stage cultivar characters are most fully expressed and
differences are most obvious.
✓ In cross-pollinated crops roguing should be done at an
earlier growth stage before pollen is released. In maize,
roguing is done when the crop is shoulder height for at this
stage rogues are easily observed.
 Methods of Roguing
A roguer walks slowly (not more
than three kilometer per hour)
backward and forward through
the crop and scrutinizes the plant
in the strip two meters wide. To
maintain a straight line and
minimize damage to the crop
the roguer walks between the
rows.
 Roguing of Specific Crops
1) Bean (Leguminosae) - Phaseolus
vulgaris- it is highly important to
rogue stock seed plantings,
carefully to maintain their purity.
More crossing occurs in this crop
than in peas, a fact which tends to
increase the number of off-type and
foliage color should be carefully
checked.
 Roguing of Specific Crops
2) Tomato (Solanaceae) - if strict
attention and care are given to
the roguing of stock seed for
planting, little roguing is required in
the production of the market seed.
The large hectare in which market
seed is often produced makes
roguing inefficient and expensive.
 Roguing of Specific Crops
3) Pepper (Solanaceae). Roguing
should be based on the plant
and its fruit as a whole rather
than on individual fruits. Off-type
plants should be removed as
soon as they are observed. The
small-leafed plants can usually
be detected among plants with
large leaves, and vice versa.
 Roguing of Specific Crops
4) Eggplant (Solanaceae) - early
roguing is recommended in
eggplant because off- type
plants are often easily detected
before flowering stage. While the
first fruit is still partially developed
it is possible for a grower familiar
with eggplant varieties to rogue
out more off-type plants.
 Roguing of Specific Crops
5) Corn (Gramineae) - in corn
specifically roguing could easily be
effective and done prior to the
development of the anthers (male
organ, producing the pollen grains) or
the appearance of the silks that part of
the female organ receiving the pollen
grains). Complete removal of the tassels
of off-type plants is extremely necessary
to avoid further contamination.
5. Climate factors
The most important climatic
factors that influenced seed
a) Temperature
Some crops species do not initiate
flowers until the plant has received
a cold stimulus. The requirement of
cold temperature stimulus for
flowering is called vernalization.
 Vernalization requirement, crops are
grouped into the following is three classes:

Annual :
Crop species which do not require
vernalization for flower initiation,
Annual crops require only one
growing season to produce seed
and complete the lifecycle. e.g.
corn, tropical radish, pechay, rice,
etc.
 Vernalization requirement, crops are
grouped into the following is three classes:

Biennial :
Biennial crops require 2 growing seasons to produce seed
and complete their lifecycle. These crops generally require a
period of verbalizations (exposure to cold) in order to flower.

Perennial :
Perennial plants survive for several years producing flowers
and seeds each year.
 Climate Factor

b) Daylength
Plants can be classified
into three main group
according to specific
duration of light and dark
requirement in each 24
hour period or cycle in
order to initiate flower
 Plants can be classified into three main
groups according to the specific
duration
Short-day Plants : This group includes species which will not
flower unless the day light period is shorter than a particular
critical time, which is between 10 and 12 hours. The
Examples are amaranthus Sp. soybean, winged bean,
kidney bean. These crops normally begin to flower towards
the shorter days of the year starting at the latter part of
September in the Northern Hemisphere.
 Climate Factor

c) Rainfall and relative humidity.

The significance of these environmental factors on seed
production is their effect on the fruiting stage. Pollination
may be adversely affected when there is too much rain.
Rain during the fruiting period also promotes high relative
humidity which enhances the growth of foliage and disease
incidence. A dry period at fruit maturity is favorable for
the harvesting and processing of the seeds. Seed viability
can be seriously affected by high rainfall during the seed
ripening period.
 Climate Factor

d. Wind
Excessive wind increases water loss from the crop and soil,
prevents maximum activity of pollinating insects, carries
wind-borne pollen over long distances and increases
loss of seed by enhancing shattering during seed ripening.
Strong winds during the reproductive phase can cause
severe crop losses through lodging, shattering and shedding
of seed. On the other hand gentle wind facilitates increased
pollination in cross-pollinated
crops.
 Climate Factor

5. Time of harvesting. Delaying harvest after seed maturation

is the same as "storing" seeds in the field under unfavorable
levels of humidity and temperature. Theoretically, seeds
should be harvested at the point of physiological maturity
because at this stage seed dry weight, germination, and
seed vigor is highest. However, high seed moisture is a
problem at this stage. In some species, this may occur prior
to the normal harvest date.
 Relationships between moisture content,
seed size germination seed vigor, & dry
seed weight.

Figure 18. Generalized pattern of seed maturation (G- germination, Dsw- dry seed
weight, S- seed size, MC- moisture content, Sv- Seed vigor)
 Importance of understanding
seed maturation
a) Unnecessary delay in harvesting seeds after they reach
physiological maturity contributes considerably to deterioration.
b) Plant breeders can shorten the time required for growing crops by
knowing the time of maximum germination.
c) Harvest can be done at an earlier date.
d) Effective weed control measures can be formulated by preventing
weed seeds to attain full germination capacity.
e) Contribute considerably in saving time, labor and money by
avoiding unnecessary delay in harvesting.
 Consequences when crops are
harvested premature and over mature:

1. Crop yield reduction due to lodging, and shattering of

seeds resulted from over mature crops.
2. Prematurely harvested seeds will result to shrivelled and
low starch content. Grain or seed quality is reduced.
3. Delayed harvesting in the field causes field weathering of
grains, leaching of chemicals from seeds will reduce
germination and storability.
4. Loss of value. Weathered grain (sun bleached) attracts
low prices. Rated low on the quality grading scale.
 Maturity Indices of Some Crops

Crops Maturity indices

Corn Grain is hard glazed condition. Dry leaves and husks
Peanut Light yellowing of foliage. Pods are brown on their inside
surfaces and leaves yellow
Soybean Pods are fully mature and seed is in hard dough stage
Rice Seed ripe and moisture content between 17 and 23%
Garden bean Pods mature and seed is in hard dough stage
Cowpea Two-thirds of pods turn brown
Dolichos bean Pods dry and yellow
Pigeon pea Pods start to dry
 Maturity Indices of Some Crops

Crops Maturity indices

Garden pea Seeds fully developed and hard
Pepper Red ripe
Tomato Ripe or ripening
Eggplant Beyond edible stage
Lettuce White fluff (30-50%) on heads
Cabbage Seeds dark brown in color
Watermelon Edible maturity
Cucumber Fruit pale yellow/golden
 Maturity and seed yield of some
vegetable crops for seed
(IPB, UPLB,Laguna, Philippines)
Crops Maturity Seed yield
(Months after planting) (Kg/ha)
Cucurbits
➢ Squash 5.0 50
➢ Upo (Bottle gourd) 4.0 250
➢ Patola (Sponge gourd) 3.5 200
➢ Ampalaya (Bitter gourd) 2.5 250
➢ Cucumber 1.5 250
 Maturity and seed yield of some
vegetable crops for seed
(IPB, UPLB,Laguna, Philippines)
Crops Maturity Seed yield
(Months after planting) (Kg/ha)
Crucifers
➢ Pechay 2.0 400
➢ Mustard 2.0 400
➢ Radish 5.0 400
➢ Chinese cabbage 2.0 300
 Maturity and seed yield of some
vegetable crops for seed
(IPB, UPLB,Laguna, Philippines)
Crops Maturity Seed yield
(Months after planting) (Kg/ha)
Legumes
➢ Bush sitao (bush long) 2.5 500
➢ Pole sitao 2.5 600
➢ Cowpea 2.5 600
➢ Sanp beans 2.5 600
➢ Garden pea 2.5 600
➢ Pigeon pea 6.0 250
➢ Bush lima - 300
 Maturity and seed yield of some
vegetable crops for seed
(IPB, UPLB,Laguna, Philippines)
Crops Maturity Seed yield
(Months after planting) (Kg/ha)
Solanaceous
➢ Tomato 2.5 40
➢ Eggplant 3.0 30
➢ Sweet pepper 2.5 30
➢ Hot pepper 2.5 60
Other crops
➢ Okra 3.0 800
➢ Kang kong - 80
Source: NSB-IPB, UPLB, 1991 Crop/variety/species selection
Seed Production Systems
 TERMINOLOGY

1. Hybrid: 1st generation cross

between one or more inbred lines.
Hybrids do not qualify as varieties,
since they are not genetically
stable, i.e., they lose hybrid vigor if
replanted, and because of
segregation and uncontrolled
crossing, establish new genetic
combinations.
 TERMINOLOGY

2. Inbred Line: An Inbred line is a

relatively true breeding strain
resulting from least five successive
generations of controlled self-
fertilization or of backcrossing to a
recurrent parent with selection or
its equivalent.
 TERMINOLOGY

3. Single-cross: the 1st generation of a cross between 2

inbred lines
4. Three-way hybrid: the 1st generation of a cross between
two single-cross hybrid
5. Multiple-cross hybrid: the 1st generation of a cross
involving more than four inbred lines, i.e., a cross of two
double crosses, a single-cross hybrid crossed with a double-
cross hybrid, etc.
 TERMINOLOGY

6. Synthetic: advanced generation of a hybrid maintained in

isolation with open pollination.
7. Blend: a mechanical mixture of 2 or more varieties,
hybrids, strains, etc.
8. Open pollinated variety: advanced generation of an
intercrossing population of multiple genotypes maintained in
isolation: Seed produced as a result of natural pollination
opposed to hybrid seed produced as a result of controlled
pollination.
 TERMINOLOGY

9. Variety: The term variety (cultivar) denotes an assemblage

of cultivated individuals which are distinguished by any
characters significant for the purposes of agriculture, forestry,
or horticulture
 Seed Production Systems

1. Seed Production by Natural Pollination

The system whereby seeds are produced
naturally is self or cross pollinating
varieties. This is considered the cheapest
and commonly used. It involves the
planting of a given crop (variety) or
multiplication in isolation (distance or
time) and simply allowed to flower and
produce seeds naturally.
 Seed Production Systems

2. Hybrid Seed Production

Advantages

- Utilization of hybrid nowadays significantly increased the

yield performance of the crops.
- Inbred lines have their particular characteristics fixed over
years (generations) of inbreeding.
 Seed Production Systems

- One line may carry desirable characteristics such as

earliness, hardiness, attractive color and high sugar content.
While the second line may carry insect- and disease-
resistance.
- When the two lines are crossed, the resultant seed will
contain the characteristics of both lines; as well possess
'hybrid vigor environmental stress.
 Types of Hybrid

1. Single-Cross Hybrids
Usually has the highest yield potential,
but because it contains only two
inbred lines in its parentage, it is
somewhat restricted in its ability to
adapt to a wide range of conditions. It
usually out-yields other hybrids under
optimum conditions. Single cross- two
inbred lines are crossed.
 Types of Hybrid

2. Double Cross Hybrids

Usually has a lower yield potential than other hybrids
because it is a second generation hybrid which causes it to
lose some of its potential hybrid vigor. However since it has
four inbred lines in its parentage, it is the most adaptable
hybrid over a wide range of conditions and performs well
under less than optimum conditions.
 Types of Hybrid

3. Three way Cross Hybrids

Usually has yield potential and adaptability that is
intermediate between a single and a double cross hybrid.
Although it is a second generation hybrid, one of the parents
that produced the second generation is an inbred which
helps maintain hybrid vigor.