Author: Mr. Prasanta Kumar, Junior Research Scholar SEED SCIENCE CLASSES OF IMPROVED SEED (for ICAR JRF/SRF/IARI Ph.D. & other competitive exams.) There are five classes of improved seed: . Nucleus seed . Breeder seed 1 2, 3. Foundation seed 4. Register seed 5. Certified seed \ 1. Nucleus seed Nucleus seed is the initial seed al red variety which is always limited in quantity, It is produced bygrigital plant breeder. It is also called Basic seed, Production: Produced at t! 2 ital field of the concerned research institute or agricultural under supervision of original plant breeder or sponcered reeder. Purity: Geni +huiysicall 100% pure (cene percent pure). Certificatioh: is not required. Use: Used for tion bf breeder seed. It is not meant for general distribution. Tag color: Tag és Breeder seed is the progeny of nucleus seed or breeder seed. Production: Produced under the strict supervision of the original or sponsoring plant breeder at the research farm of the concerned crop research te or agricultural university. Purity: Breeder seed is genetically and physically 100% pure (cent percent pure). The genetic purity is maintained by proper rouging. Certification: Certification is not required for breeder seed. The seed plot ios inspected by a monitoring team which consists of original or sponcered 1 Dept. Genetics and Plant Breeding, VAS, Dharwad, KamatakaAuthor: Mr. Prasanta Kumar, Junior Research Scholar plant breeder and one representative each from National Seeds Corporation State Seed Certification Agency. * Use: Rreeder seed is used for the production of foundation seed. Tt is not meant for general distribution. © Tag color: Golden yellow color tag 3. Foundation seed «Foundation seed is the progeny of breeder seed or foundation seed itself. « It is called Mother seed because it is the first seed multiplied from the breeder seed to produce the certified seed. « When it is produced from Breeder seed it al Foundation seed stage I (FS-1) and when it produged from is'called as Foundation seed stage II (FS-II). * FS-II cannot be used for productio} indalion seed; it can be used only for certified seed production. © Production of FS-II is unde hhen it is clearly expressed by the seed certification agene’ ler seed is in short supply and stage II foundation seed has to Se meet the seed demand. 1¢ National Seed Corporation under the strict supervision(o bipica and exports from NSC. Production ication farm of Govt., research farm of ICAR, Universities and also on cultivators fields. institutes and Agricultura * Purity: Foundation seed is genetically 100% pure (cent percent pure). Physical purity 8% is permissible. The remaining 2% includes the inert matters. * Certification: Certified by State Seed Certification Agency. « Uses: Used for production of certified seed. It is not meant for general distribution. ¢ Tag color: White color tag © Registered seed is the progeny of either foundation seed or registered seed. 2 Dept. Genetics and Plant Breeding, VAS, Dhiarwad, KamatakaAuthor: Mr. Prasanta Kumar, Junior Research Scholar « In India registered seed is not produced (omitted) and certified seed is produced directly from foundation seed. @ Production: Produced at the farms of progressive cultivators according to technical advice and supervision of National Seeds Corporation. * Purity: Genetic purity is 100% and physical purity is 98%. « Certification: State seed certification agency. * Use: It is used to produce the registered seed or certified seed. It is generally not meant for general distribution. 5. Certified seed * Certified seed is the progeny of either foundation seed or register seed or certified seed. ¢ Production: It is produced in the field of strict supervision of State Seed C up by the NSC, if required. «Purity: Genetic purity is 99.9% 3 ¢ Certification: State certification eh # Use: Certified seed is “a commercial crop producti © Tag color: Blue or. eptification his work also taken sital purity is 98%. ral distribution to the farmers for Particulars | Nucleus seed Breeder seed | Foundation | Certified seed seed 1. Progeny of | Improved Nucleus seed | Breeder seed | Breeder seed or variety or breeder seed | or Foundation | foundation seed seed or certified seed 2. Produced Original plant | Original or National Seed | State Seed by breeder sponcered Corporation | Corporation plant breeder 3. Produced at | Research Experimental | Seed Field of Instutute or | farm or multiplication | Progressive Agricultural | research farm of Govt. | farmers Universities | institute, Institute or Agricultural _| Agril. 3 Dept. Genetics and Plant Breeding, VAS, Dharwad, KamatakaAuthor: Mr. Prasanta Kumar, Junior Research Scholar Universities] Universities or in Cultivators field 4. Genetic 100% 100% 100% 99.9% purity 5. Physical | 100% 100% 98% 98% purity 6. Certified by | Not required | Not required | State Seed _| State Seed Certification | Certification Agency ‘Agency (SSCA) (SSCA s SS \ Dept. Genetics and Plant Breeding, UAS, Dharwad, Kamataka