SEEDS QUALITY AND PRODUCTION
The production of high-quality seeds is fundamental to modern agriculture. Most annual crops are established each season from seeds, and seed quality can have a major impact on potential crop yield. Seed purity standard also specify the percentage of contamination by seed or genetic material of other varieties or species. Seed can serve as the delivery system not only for improved genetics but also for new planting and production methods and crop protection strategies that improve the overall efficiency of agriculture and reduce its environmental impact.
The purity of a commercial product propagated by seed begins with the genetic purity of the seed planted. Genetics purity standards have been established by state laws and seed certification agencies to assure growers that the seed that buys is accurately labeled with the correct crop and variety.
IMPORTANCES OF QUALITY SEED
- Ensure genetic and physical purity of the crop.
- Gives desired plant population.
- Capacity to withstand the advanced condition.
- Ensure uniform growth and maturity.
- Development of root system will be more efficient that aids adsorption of nutrients efficiently and result in higher yield.
- Good quality seed of improved varieties ensures higher yield at least (10-12%).
In addition, the germination capacity of the seed in the standard test must be shown on the label. In some cases, a seed must also be tested for the presence of seed-borne diseases, and hybridity tests are conducted to confirm parentage in the hybrid seed. Seed producers take many steps to protect genetic integrity, including ensuring the integrity of their planting seed, properly identifying and labeling plants and fields, planting seeds on clean land which has not been used to grow the same crop in the recent past, removing rogue plants and to ensure that pollination only occurs among plants of the desired variety.
Writer: Sushma Poudel (Student,Bsc Ag 4th semester, Paklihawa Campus)