SST 301 Seed Quality Regulation and Storage 1+1

Aim :
To make the students understand the importance of seed quality regulation and legislative
frame work and seed storage techniques.
Theory

Unit I - Seed legislations and regulatory framework

Introduction and importance of seed quality regulation - The Seeds Act and Rules -
Composition and role of Central Seed Committee and its Sub Committee-Central Sub Committee
on Crop Standards, Release and Notification of crop varieties - State Seed Sub Committee-
Central Seed Certification Board, State Seed Certification Agency - Central Seed Testing
Laboratory cum Referral Laboratory and Notified Seed Testing Laboratories - Seed Inspector -
duties and responsibilities - offences and penalties - Seeds (Control) Order 1983 and labeling-
seed standards - PPV& FRA 2001- National Seed Policy 2002- Salient features of Seed Bill
2004.
Unit II - Seed certification
Seed certification - definition - phases - procedures - Field inspection, field counts, field
and seed standards - LFR- Downgrading - Post harvest inspection and seed quality assurance -
Processing, bagging and tagging - Assigning of seed lot number - Validity period - Revalidation.
Unit III - Seed quality testing
Seed testing - importance - seed sampling - mixing and dividing - seed quality assessment
(seed moisture content, physical purity, ODV, seed germination test, quick viability test, vigour
tests and seed health test) - Pre and post quality regulation system (grow out test - molecular
markers).
Unit IV - Seed storage
Types of seed - orthodox, recalcitrant and intermediate seeds - seed storage - stages -
factors affecting seed longevity - Types of seed storage - Seed treatments and containers - Mid
storage treatments - Storage godown sanitation - Advances in seed storage techniques.
Unit V - Seed marketing
Seed marketing- Seed demand forecasting - Marketing organization - structure - pricing
policy, factors influencing seed marketing - Farmers centric market driven approach-
International seed movement - blue, green and orange certificates.

Practical
Seed certification procedures - application, registration of seed farm - sowing report -
Field inspection - verification of seed source and area - isolation distance - counting procedure -
reporting status of seed farm - LFR- Down grading - Post harvest inspection - kapas and cob
sorting- pod verification - Visit to seed certification agency - Assigning seed lot number - Types
of sample (service sample - certified sample - official sample) - seed sampling procedures -
mixing and dividing - Seed moisture content estimation - Physical purity analysis - Seed
germination test - Seedling evaluation - Viability test - Vigour tests - Seed health - Grow out
tests and electrophoresis - Pre storage seed treatments and containers - Layout of seed testing
laboratory and seed storage godown - Visit to seed testing laboratory- Visit to grow-out test field
- Seed inspection procedures by Seed Inspector at seed retail outlet - Stop Sale Order.
Theory schedule
1. Introduction and importance of seed quality regulation.
2. The Seeds Act and Rules - Composition and role of Central Seed Committee and its Sub
Committee - Central Sub Committee on Crop Standards, Release and Notification of crop
varieties - State Seed Sub Committee.
3. Central Seed Certification Board, State Seed Certification Agency - Central Seed Testing
Laboratory cum Referral Laboratory and Notified Seed Testing Laboratories - Seed
Inspector - duties and responsibilities - offences and penalties.
4. Seeds (Control) Order 1983 and labeling- seed standards – PPV&FRA 2001- National
Seed Policy 2002 - salient features of Seed Bill 2004.
5. Seed certification - definition - phases - procedures.
6. Field inspection, field counts, field and seed standards- LFR- Downgrading- Post harvest
inspection and seed quality assurance.
 7. Processing, bagging and tagging - Assigning of seed lot number - Sampling- Validity
period - Revalidation.
8. Seed testing - importance - Seed sampling procedures - mixing and dividing.
9. Mid-semester examination.
10. Seed quality assessment (seed moisture content, physical purity, ODV).
11. Seed germination test and quick viability test.
12. Vigour tests and seed health test.
13. Pre and post quality regulation system (grow out test - molecular markers).
14. Types of seeds- orthodox, recalcitrant and intermediate-Seed storage - stages - factors
affecting seed longevity - Types of seed storage.
15. Seed treatments and containers - Mid storage treatments -Storage godown sanitation -
Advances in seed storage techniques - ultra dry storage, modified atmospheric seed
storage and cryopreservation.
16. Seed marketing- seed demand forecasting- marketing organization- structure- - pricing
policy.
17. Factors influencing seed marketing- farmers centric market driven approach-
International seed movement – blue, green and orange certificate.
Practical
1. Application, registration of seed farm- sowing report.
2. Field inspection - verification of seed source and area - isolation distance - counting
procedure - reporting status of seed farm- LFR- Down grading.
3. Post harvest inspection - kapas and cob sorting- pod verification.
4. Visit to seed certification agency.
5. Assigning seed lot number - types of sample - service sample-certified sample- official
sample- sampling - mixing and dividing.
6. Seed moisture content estimation.
7. Physical purity analysis.
8. Seed germination test and seedling evaluation.
9. Practicing viability test.
 10. Practicing vigour tests.
11. Seed health assessment test.
12. Grow out test and electrophoresis.
13. Pre storage seed treatments and containers - Layout of seed testing laboratory and seed
storage godown.
14. Visit to seed testing laboratory.
15. Visit to grow-out test field.
16. Seed inspection procedures by Seed Inspector at seed retail outlet – Stop Sale Order
17. Final practical examination.
Out come
The students will gain knowledge about the seed quality regulation system, certified
seed production method and seed marketing.

Standard Text Books

1. Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards. 2014. Published by GOI, MOA, New
Delhi.
2. Seed legislations. 2014. Published by GOI, MOA, New Delhi.
Online references
1. www.fao.org
www.seednet.gov.in
www.agricoop.nic.in
2. www.online library.willey.com
3. www.sciencedirect.com
e-journals
1. Seed Science Research (www.jgateplus.com)
2. Seed Science and Technology (www.jgateplus.com)
e- books
1. “Seeds”, Baskin, Carol. Academic Press. (Elsevier e-books)
(ISBN No. 9780124166776).
2. “Seeds” Derek Bewley, Kent. ( Springer e- books) ( www-link-springer.com)
(ISBN NO. 978-1-4614-4693-4)