Sub.:- Principles of Seed Technology
Course No. :- APB- 5221
Credit hours:- 3(1+2)
Lec. No.-1 :- Seed and seed Technology
Presented by:-
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya
Raipur, C.G.
Presented by:-
Lt. Roshan Parihar, Asstt. Professor (GPB)
Deptt. of Genetics & Plant Breeding
BTC College of Agriculture & Research Station
,Sarkanda, Bilaspur,(CG)-495001

Introduction of Seed production
Introduction contains the topicsIntroduction contains the topics
1.Definition1.Definition and scope ofand scope of
seed and seed technologyseed and seed technology..seed and seed technologyseed and seed technology..
2.Concept of Seed Quality.2.Concept of Seed Quality.
3.Categories3.Categories and classes ofand classes of
seeds.seeds.

What is seed?
• A seed, stands for any of the following used
for sowing or planting,
• i. Seeds of food crops including edible oil
seeds and seeds of fruit and vegetables
• ii. Cotton seeds
• iii. Seeds of cattle fodder
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• iii. Seeds of cattle fodder
• iv. Jute seeds
• v. Seedlings, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, roots,
cuttings, all types of grafts and other
vegetatively propagated material for food
crops or cattle fodder.

Seed:A true seed is a
reproductive unit that develops from
ovules and contains an embryo
sporophyte and food reserves; the
Definitions
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sporophyte and food reserves; the
food is located either in embryo
itself or in some external storage
tissue; it is the fertilized mature
ovule.

Seed
2. A mature ovule consisting of an
embryonic plant together with a
store of food, all surrounded by a
protective coat.
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protective coat.
3. Any plant part used for the
purpose of further propagation or
multiplication.it is also termed as
Propagule.

Concept of seed technology
Difference between seed and grain is vital.
• The main concept is to harness the potential
of embryo , the embedded living portion
with in the food storage tissue. Its main work
is to protect the biological entity and lookis to protect the biological entity and look
after its welfare.
• When we deal the second component ,the
food storage tissue welfare and quality than
we deal the food technology

Difference between scientifically produced seed and the
grain (used as seed)
S.
No
Scientifically produced seed Grain (used as seed)
01 It is the results of well planned seed
production programme.
It is the part of commercial
produce, saved for
sowing/ planting
purposes.
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02
03
It is the result of sound Scientific
knowledge, organized effort,
investment on processing, storage
and marketing facilities.
The pedigree of the seed is
ensured. It can be related to the
initial breeders seed.
No such knowledge or
effort is required.
Its varietal purity is
unknown.

Difference between scientifically produced seed and the
grain (used as seed)
4 The seed is tested for planting
quality, namely, germination, purity
admixture of weed seeds and other
crop seeds, seed health and seed
moisture content.
Routine seed testing is not done
5 The seed is scientifically
processed, treated and packed and
The grain used as seed may be
manually cleaned. In some cases,
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processed, treated and packed and
labeled with proper lot identity.
manually cleaned. In some cases,
prior to sowing it may also be
treated. This is not labeled
6 During production effort is made to
rogue out off types, diseased plants
Objectionable weeds and other crop
plants at appropriate stages of crop
growth which ensures satisfactory
seed purity and health.
No such effort is made. Hence, the
purity and health status may be
inferior.

Concept of Seed quality fo'ks"krk] xq.k]
• Genetic purity (Trueness to the parent type)
identical in plant agronomic and other
characters.
• Physical purity ( Seed lot should be of same• Physical purity ( Seed lot should be of same
kind , free from inert matter,broken grains
less than half in size, soil and dust
particle,chaff etc).
• Seed germination and vigour.

• Planting value (It is the real worth of seed)
It is calculated by pure live seed percentage.PLS
PLS= Pure seed % ⁄ 100 X Germina on % / 100 X 100.
• Freedom from weeds and other crop seeds.
• Seed health (Absence of disease and pest on
seed lot).
• Seed moisture (Seed must be dried to safe
moisture content)

Other seed characteristics
• Seed size (Should be higher)
• Seed weight (Should be higher)
• Seed specific gravity (Should be higher)
• Seed colour (seed shine indicates seed• Seed colour (seed shine indicates seed
quality and health )
SEED QUALITY : It is the degree of excellence
in regard to the characteristics referred above
that determines the seed quality

Role of Seed / Seed Technology
1. A carrier of new technology. (112 % in
cereals, 124 % in potatoes, 142 % in sugar beet reported in
central Europe)
2. A basic tool for secured food supply.
3. A principal means to secure crop
yield in less favorable areas of
production.
4. A medium for rapid rehabilitation of
agriculture in case of natural disaster.

What is Seed Technology ?
Seed technology is the creation and
application of the knowledge on
seed for its better usage in
agriculture.
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agriculture.
That discipline of study having to do
with seed production, maintainence,
quality and preservation (Cowan
1973)

Goals/Aims of Seed Technology
1. Rapid multiplication of popular
varieties.
2. Timely supply of improves
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2. Timely supply of improves
seeds/Propagules in time and space.
3. Assurance of high quality seeds.
4. Availability of seeds at a reasonable
price

Scope of Seed Technology /
1. Provision of scientific technique for Seed
production .
2. Provision of guidelines to maintain the
seed certification standards.
3. Adequate and timely supply of seeds on the
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3. Adequate and timely supply of seeds on the
market.
4. Provision of technical knowledge to check
the govt. statutory guidelines of seed
standards.

Classes of seed/ chtks dk ntkZ
•Nucleus or Basic Seed /
BREEDER SEED
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• BREEDER SEED
• FOUNDATION SEED/
• CERTIFIED SEED

pj.k /Stages I of Seed production
Nucleus Seed
BREEDER SEED
FOUNDATION SEEDFOUNDATION SEED
CERTIFIED SEED
Farmers field

Stages II of Seed production
Nucleus Seed I
BREEDER SEED I
Nucleus Seed II
BREEDER SEED II
FOUNDATION SEED I
CERTIFIED SEED I
Farmers field
FOUNDATION SEED II
CERTIFIED SEED II

Nucleus or Basic Seed
Nucleus seed (or basic seed) is
the original or first seed (=
propagating material) of a
variety available with the
producing breeder or any other
recognized breeder of the crop.
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recognized breeder of the crop.
This seed has 100% genetic and
physical purity along with high
standards of all other seed
quality parameters.

BREEDER SEED
• Breeder seed is the progeny of
the nucleus seed and is the
source for foundation seed.
• Its production is directly
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• Its production is directly
controlled by the originating
plant breeder who developed
the variety, or any other
institution or qualified breeder
recognized by the authorities.

FOUNDATION SEED
• It is the progeny of breeder
seed or certified Foundation
Seed itself.
• When it is the progeny of
breeder seed it is called
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breeder seed it is called
Foundation Seed Stage I.
• When it is the progeny of
certified foundation seed-I, it
is called; Foundation Seed
Stage II

CERTIFIED SEED
• Certified seed is the seed,
which is certified by a Seed
Certification Agency notified
under section 8 of the Indian
Seeds Act (1966) or by any
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Seeds Act (1966) or by any
other foreign certification
agency provided the concerned
agency is recognized by the
Government of India through
notification in the Official
Gazette.

CERTIFIED SEED
• Generally, it is known as
the progeny of
foundation seed and its
production is so handled
as to maintain specified
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as to maintain specified
genetic identity and
purity standards as
prescribed for the crop
being certified.

Types of Certified Seed
Certified Seed
Certified Foundation Stage I & II
Certified Seed Stage I & II

Seed multiplication system
• A. Three - Generation model
Breeder seed - Foundation seed - Certified seed
• B. Four - Generation model
Breeder seed - Foundation seed (I) FoundationBreeder seed - Foundation seed (I) Foundation
seed (II) - Certified seed
• C. Five - Generation model
Breeder seed - Foundation seed (I)- Foundation
seed (II) -Certified seed (I) - Certified seed (II)

Colour of certification tags
for different classes of seeds
1.Basic or Nucleus seed: Tag is not used
Certificate given by breeder
2.Breeder seed: Golden brown
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2.Breeder seed: Golden brown

3.Foundation seed: White tag

4.Certified seed:Blue
[shade ISI No.104 Azure blue]

Importance of Seed Production
• Multiplication of superior varieties.
• Availability of superior varieties to
masses
• Maintenance of genetic purity.
• Supply of high quality seeds with
excellent quality.excellent quality.
• Seeds have high germination status.
• Seeds have high vigour and viability
status.
• Seeds have high physical purity.
• It maintains the excellent health
status of seed