Seed

Biocontrol agents and biofertilizers are compatible. Biocontrol agents are applied first, followed by Rhizobium. Biocontrol agents and fungicides are incompatible. Treat the seeds with Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seed or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg seed. Treat the seeds with Thiram or Mancozeb @ 4 g/kg of seed or Carboxin or Carbendazim at 2 g/kg of seed. Treatment with Trichoderma can be done just before sowing

Seed certification is a legally recognised technique for ensuring the quality of seed production and multiplication. Seed certification is done to ensure quality of seed and propogating materials . It helps in maintaining genetic purity and genetic identity of varieties grown and distributed.

The amount of contamination by seeds or genetic material from other types or species is referred to as genetic purity. The purity of the seed planted determines the genetic purity of every commercial agricultural product propagated by seed. The success of hybrid seed production is dependent on the genetic purity of parental lines. Genetic purity tests are critical tools for seed producers and plant breeders.

Classification of seed lot based on commercial usage viz., size shape, density and colour is known as grading. It is done further improvement of seed lots as finishing operation. It improves the seed lot by removal of cracked, damaged, shriveled and other defective seeds apart from inert matter.

In soyabean seed treatment is done using fungicides. Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers. First treat the seeds with biocontrol agents and then with Rhizobium. Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible. Treat the seeds with Carbendezim or  Thiram @ 2g/kg of seed 24hrs before sowing or with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seed (or) Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg seed. Coat the seeds with ZnSO4 @ 300 mg/kg using 10% maida solution as adhesive (250 ml/ kg) or gruel and arappu leaf powder (250 g/kg) as carrier to increase the field stand.

Breeder seed is seed or vegetative propagating material directly controlled by the originating or sponsoring plant breeder of the breeding programme or institution and/ or seed whose production is personally supervised by a qualified plant breeder and which provides the source for the initial and recurring increase of foundation seed.  Breeder seed shall be genetically so pure as to guarantee that in the subsequent generation i.e. certified foundation seed class shall confirm to the prescribed standards of genetic purity.  The other quality factors of breeder seed such as physical purity, inert matter, germination etc. shall be indicated on the label on actual basis. A golden yellow colour certificate is issued for this category of seed by the producing breeder.

Foundation seed is the progeny of breeder seed and is produced by State Farm Corporation of India, National Seed Corporation, State seed Corporation under technical control of qualified plant breeders or technical officers. Its production is supervised and approved by certification agency. The genetic purity of foundation seed should be maintained at 99.5 per cent. A white colour certificate is issued for foundation seed by seed certification agencies.

Seeds are classified as good on the basis of genetic purity, physical purity, and high pure seed percentage. Seed should be free from designated diseases like loose smut in wheat ,free from objectionable weed seed like wild paddy in paddy, have good shape, size, colour, etc. according to specifications of variety, have high physical soundness and weight, posses high physiological vigour and stamina , Posses high longevity and shelf life and have optimum moisture content for storage.

Seed dressing is a method of seed treatment. The seed is dressed with either a dry formulation or wet treated with a slurry or liquid formulation. Dressings can be applied at both, the farm and industries. Low cost earthen pots can be used for mixing pesticides with seed or seed can be spread on a polythene sheet. The required quantity of chemical can be sprinkled on the seed lot and mixed mechanically by the farmers.