HOR18503 Fundamentals of Seed Production and
Quality Control in Horticultural Crops (2+1)
SEED PROCESSING
NAME:J JAIGANESH
REG NO:RA1871001010017
Seed processing
• The process of removal of dockage in a seed lot and preparation of seed for
marketing is called seed processing.
• Seed processing is also called as the seed conditioning.
• The processes involved include drying, threshing, precleaning, cleaning,
size grading, treating, quality testing, packaging and labelling.
Requirement in seed processing
• Should be complete separation
• In this process should be minimum
seed loss
• Upgrading should be possible for
any particular quality
• There should be have more
efficiency. It should have only
minimum requirement.
Properties of good seed
Quality seed must meet certain quality standards according to the
laboratory:
• Moisture content
• Physical purity
• Germination capacity
• Seed health
• Genetic or varietal purity
Benefits of seed processing
• To enhanced purity, health and germination, well-cleaned and good
quality seeds have other benefits, all of which increase their market
value: improved visual appearance, reduced seed rate, uniform
emergence and crop stand, high yield and long shelf-life.
Methods used for Seed Processing
i)Seed Drying
ii)Seed Cleaning
iii)Seed Grading
iv)Seed treatment
v)Seed Packaging
vi)Seed storage
vii)Seed Labeling
i)Seed drying
• Drying reduces the moisture content of the seed to the recommended
levels for seed processing and storage.
• Drying seeds not only increases longevity in storage, but also prevents
attack by pests and pathogens.
There are two types of drying:
i)Natural drying
ii)Artificial drying
i)Natural drying
• Seed are dried under sunlight the seeds are spreaded neatly in the
clean and dry place, the temperature should not exceed 35˚C.
• If the temperature goes beyond the maximum the seeds get spoiled .
• Once the seed is sufficiently dry, take
samples to determine the moisture
content using a hand-held moisture
meter.
ii)Artificial drying
• Artificial drying is the mechanical seed drying method. Simple mechanical
dryers offer an effective solution.
• Unlike traditional sun drying, heated
dryer helps to permit the uniform
air conditions.
• Mechanical seed drying produces the
better quality of seed and we can adjust
according to our moisture content
needed.
Seed cleaning
Pre-cleaning:
• It is the rapid removal of material that are non-seed material which is
larger or smaller the seeds.
• It may also include the removal of awns or beards.
Basic cleaning:
• In this method improves the physical
purity and removes all the undesirable
materials from the seed.
Seed treatment
• Seed treatment is the exposure of seed to certain chemical or physical
agents which prevent from pest and maintain the seed quality.
• Before going to this process all possible contaminants have been
removed and the seed has been graded.
• Seed protection product comes in the form of
i)powders- apply directly on the seed
ii)wettable liquids/powder-mixed in the
water and applied as coating to the seed in
specially designed treating machine
Seed packaging
• Seeds are packed in bags of appropriate quality and size.
• Choice of packing material depends upon type of crop, number of
seed and storage conditions. Package the cleaned seed in a suitable
material
• Packaging materials are of three types.
i)Moisture-vapour resistance, e.g. polythene
ii)Moisture-vapour permeable, e.g. cloth, paper bags
iii)Moisture-vapour proof, e.g., Tin cans
Seed storage
• Seed storage is the preservation of seeds under controlled environmental
conditions which will prolong the viability of the seeds for long periods.
i)Cotton bags can be re-used. They provide limited protection against
moisture and pests.
ii)Jute bags are resistant, can be re-used many
times.
iii) Polyethylene zip lock bags may be used
provided the seed has been adequately dried.
but it is very expensive.
Seed labelling
• Seed labelling is very important for packaging, if the bags are labelled
the bags has passed the quality control tests.
• All seed bags must carry printed information about;
• i) Crop
• ii)Variety
• iii)Class of seed
• iv)Name & address of producer
• v)Physical purity (%)
• vi)Genetic purity (%)
• vii)Moisture (%)