SEED PRODUCTION AND SEED STORAGE

The cultural practices in seed production are identical with those applied for normal market
production. However, there are some requirements that seed production differed from normal market
production.

The requirements are as follows:

1. Seed source. The use of an appropriate class and approved source is necessary for raising a seed
crop. There are four classes of seeds, namely, breeder’s seeds, foundation seed, registered seed,
and certified seeds are generally recognized in seed certification.
The following annual crops are approved by the National Seed Industry Council which is
eligible for seed certification.

1. rice 6. cotton
2. corn 7. sorghum
3. peanut 8. wheat
4. mungbean 9. tobacco
5. soybean 10. white potato

The National Seed Industry Council is the new name of the Philippine Seed board as per
Republic Act No. 7308 since March 27, 1992.
The members of the council are as follows:
1. Secretary, Department of Agriculture- Chairman
2. Director, Bureau of Plant and Industry- Vice Chairman and Executive Director
3. Dean, UPCA- Member
4. Director, Institute of Plant Breeding- Member
5. Crops Research Director PCARRD - Member
6. Director, Phil Rice- Member
7. Two representatives from accredited farmer’s organization
8. One representative from the seed industry

2. Isolation. It is required when raising a seed crop to avoid contamination due to natural cross
pollination and disease infection caused by wind and insects from neighboring field during
sowing, harvesting, threshing and handling of seed to avoid mechanical mixture.

3. Field Inspection. The role of seed inspector is obligatory to check the isolation distance
requirement, off types, presence of other crops weeds and diseses.

4. Roguing. Roguing is the process of removing undesirable plants from the main crop. Such plants
are commonly called rogues and they may be weeds, plants of other crop species, plants of
another cultivar of the same species, or off-type plants i.e. genetic variants which have arisen
within the cultivar.

Factors to Consider in Determining Distinctness of the Crop

1. Maturity. Various crop species reach maturity stage at different time

2. Morphological differences:
a) growth habits
 b) leaves and stems
c) flowers and fruits
3..Uniformity of the cultivar.

Timing of Roguing

Roguing should be done several times at different stages of the crop development. The best
time is when the crop is in full bloom for during this stage cultivar characters are most fully expressed
and differences are most obvious.
In cross-pollinated crops roguing should be done at an earlier growth stage before pollen is
released. In maize, roguing is done when the crop is shoulder height for at this stage rogues are easily
observed.

4. Climate. Similar climatic factors which influence the growing of commercial crops also act on
seed production. However it is advisable to select a dry climate or at least a season with low air
humidity. A hot and dry atmosphere is recommended. This condition is unfavorable for growth of
pests and disease and enhances the drying of the seeds.

For some seeds needs cool temperature in order for the plants to induce flowering, this is
vernalization.

6. Time of harvesting. Delaying harvest after seed maturation is the same as “storing” seeds in
the field under unfavorable levels of humidity and temperature. Theoretically, seeds should be
harvested at the point of physiological maturity. Physiological maturity of seed is defined as the
maturity of a seed when it reaches its maximum viability /germination and vigor capability. In some
species, this may occur prior to the normal harvest date. However, high seed moisture is a problem
at this stage.

Seed Processing and Drying

1. Seed Threshing/ Seed extraction

a. Seeds drying on the plant. Example: peanut, mungbean, rice
b. Seeds in moist fleshy fruits. Example: eggplant
c. Seed in wet fleshy fruit: Example: tomato
2. Drying of Seeds
.
Lower drying temperature for seeds having high moisture content is necessary to avoid
injury. Very moist seed with a moisture content of 18%, the drying temperature must not exceed
35°C. Under 18% moisture, the seed can safely be dried with air of 35-40°C and under 10% with air
of 45°C. The seed must be dried to a moisture content of not more than 8% for oily seeds (Brassica
and cucurbits) or for very small seeds, and not more than 14% for large seeds; corn, rice, and
legumes.

Seed Testing

A. Reasons of Testing Seeds

1. To determine the quality or suitability of seeds for planting purposes.

 2. To obtain information for labeling purposes, especially for seed dealers.
3. It is a basis for seed storage and seed disposal.
4. It determines the pricing of seeds.
5. For evaluation of research.

C. Seed Quality Attributes

The quality attributes which significantly affect their suitability for planting are as follows:
1. Physical purity
2. Germination or viability
3. Moisture content
4. Varietal purity
5. Incidence of noxious weeds
6. Density
7. Vigor
8. Incidence of seedborne diseases

Under the Philippine condition, only the first four mentioned above are routinely evaluated,
although tests for seedborne diseases and vigor are done as necessary. Other attributes are evaluated,
if requested.

D. Classes of Seeds Recognized in the Philippine Seed Certification Scheme

1 Breeder seed. It is a limited amount of seed used by the plant breeder in actual breeding or
maintaining a strain or a variety. It is the purest in terms of varietal purity. Breeder seeds
are tagged with white tags

2. Foundation seed. This is the progeny of breeder seed ; used as planting stock for registered
and foundation seed.. It is issued with red tag by the seed certifying agency.
3. Registered seed. This shall be the progeny of foundation seed. It shall be handled to
maintain satisfactory its genetic identity and purity as designated by the seed certifying
agency. It is issued with green tag.

4. Certified seed. This shall be the progeny of foundation seed or registered seed and produced
with proper care to maintain its genetic identity and purity. This is issued with blue tag.

Seed Storage

The purpose of seed storage is to preserve the high germination and vigor of the seed from
harvest to planting time.

Factors Affecting the Quality of Seeds in Storage:

1. Conditions of seeds when placed in storage, which includes;

1) Quality of the seed.
2) Maturity stage.
3) Mechanical injury.
4) Insect infestation.
5) Diseases
6) Initial moisture content when placed in storage.
2. Nature of the seeds themselves;
1) Kind or variety of the seeds.
2) Oily or starchy.

3. Moisture- moisture content of seed influences the rate of degeneration or deterioration process in
seeds.
The higher the moisture content, the faster is the deterioration of the seed in storage.
4. Temperature - temperature is another important environmental factor in influencing the loss of
viability in seed.

1) For every decrease of 5 0 C, the life of the seed is doubled. This rule applies at best
between 00C to 500C.
2) For every decrease of 1% seed moisture the life of the seed is doubled. This applies
between 4% to 14% seed moisture.
5. Other factors that influences the life of the seed in storage are oxygen and CO 2 content around the
seed; direct sunlight on the seed; effect of seed treatment; and attack of rodent, insects and molds.

Maintaining Seed in Storage

Storage Types
1) Ordinary storage. Seeds are kept in their natural conditions, in cloth or jute bags, paper
packets, or in loosely covered containers and stored under ordinary room temperature.
This condition, however, permits seeds to absorb or loose moisture depending on the
prevailing atmospheric conditions. Germination in this case decreases drastically after one
or two months of storage.

Effect of packaging materials/containers on storage of seed

2) Air conditioned storage. This is similar to ordinary storage except that room temperature
is maintained usually at about 18-20 oC. Under this conditions, dry vegetable seed can
be kept for about 8 months before germination decreases.
 3) Refrigerated “dry” storage. Stored seeds maintained at low moisture content (6-8% dry
seed storage) in a refrigerated room maintained at 10 oC. This will enable seed
moisture and temperature, the two (2) most important environmental factors affecting
germination or viability of stored seeds to be controlled. Under this condition, seeds
can be kept for several years without loss of germination.

Among the different storage method mentioned, the refrigerated dry seed storage
method is the ideal storage that can be used by seed-importers-distributors and
producers handling bulk of seed.

4) Cryogenic storage. This is used when seed needs to be stored for a long period. Such
seeds are held in liquid nitrogen at –196 °C. The practical use of this method of storage is
limited by the small size of the cryogenic tank. It is widely used by germplasm bank for
long term storage.
5) Storage provided with dessicant. Silica gel, calcium chloride, or charcoal, absorbs
moisture and dries the storage atmosphere. For large seed lots, dehumidify the storage
room using dehumidifiers.

6) Containerized seed storage. A method of seed storage where usually high value
germplasm materials are maintained in specially constructed rooms, equipped with
dehumidifiers and other environmental control systems.
7) Hermetic storage
Seal seed of 6-8 and moisture content in a vapor/water-proof container like tin cans,
cellophane- aluminum polyethylene packets, glass jars or bottles. The plastic bags are not
vapor-proof but vapor resistant. They are not as effective as the vapor-proof containers for
prolonged storage. The tin cans require mechanical sealer, while plastic bags needs heat
sealing.

Effect of fungi, and insect pests on seed storage

Fungi — Most seed storage fungi are inhibited when the relative humidity is kept below
65%. At this relative humidity the moisture content of starchy seeds is about 13%, and oily seeds
about 7%.

The major effects of fungi are to:

decrease viability;
produce toxins that affect seed viability and germination;
increase heat production – important in large seed lots; and,
cause discoloration, and caking.

Insects — In hot, humid climates, mites, weevils, flour beetles, and borers can be a serious
problem in stored seed, but if the seed is dried to 8% moisture content and the temperature reduced to
18 to 20oC insects should not be a problem. At a moisture content of 15% and a temperature of 30 to
35oC, they can become very destructive. Mites will not survive when the relative humidity is below
60% (Bewley and Black, 1985).

Classification of seeds based on their storage life

a. Macrobiotic (long lived) seeds. Life span from 15 to more than 100 years
 Examples:
1. Lupine seeds buried in peat bog for 10,000 years (Canada)
2. Indian lotus seeds over 1,000 years old (Manchuria)
3. Seeds that had been collected 100 years previously ( National Museum of Paris)
4. Trifolium

b. Mesobiotic. Life span varies from 3 to 15 years. Examples. Barley, flax, carrot, tall fescue

c. Microbiotic (short lived) seeds. Life span does not exceed 3 years. Examples: Soybean, onion,
wild rice, river maple (may be few days only.

Kinds of true botanical seed

a. Orthodox. Seeds that can be dried at low moisture and can be kept for longer periods.
Includes most cereal grains, and most vegetables.
b. Recalcitrant.
o Typically have fleshy or juicy layers and impermeable testa.
o Higher moisture content (50-70%) than orthodox at maturity
o Seeds are larger than orthodox types, but embryos are smaller (15%)
o Difficult to store (shorter storage life than orthodox seeds). Examples: jackfruit, citrus,
mango, chayote
o Do not experience dormancy

TRIVIA -CROP SCIENCE

Nemesio V. Tamayo, Ph.D.

Professor IV,CLSU
Biofuel- fuel made from biological materials: a renewable fuel that is derived from biological matter,
e.g. biodiesel, biogas, and methane.

The Philippines Biofuel Law (RA 9367)

 Mandates blending 5% ethanol with gasoline in 2 years;
10% in 4 years.
 “Sweet sorghum Sorghum bicolor is going to be a major player in the country,s drive toward
energy dependence because of its many uses” according to former Secretary of Agriculture
Arthur Yap”.
 Sweet sorghum has high sweetness at around 18.5 brix depending on the variety.
 It is use as feed, ethanol due to high octane content than cassava, corn and sugarcane.
 Crops for bioethanol making are sugarcane, cassava, and corn.
 Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) lead the research on sweet sorghum in the Philippines.
 Rusni distilleries in India runs the world’s first commercially sweet sorghum ethanol plant.
 William Dar a Filipino is the Director General of ICRISAT in India provided seed samples of
various varieties of sweet sorghum in MMSU for research and multiplication.
 The largest producer of ethanol from sweet sorghum is Brazil.

Species of tuba-tuba
1. Jathropa curcas . It is also called physic nut. It is used to produce biodiesel.
2. Jathropa aconifolia. The leaves are boiled and eaten by the Maya.
3. Jathropa cuneata. The stems are used for basket making.

Rice in the Philippines

 The Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) is pushing for the use of rainfed-land-
suitable high-yielding, disease-resistant rice varieties that can significantly contribute to the
country’s effort to reduce rice import-dependence.
 "The country must be able to increase productivity tremendously if it wants to achieve a
semblance of food security and end the dependence on imported rice," said by former Philrice
Director Leocadio S. Sebastian.
 Two bacterial leaf blight (BLB) resistant varieties are being pushed for a more massive
commercial propagation by Philrice, the Tubigan 7 and Tubigan 11.
 With resistance to BLB, a disease manifested by leaf wilting, Tubigan 7 can escape damage
(which can reach to 40-50 percent of harvest) and retain yield of five to six metric tons per
hectare which is already a high yield for inbred rice varieties.
 Rice authorities believe that the use of these high yielding varieties has become imperative in
the country’s aim to cut rice import which can reach to 2.7 to three million MT this year,
according to estimates.
 Tubigan 7 is a recommended variety especially in light of the present rainy season planting.
 Tubigan 7 is the first biotech rice varieties in the Philippines. The first product of mid-level
biotech technique called marker aided selection. Tubigan 7 is also known as NSIC Rc 142.
 Biotechnology advocates have been pushing for the use of new rice varieties since this is now
an important factor in raising the country’s rice production with limited land much of which
is also now being converted to other crops like corn that requires less water.
  Philrice noted that compared to world’s biggest rice producers-exporters—Thailand has 9.9
million hectares of rice fields and Vietnam has 7.5 million hectares of rice land. The
Philippines only has 1.9 million hectares of rainfed rice farms.
 "In 2004, the Philippines only harvested from 4.12 million hectares of land while Vietnam
profited from 9.82 million hectares of land that grew rice.“
 Farmers should take advantage of the fact that government has been able to develop better
inbred varieties faster through more advanced biotechnology techniques like molecular
marker-assisted breeding.
 "While the development of conventional rice takes between eight and 10 years, genetically
enhanced varieties using the tools of biotechnology would take only five years to develop.
While the initial cost of cultivating biotech rice is higher, the long-term benefit is positive
since the gross income of individual farmers would rise by at least 26 percent," Sebastian
said.
 Tapuy or rice wine produced commercially by Philrice. A licence to operate was already
approved by Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).
 Basmati rice comes from India.

Banana

Banana varieties
1. Cavendish for export.
2. Lakatan and Latundan are the varieties for local market.

The world banana producers

1. India 25% of the world production
2. Brazil and Ecuador, 9%
3. Philippines and China, 8%
4. Indonesia, 6%
5. Costa Rica, 3%
Mango

Sweet Elena a promising variety of carabao mango, which produces big fruits weighing 350 to 450
grams per fruit.
 The fruits are sweet and submitted to the Guinness Book of World Record as candidate for
the sweetest mango in the world.
 At Grace farms in Kabacan, Cotabato a 1 hectare scion grove of Sweet Elena is being
established to produce scion for massive propagation of the variety.

 India is the country that consumed the largest quantity of pigeonpea.

 China is considered the largest peanut producing country.
 Abaca, known worldwide as Manila hemp, is one of the country’s major agricultural exports
and dollar earners.