SEED PRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION
One of the ways of propagating plants is by using sexual seed, it is generally more
used for cereals, forages, fibers, oilseeds, vegetables, ornamentals, and in woody plants,
in many of them because there are no vegetative methods and in others because it is more profitable
or because it is the safest way to obtain healthy plants with the quality we desire. It is because
It is very important to obtain high-quality seeds, that is, high vigor and viability.
Seed production requires practical knowledge of a set of techniques that
difficulties are very variable depending on the species or group of species whose seed is being dealt with
to produce, this demand often leads to a specialization on the part of companies
seed producers.
objectives
Know the different sources of seeds, the methods of collection for later use.
production.
To know the different methods that exist to produce seeds and their application in different
plants.
Determine the conditions required for a seed to be stored without losing its
quality.
I.-BASES OF PRODUCTION:
The production of seeds rests on three fundamental bases:
Availability of qualified seed of the varieties whose seed is desired to be produced.
Selection of one or more suitable production areas for seed production
of such varieties with the quality required by legislation and the market.
Provision of facilities for the handling and storage of seeds.

II.- SEED PRODUCTION METHODS:

The methods used vary depending on the plant species in question and whether the
seed is or is not the normal agricultural product. For example, in cereals and oilseeds, the seed is the
normal agricultural product, but in cotton and fruit vegetables, the seed is a product
secondary obtained usually along with the normal agricultural product.

II. PRODUCTION OF SEED OF AUTOGAMOUS CROPS:

The seeds of autogamous crops, such as rice and beans, can be used in sowing.
consecutive for a few generations, for the production of reproductive material
without noticeable genetic deterioration occurring. Therefore, it is advisable to renew the
reproductive materials with seed produced from genetic seed, under the most
strict quality standards. This renewal is recommended to be done at least every 4 years.
Seed multiplication should be done in geographic areas with favorable climate and for the
which developed the variety. Proper preparation of the planting ground is required and also
that is reasonably isolated from other fields of the same crop to eliminate the danger
of genetic contamination. It is also recommended to plant in rows in order to
facilitate the thinning operations, which consists of carefully examining the
production fields in order to manually remove off-type plants from the
I cultivate like the weeds.
There is no doubt that if during the early phases of seed multiplication the necessary measures are taken.
necessary precautions to avoid genetic or physical contamination, the need to carry out
Intensive thinning, in subsequent phases of seed increase, decreases.
Seed harvesting can be done by mechanical or manual means. The volume of
the seed that is desired to be produced, the availability and the cost of labor determines that
the harvest is done by one method or another.
Harvesting equipment must meet two requirements:
They must be cleaned thoroughly to avoid contamination of the seed with others.
They must be properly adjusted to avoid unnecessary seed loss or damage.
mechanic.
II. PRODUCTION OF SEEDS OF ALLOGAMOUS CROPS:
Seed production requires a series of care and precautions that result in little
importance for autogamous crops.
They are called allogamous species to all those species in whose reproduction the
the percentage of cross-fertilization in the field is above 90%, that group includes
to the plants of great importance for tropical America such as corn and cucurbits.
The planning of seed production requires greater attention to certain details.
end of allowing the acquisition of high-quality seeds and levels of health.
In general, the region where the seed will be produced should have a climate suitable for the
variety in question. Additionally, the region must have a desirable agricultural history and on
All fields must have an adequate soil type, fertility, drainage, and be free
of weeds, of pathogens and pests that remain in the soil.
In order to allow for constant and uninterrupted inspection, it is a requirement that the plots of
production is located in easily accessible areas at all times of the year. The
the choice of farmers is one of the most critical aspects of a program of
seed multiplication, as they must not only be farmers who are familiar with
with the cultivation in question, but also, they must be responsible, capable of receiving
advice and suggestions from the technicians.
The propagation of seeds from allogamous cultivars presents more production problems.
given that these plants tend to have a certain degree of heterozygosity and often the
seedling groups are variable. Most allogamous cultivars come from
breeding systems in which the potential for variation has been controlled. To be successful
 In seed production, it is necessary to maintain those controls, the procedures of which
they vary according to the cultivar.

III. SEED SOURCES:

The multiplication process is one of the most critical phases of a seed program.
since as the seeds multiply, so do the pollutants.
During this stage, the seed lots are exposed to the attack of pathogens and insects.
which can be dragged and increased because of not controlling the process of
Multiplication can easily nullify all the work of the plant breeder due to the little
adaptation by the farmer to seeds produced under inadequate conditions.
Some seeds are obtained by the following means:
Seeds from trees and shrubs are generally collected from plants that do not
cultivated expressly for seed. For reforestation and similar uses, the seeds
Native species can be obtained from natural populations of forests and others.
areas. Those seeds can be collected from fallen trees to obtain wood, from
trees standing or the hiding places of the squirrels.
Seed nurseries, to preserve the source of certain genotypes of seeds in particular.
valuable. In them, it is also possible to maintain a source of plant material that is otherwise.
luck would be difficult to locate, to produce larger quantities of seed than those that
find in nature and prevent contamination with viruses. The seed gardens
They are used to obtain patterns of fruit trees.
The seeds of fruit tree cultivars that are used to produce patterns are
can be obtained as a byproduct from fruit processing industries. By
example: pear seeds can be obtained from pear canners, those of
apple tree of the canneries or cider factories and those of peach and apricot of the
dryers.

IV. HARVESTING OF THE SEEDS:

A seed becomes mature when it has reached a state in which it can be separated from the
plant without harming its germination, there are different procedures for separating the
seed and the fruit as described below:
The field crop seeds that produce indehiscent fruits, such as cereals,
pastures and corn can be harvested with a combine, a machine that in one go
short operation and thresh the stopped plants. Other plants that tend to fall are cut.
they are spread out or laid out to dry and cure before separating the dried fruits. During the
Harvest is important to be during dry weather, as it facilitates drying and curing.
The occurrence of rain leads to the production of weak seeds.
Plants with dry seeds and dehiscent fruits or those that readily disintegrate,
They are cut and placed on a tray or tarp for about three weeks to dry.
To avoid seed losses, the plants in this group should be harvested before
the fruits should be completely ripe and cured or dried before extracting the seeds.
 Plants with fleshy fruits such as tomato, pepper, and several species of cucurbits.
The seeds tend to separate during maturation, even when surrounded by the
pulp of the fruit. The fruits are harvested ripe but in some cases overripe.
When it comes to small quantities, the fruits are opened by taking out their interior.
seeds manually. In commercial harvesting, crushing machines are used.
fruit where the pulp and seed are separated by fermentation, mechanical means or
washing them through screens.
For tree and shrub seeds, both dry and fleshy fruits can be collected.
fleshy parts of trees standing, shaking them over a tarpaulin, hitting them with a pole,
using hooks or picking them up by hand.
The extraction of conifer seeds requires special procedures. The cones of
some species open if left outdoors for two to twelve weeks, others must
to undergo forced drying at high temperatures.
For fleshy fruits, the pulp must be separated quickly to prevent its
decomposition and damage to the seeds. Cleaning can be done by hand, by rubbing in
screens for small seed lots and for large lots it is better to use a
macerator.

V. SEED STORAGE:
When the operations for the extraction and drying of the seeds have been completed, it is necessary
keep them in the best conditions in order to maximize their germinative power and
other quality parameters. The stored seeds constitute a means of production of
primary importance in the plant cultivation programs of a country and represent a link
essential for future generations. In commerce, seed reserves represent a
important proportion of the producers' assets.
The storage period can be relatively short, perhaps only a few weeks,
but it can also happen that a batch of seeds has to be stored for several
years. The storage period should be defined by the total time included between
its maturation and the end of the sowing operations, although a batch of seeds undergoes several
operations such as cleaning and packaging or the waiting period during which it is preserved by the
seller or the farmer before selling it or planting it, but it is important that the total period
from maturity to planting is considered as a storage period because
during this, the seed is subjected to the adverse influences of the environment that may occur in
the warehouse. The stages or phases that comprise the storage of a batch of seeds
include:
Desiccation after maturity.
2. Extraction or threshing of the seed (outdoors or under cover).
3. Seed cleaning (outdoors or under cover).
4. Storage regime (seed storage or deposit).
5. Packaging (usually in structures designed for this purpose).
6. Transportation and distribution.
 7. Marketing.
8. Points of sale.
VI. INFLUENCE OF THE STORAGE ENVIRONMENT ON THE SEED:
The two most important environmental factors that can affect seed quality
During storage, the temperature and relative humidity are important.
Humidity
The seed that is best suited for storage is the one that has a content in
Humidity no greater than 10% of its weight. The metabolic coefficient of the seeds is
extremely low, often undetectable. In this state, it is hydrophilic and is capable of
to absorb water, even from the water vapor in the atmosphere. So no matter how many precautions
they have been taken to reduce their moisture content by drying before the
storage, can quickly absorb water again.
It is necessary to ensure that the moisture of the stored seed is maintained even though in the
externally significantly increase the humidity, this is achieved by maintaining the atmosphere
from the store at least in equilibrium with the moisture of the seed.
VI.2 Temperature:
Temperature is another of the main environmental factors that must be taken into account.
in the storage of seeds. The decrease in seed vitality is
delays better with low temperatures than with relatively high ones and although this principle
it generally applies, even when the storage medium temperature is
below zero degrees, these low temperatures (refrigeration) are used only in
the special storage case for high-value seed lots like germplasm.
The control of temperatures during short-term storage and of surpluses
from the seed batches, it is commonly obtained through ventilation
together with refrigeration, depending on the outside temperature.
The ventilation of seed storage facilities must be considered together with the
relative humidity of the ambient air, because it could be more harmful to the seeds
achieve a lower temperature at the expense of increasing humidity content. By the
On the contrary, adequate ventilation must be achieved to reduce the temperature of
storage and the moisture content of the seeds, when the relative humidity of the
outdoor air is relatively low.

VII. CONSTRUCTION OF THE SEED STORAGE FACILITIES:

Seed warehouses must be designed to achieve maximum security, minimize
the risks of fire, eliminate birds and rodents, and minimize the incidence of insects
and microorganisms.
The ideal construction should consist of thick finely finished concrete floors.
and reinforced with rodent-proof edges. The entrances must open via ramps.
mobiles and the built floor designed to match the load level or height of the
distribution vehicles. The roof should be sloped and have eaves in order to facilitate the
better evacuation of possible torrential rains and provide protection to the openings of
the fans.
The level of hygiene in the warehouse will have a long-term effect on quality and
longevity of the seeds. Only the seed that has reached the final phase of the process must
enter the warehouse and any other material must be excluded. However, in practice, it is
Sometimes it's attractive to use seed banks to manipulate other plant materials.
like dormant bulbs or selected fruits, waiting for the extraction of their seeds,
although this is a mistake as it leads to the introduction of pests and diseases.

VIII. PACKAGING AND LABELS:

The marketing of seeds is mandatory in packaging, as well as labels even in
the common seeds, in addition all used containers must be new and the labeling according to the
seed category; all of this is generally ignored even by the traders of
formal seeds.
A wide range of materials and types of packaging is used for seeds such as bags of
sackcloth, cotton, paper, polyethylene, jute or aluminum foil. The selection of the material and
size depends on some aspects related to the level of development of the industry of the
seeds
necessary against accidents such as rain, high relative humidity, rodents, insects, pathogens
and the handling volume in transportation.

IX. SEED QUALITY:

It refers to a high germinative vigor capacity to ensure rapid
implementation of the crop. Longevity is determined by three historical moments
lived by her which are:
Pre-harvest condition.
2. Harvesting and processing conditions.
3. Storage condition in post-harvest.
Any of these moments can impair the germination capacity of the seed.
germination results will indicate if a batch should be considered for storage
as seed or discarded. It should be repeated during storage to ensure that it has not been
deteriorated.
Fungal problems, mechanical damage where the damage is irreversible, and the
seed is not recovered. In addition to the germination test, viability and ... tests are conducted.
purity to ensure that the seed is of good quality.

X. SEED CERTIFICATION:
It helps to ensure the authenticity of the variety and the quality factors of a
selected portion of the seed available in a country. Although the authenticity of a variety does not
it implies uniformity.
Steps of a Certification Program:
 Determine the eligibility of the varieties.
Verification of the seed source.
Inspection in the field.
Sampling of processed seed.
Seed testing and evaluation to check quality
The management of the control and variety plots.
According to the General Seed Law, there are six categories of seeds:
Genetic seed: it is the original seed or creation resulting from the work of the plant breeder.
Basic or foundation seed: obtained as the first multiplication from the
genetic seed produced under the supervision of the plant breeder.
Registered seed: it is obtained from the basic seed subjected to a process of
certification with strict controls that meet established minimum requirements.
Certified seed: it comes from the basic or registered seed and is subjected to a
certification process with strict controls and field verifications.
Authorized seed: it has varietal purity, meeting the required standards for the
certified seed, except regarding its origin.
Common seed: meets the minimum quality and health requirements without being subject to the
required for the previous categories.

XI. SEED PRODUCTION OF SOME SPECIES:

In general, the seed production method followed for any plant is very similar,
Here I will point out some points that are more effective for the production of seeds of certain
species.

XI.1 SEEDS OF FOREST SPECIES:

Seed collection is done according to the phenological calendar of each species, collecting the
seed fallen to the ground, from the layers of fallen trees or from those that are standing, being this
last the best method since that way one has the security that the seed
It comes from the seedling tree and ensures seed production for several years. It can be
collect with telescopic scissors, ladders, pruning shears, saw, etc.
After the seed is separated from the fruit, it enters a laboratory to evaluate purity.
humidity, health and germination, according to this they are packaged and marketed.
XI.2 ALFALFA SEED:
Alfalfa is a deep-rooted, perennial plant that is durable with a wide adaptation.
tolerates acidity and some salinity but grows better when the pH is neutral, requires
good drainage and since it has a deep root, it can produce good forage and seed.
Alfalfa seed production in Canada has expanded since the introduction of
pollinator (the leafcutting bee). This seed can be produced economically where
I want the environmental conditions to be sufficient for their growth and
pollination.
All the conditions given above are very important for production of
seeds, but the key point, or the most important one is the use of pollinators (bees
lefcutling) which is the only one in Canada that can be effectively counted on (the bees
natives are not so efficient.
The proper system consists of placing the optimal number of bees towards the harvest in the
appropriate time to achieve high yields and a suitable return of viable bees
during the following year.
The bee is social, which is why it can be bred and managed as a pollinator of the harvest.
prefers hot, dry days with temperatures above 69 °C
The bee was accidentally introduced to the USA and when its potential as a pollinator was
A new pollinator industry has been developed.
One way to present alfalfa seed is pelleting, which involves coating the seed.
with a layer of:
Inoculant that has different strains of Rhizobium to ensure nodulation.
Organic support, mineral and sugars.
Apron MR Fungicide
Calcium carbonate
All this is essential to protect the seed and maintain a high number of bacteria.
pelleted seeds come ready to be sown. In the soil, they are usually found
Rhizobium bacteria but are not available in sufficient quantities for an occurrence to happen.
efficient nodulation. Coating provides the correct strains of Rhizobium and in the
necessary amounts for each plant to express its full yield potential.
The peeling protects the seeds from high temperatures, alkaline and acidic soils.
also protects Rhizobium from dehydration in dry conditions and from acidity of
fertilizer; it also prevents the seed from having false starts.
XI.3 VEGETABLE SEED:
There are two means available to farmers to ensure the supply of seeds with
destination for the production of the next generation of vegetable crops. One is to use
seeds obtained from their own crops and another is to acquire it from somewhere else.
In many countries, there has long been a seed production industry.
well-developed and efficient horticultural.
The main areas for seed production are based on climatic factors.
that ensure a relatively satisfactory means of obtaining plant seeds
horticultural. Among these factors are included not only sufficient rainfall to ensure
the complete development and maturation of the seeds, but relatively summers and autumns
dry with some rain and enough wind for the seeds to mature and for the
collection operations can be carried out with minimal deterioration. It is
particularly important that the seeds of vegetable plants are sufficiently
droughts in collection.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Hartmann H.T, Kester D.E, Davies F.T, Geneve R.L. 1997. Plant Propagation Principles
and Practices. 6th Edition. Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Galarreta J.L. (August) 1992. Bulletin of the Peruvian Society of Horticulture.
(New lines of horticultural seeds. Gold Seed).
Emanuel K, Giesecke U, Gomez D. 1997. Prefeasibility study for the
relaunch of the analysis and marketing unit for forest seeds of the
UNALM. (Thesis)
George R. 1989. Production of seeds of horticultural plants. Mundi-prensa Editions.
Madrid.
Foundation for the development of agriculture. Lima August 24–25, 1989. The seed Germination
of a New Era. 2nd Annual Seed Seminar.
International Potato Center (Monares Anibal). 1989. Economics of the Industry of
Seeds in Peru with Emphasis on Potato and Vegetable Crops.
Ashworth, S. 1991. Seed to seed. Seed Saber Publications. RR 3, Box 239. Decorah, Iowa
52101.
Ahuja, M.R. and W.L. Libby. 1993. Clonal Forestry: I. Genetics and Biotechnology. II.
Conservation and application. Springer-Verlag. New York.
Anonymous. 1994. Congressional passage of new PvP law a triumph for seed industry.
Diversity.
Ball, [Link]. 1991. Ball red book. Greenhouse growing (15 ed.). West Chicago, IL. Geo.J.
Ball [Link].
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Production of seeds of grasses from climate tempered
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