University of Agricultural
Sciences, Dharwad
SST -
503 From,
Deepika M
Dept of Seed
Science and
Technology
FACTORS
INFLUENCING
SEED
PRODUCTION
SEED PRODUCTION:
Production of genetically pure seeds otherwise
good quality seeds which requires high technical
skills and comparatively heavy financial
investment.
• During seed production, strict attention must
be given to the maintenance of genetic purity
and other qualities of seed.
• Seed production must be carried out under
standardized and well- organized conditions.
Factors influencing seed production
are:
1. Selection of suitable agro-climatic region:
Variety should be adapted to photoperiod and
temperature of that area.
Moderate rainfall and humidity is good for seed
production.
Dry sunny period and moderate temperature for
pollination.
• General regions with extreme summer heat &
very cold winters should be avoided for seed
2. Selection of seed plot:
Seed plot should have following characters:
Soil texture & fertility should be according to the
requirement of the seed crops.
Should be free from volunteer plants, weed plants &
other crop plants.
The soil should be comparatively free from soil-borne
diseases & insect pests.
• In the preceding season the same crop should have
not been grown on this land, if it is so required by
seed certification standards.
• It should be feasible to isolate the plot as per
requirements of certification standards.
[Link] of Seed Crops:
Done by providing distance between
seed fields & contaminating field.
• On a small scale i.e. in
nucleus/breeder’s seed production,
the isolation can also be provided
by enclosing plants in cage by
enclosing individual flowers or by
removing male flower part.
• After harvesting isolation of seed
produced of different varieties is
necessary to avoid mechanical
contamination.
• Similarly bags or other containers
4. Preparation of Land:
• The land for seed crop must be
prepared well.
• Good land preparation helps
improved germination, good stand
establishment & destruction of
potential weeds.
• It also aids in water management
& good uniform irrigation.
5. Selection of Variety:
The variety for seed production must be carefully
selected.
• The variety should be adapted to agro-climatic
conditions of the region.
• The variety should really be high yielder.
• The variety should posses other desirable
attributes, namely disease resistance, earliness,
good grain quality.
[Link]:
The seed used for raising a seed
crop should be of known purity,
appropriate class and invariably
obtained from an authorized official
agency.
(a) The seed of the appropriate
seed class is bought.
(b) The tag and seals of the
breeders/foundation seed bags
purchased are intact.
(c) The validity period has not
[Link] Treatments:
• The seeds may require seed
treatment before planting, if they are
not already appropriately treated.
This could be easily done with the
help of a revolving drum at the farm.
Depending upon the requirement one
or more of the following seed
treatments may be given:
(a) Chemical seed treatment
(b) Bacterial inoculation for legumes
(c) Seed treatment for breaking
dormancy due to hard seeded-
[Link] of Planting:
The seed crops should invariably be sown at their
normal planting time.
Depending upon incidences of disease & pests, some
adjustments could be made if necessary.
• At time of planting there should be sufficient soil
moisture for germination to take place.
[Link] Rate:
• Lower seed rates than usual for raising
commercial crop are desirable because they
facilitate rouging operations & inspection of
seed crop.
10. Methods of Sowing:
• The seed crops should be sown in rows.
• The most efficient and ideal method of sowing is
by mechanical drilling.
• Mechanical drilling allows the deposit of the seeds
in the desired amount at a uniform depth.
• It is of utmost importance to ensure that the seed
drills/planters are absolutely clean i.e., free from
left-over seeds of other crops.
• The sowing of seed crops in rows helps in
conducting effective plant protection measures,
roguing operations and inspection.
11. Depth of sowing:
• Depth of sowing is extremely important in
ensuring good plant stands.
• Small seeds should usually be planted
shallow
• Large seeds could be planted a little
deeper.
• In dry soils, seeds should be planted
slightly deeper so that they come in
contact with moisture.
[Link]:
Adequate and timely roguing is
extremely important in seed
production.
It is wise to remove the whole plant
and not just the flower head.
The no. of rouging necessary will vary
with the crop, cleanness of planting
seed & stage of the multiplication of
the seed crop.
• Rouging in most of the field crops
may be done at any of the following
stages as per needs of the seed crop.
• a)Vegetative/pre-flowering
13. Supplementary
pollination:
• Provision of honey bees in
hives in close to the seed
fields of crops largely cross-
pollinated by insects, ensure
good seed set and thereby
greatly increase seed yields.
• Rope pulling also helps in
spreading of pollen widely and
evenly.
14. Weed Control:
Good weed control is a basic requirement in
producing good quality seed. Weeds may cause
contamination of the seed crop in the following
ways, in addition to reduction in yield:
The presence of weed seeds at time of crop
harvest leads to mixing of weed seeds with crop
seeds. In many instances it is difficult to remove
them during the processing of seeds.
• The presence of weeds in the seed field or nearby
areas may serve as host to no. of diseases. Good
& effective weed control therefore would be
15. Disease/Insect Control:
Successful disease and insects control is another
important factor in raising healthy seed crops.
If systematic diseases agents are not checked, the
seed produces will get infected with spores of
disease and produce diseased plants in the next
season.
Agents of systemic disease, leave their spores on
seed coats. If not checked this results in a greater
susceptibility to various seedling diseases which can
affect the crop.
• Seed yield & quality will be reduced.
Management of diseases & pests in seed crops:
a) Plant only treated seed. There are various
fungicides available now for effective control of
seedling diseases and many of the seed- borne
diseases.
b) Prepare & adopt appropriate schedule of
spraying for effective disease & insect control.
c) Roguing of diseased plants & ear heads from
time to time also helps in checking the further
spread of diseases.
16. Nutrition:
Nitrogen, phosphorous potassium &
several other elements play an
important role for proper
development of plants & seeds.
Identify the nutritional requirement of
seed crops & apply adequate
fertilizer.
• Results in maximum yields, good
seed quality & better expression of
plant type which facilitate rouging
& there by helps in maintaining
17. Irrigation:
Dried regions are more suitable for
good quality, disease free seed
production. In that condition, irrigation
is essential to obtain good seed yields.
The irrigation may be required before
planting & at intervals up to flowering.
One or two irrigations beyond flowering
are desirable for may seed crop.
• In general lighter soils need more
irrigation than heavier soils.
[Link] of seed crops:
Optimum time of harvest is when
seed is fully mature.
When weather damage begun, seed
is easily harvested & cleaned
resulting in minimum harvest
losses.
Harvesting at an early stage
makes combining difficult & relative
losses due to threshing & cleaning
are greater.
• Late harvesting result in
increased weather damage &
19. Method of harvesting:
• Harvesting of crops is largely done by hand
and also done by machinaries. This, if done at
the appropriate time, should give subsequent
good quality seed.
• Quality of seed depends upon handling of
harvested crop & the care taken during
threshing.
• Every effort should be made to avoid chance
mechanical mixing, mechanical injury to seeds
during threshing.
• Maintain lot identity.
20. Drying of seeds:
The seed lots usually are at high moisture
content at the time of harvesting and threshing.
In order to preserve seed viability and vigour, it
is necessary to dry seeds to safe moisture
content levels.
Precautions for drying are:
a) Identity of the lots must be maintained.
b)Care should be taken to ensure that mechanical
mixture does not take place.
c) Drying of seeds to safe moisture limits should be
21. Storage of raw seeds:
Short period Storage should be in
stacks or bags kept in ordinary
buildings or godowns after sun drying.
Filling in neat & clean bags, if old bags
are used, then properly treated before
use.
Each and every bag should be properly
labelled.
• The stacks of bags should be made
on wooden pallets.
• Storage place should be:
• a) Dry, cool and cleaned
properly.