1. Seed Classifications & Seed
Standards

2. Arnab Das
B.Sc. [PlPG/BOTG/ZOOG (B.U. through SBC, Bagati, Magra)]
Dip.PlP. (K.U. through TSRDAM , Nadia)

3. Acknowledgement
Preface
Classification
Quality of Good Seed
Seed Standard of Some Agronomical
crops
Bibliography

4. We thank a lot to Sengupta, A. , our class
teacher for providing his valuable class notes
on seed and constant encouragement to us for
edition of this manuscript .
Our sincere thanks are also due to Mr. Das,
A. N. W.B.A.S.(Admn.) for providing his
valuable books, diary, etc. to complete the
manuscript successfully .

5. In botanical view, seed is a living, viable
embryo which has developed after the
fertilization of egg cells by pollen inside the
embryo sac of ovule in the floral ovary .
In agricultural view, seed may be either
any plant organ or part of organ; capable of
regenerating a progeny(daughter) of
same(mother) plant, viz. true-seed, tuber,
bulb, corm, rhizome, sucker, runner, sett,
offset & crown .

6. There are three kinds of classification
according to three factors, viz.
 Botanical based on number of cotyledon,
viz. dicotyledonous & monocotyledonous .
 Breeder-classification based on genetical
quality(purity) viz. nucleus, breeder’s stock
seed, foundation, certified & truthfully label
seed .

7.  Nucleus: It is the initial & lowest quantity
of pure seed of an improved variety and
generated by original breeder . While
more than one variety of the same crop is
to be grown for production of nucleus
seed, then proper isolation distance must
be maintained to retain the purity . It is
genetically cent per cent pure . It requires
no tag due to be conserved with so
restrictions .

8. Breeder’s Stock Seed: It is the progeny of
nucleus seed, also maintained by original
breeder along with either agr’l university or
research institute . It is also cent per cent
pure . It requires a golden yellow tag with
length of 12cm & width of 6cm .

9. Foundation: It is the progeny of nucleus or
breeder seed, maintain by either seed
company or progressive farmer under
certification of state agr’l dept . It requires
a white tag .

10. Certified: It is the progeny of either
foundation or registered* seed, produced
for mass multiplication among the common
farmers and approved by seed certifying
agency . It requires a azure blue tag with
length of 15cm & width of 7.5cm .

11. Truthfully label: It is the progeny of either
certified or registered* seed, supervised by
farmer . It requires a opal green tag with
length of 15cm & width of 10cm .
 Storage-classification based on storage
behaviour from the view of moisture-
tolerance, viz. orthodox & recalcitrant .

12. Orthodox: These can tolerate loss of
moisture & their longevity can be increased
by preserving them at low temperature such
as papaya, guava, ber, pineapple,
citrus(lime, lemon, mandarin, sweet), apple,
grape, fig and so on .

13. Recalcitrant: These cannot tolerate
desiccation & require a critical level of
moisture to survive and can be stored for
relatively short duration ranging from a few
weaks to a few months; such as mango,
litchi, jackfruit, breadfruit and so on .

14. *Registered Seed: It is the progeny of
foundation seed raised on land of private
growers selected for this purpose and its
genetic identity & purity are maintained
such as the certified .

15. An improved seed must has following criteria as
per Production Mannual of ICAR, 1963 –
 Genetic Factor :-
 10-15% more yield than local or recently
used varieties .
 Tolerant to infestation & infection and
adverse situation like natural calamities, soil
pH problems, water-logging, etc.
 Suitable period for maturity depending upon
agro-climatic condition .

16. High response to better conditions of
growth .
Wide range of adaptibility .
Quality acceptable to the market &
consumers .

17.  Physical Factor :-
 Free from other varieties of same or
another crop, weed seed, dirt, etc & other
admixture and seed-borne disease .
 Good germination as fixed to each kind &
variety of crop .
 Uniformity in size, colour & weight .
 Optimum moisture content .

18. However, over all, we may say some
criteria to be a good seed as follows –
Have a high vitality and good yielding-
ability and adaptibility .
Must be pure & clean and true to the type .
Tolerant to infestation & infection .

19. Seed standard may also be termed as seed
parameter . It has been formed for
foundation & certified classes and minimum
limits of germination & physical purity for
the labelling purpose . Here some
parameters are given for rice, wheat, barley,
lentil, grass pea, green gram, black gram,
mustard, sesame, jute, cotton .

20. Pure Seed(min) – F & C: 98%
Germination(min) - F & C: 80%
Moisture(max) in Ordinary & Vapourproof
Container - F & C: 13% and F & C: 8%
TWSs(max) - F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg
Objectionable Weed-seeds(max) - F: 2/kg &
C: 5/kg

21. Inert Matter(max) - F & C: 2%
OCSs(max) - F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg
ODVs(max) - F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg

22. Pure Seed(min) – F & C: 98%
Germination(min) – F & C: 85%
Moisture(max) in Ordinary & Vapour-proof
Container - F & C: 12% and F & C: 8%
TWSs(max) - F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg
Objectionable Weed-seeds(max) - F: 2/kg &
C: 5/kg

23. Inert Matter(max) - F & C: 2%
OCSs(max) - F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg
ODVs - Negligible

24. Pure Seed(min) – F & C: 98%
Germination(min) – F & C: 75%
Moisture(max) in Ordinary & Vapour-proof
Container - F & C: 9% and F & C: 8%
TWSs(max) - F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg
Objectionable Weed-seeds(max) - Negligible

25. Inert Matter(max) - F & C: 2%
OCSs(max) – F: 5/kg & C: 10/kg
ODVs(max) - F: 10/kg & C: Negligible

26. Pure Seed(min) – F & C: 98%
Germination(min) – F & C: 75%
Moisture(max) in Ordinary & Vapour-proof
Container – F: 9% & C: 8%
TWSs(max) – F: 5/kg & C: 10/kg
Objectionable Weed-seeds(max) –
Negligible

27. Inert Matter(max) – F & C: 2%
OCSs(max) – F: 5/kg & C: 10/kg
ODVs(max) – F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg

28. Pure Seed(min) – F & C: 97%
Germination(min) – F & C: 85%
Moisture(max) in Ordinary & Vapour-proof
Container – F & C: 8% and F & C: 7%
TWSs(max) – F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg
Objectionable Weed-seeds(max) – F: 5/kg &
C: 10/kg

29. Inert Matter(max) – F & C: 3%
OCSs(max) – F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg
ODVs(max) – F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg

30. Pure Seed(min) – F & C: 97%
Germination(min) – F & C: 80%
Moisture(max) in Ordinary & Vapour-proof
Container – F & C: 9% and F & C: 5%
TWSs(max) – F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg
Objectionable Weed-seeds(max) - Negligible

31. Inert Matter(max) – F & C: 3%
OCSs(max) – F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg
ODVs(max) – F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg

32. Pure Seed(min) – F & C: 97%
Germination(min) – F & C: 80%
Moisture(max) in Ordinary & Vapour-proof
Container – F & C: 9% and F & C: 7%
TWSs(max) – F: 10/kg & C: 20/kg
Objectionable Weed-seeds(max) - Negligible

33. Inert Matter(max) – F & C: 3%
OCSs(max) – F: 10/kg &C: 20/kg
ODVs(max) - Negligible

34. Pure Seed(min) – F & C: 98%
Germination(min) – F & C: 65%
Moisture(max) in Ordinary & Vapour-proof
Container – F & C: 10% and F & C: 6%
TWSs(max) – F: 5/kg & C: 10/kg
Objectionable Weed-seeds(max) - Negligible

35. Inert Matter(max) – F & C: 2%
OCSs(max) – F: 5/kg & C: 10/kg
ODVs(max) – Negligible
TWSs: Total Weed Seeds
OCSs: Other Crop Seeds
ODVs: Other Distinguishable Varietis

36. 1. Handbook of Agriculture, ICAR
publication(1st. Reprint of 6th.
[revised]Edition, 2011); pg: 1289 &
pp. 1617
2. Handbook of Horticulture, ICAR
publication(11th. Reprint, July,12);
pg: 80 & pp. 1069

37. 3.Dr. Chawhan, D. V. S. - Vegetable
Production in India; R. P. & Sons(3rd.
Edition, 1981); pg: 57-61 & pp. 352
4. Farmers’ Seed Guide 2009, A diary
published by West Bengal State Seed
Corporation Ltd.

38. Morning shows the
day
“ Everything else
may wait but not
agriculture “ -

39. Arnab