The document outlines the characteristics and importance of good seed quality in agriculture, detailing aspects such as genetic, physical, and health quality, as well as the significance of seed germination and vigor. It highlights the advantages of using quality seeds, including increased yield, reduced replanting, and improved plant resilience. Additionally, the goals of seed technology are discussed, focusing on rapid multiplication, timely supply, and assured high-quality seeds to enhance agricultural production.

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SEED SCIENCE &TECHNOLOGY
GOOD SEED QUALITY
Prepared by
Dr. K. Vanangamudi
Formerly Dean (Agriculture), TNAU, Coimbatore.
Dean, Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College,
Professor & Head,
Seed Science & Technology, TNAU, Coimbatore

2. GOOD SEED QUALITY
1. SEED
 Matured ovule usually developed after fertilization.
 Embryonic plant in resting stage, usually supplied with food reserves in the
cotyledons or endosperm or in perisperm with the protective structure called
seed coat.
 In a nutshell - Dry dispersal unit of a plant.
 It develops into an individual similar to the one that produced it.
2. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD SEED QUALITY
2.1. Improved variety
 Must be truly superior to existing ones.
 Must be the latest and the best variety suited to the area in regard to production
potential and other desirable characteristics.
 Improved seed should be carrier of all latest technologies, which favours assured high
yield.

3. 2.2. Genetic quality
 Refers to the trueness to type.
 Genetic purity has direct effect on ultimate yields.
 Breeder /nucleus seed: 100% genetic purity
 Foundation seed: 99.5% genetic purity
 Certified seed: 99 % genetic purity
2.3. Physical quality
 Refers to the physical composition of seed lots.
 Pure seed considered together with seed germination determine the planting value
of the seed.
 Should be free from inert matter and other impurities.

4.  Germination and purity standard for certified seeds of different crops.
Percent of total seed ( on weight basis)
Crop Pure seed
(min.) %
Moisture
(max) %
Germination
(min) %
Hybrid maize(other than single
cross)
98 12 90
Maize composites and open-
pollinated varieties
98 12 90
Hybrid Jowar and varieties 98 12 80
Hybrid bajra and open pollinated
varieties
98 12 75
Rice* 98 13 80
Wheat* 98 12 85
Barley 98 12 85
Cotton varieties and hybrids 98 10 60
Gram/Chick pea 98 9 85
Arhar/Red gram 98 10 75
Urid/black gram 98 9 65
Mung/green gram 98 9 75
Rapeseeds and mustard 97 8 85
Sesamum (til) 97 9 80
Groundnut 96 9 70
Sunflower 98 9 60
Linseed 98 7 80
Soybean 97 12 70
Peas 98 9 75
Cowpeas 98 9 75
Tomato 98 8 70
Cauliflower 98 7 65
Bhendi 99 10 65
Watermelon and other cucurbits 99 7 60
Onion 98 8 70
Carrot 95 8 60
Chillies 98 8 60
Radish 98 6 70
Brinjal 98 8 70

5. 2.4. Seed germination and vigor (physiological quality)
 Seed germination - ability of a seed when planted under normal sowing
conditions to give to a normal seedling.
 Seed vigor - sum total of all the attributes that give effective plant stand in the
field.
 Both of these have profound effect upon the ultimate yields and also determine the
planting value of the seed.
 So, seeds should have high physiological vigour and stamina.
Seed germination
Seed vigour
2.5. Planting value
 Planting value is the real worth of a seed lot for raising the crop.
Pure live seed = Pure seed % x Germination %
100
2.6. Health quality
 Refers to the presence or absence of disease organisms/insect pests on seeds.

6.  Quality of the seed lot very much depends on its health and should be free from
designated diseases.
2.7. Seed moisture
 Most critical factor in the maintenance of seed germination and viability during
storage.
 Should have optimum moisture content for storage
 Long term storage - 8 % or below
 Short term storage - 10 - 13%
2.8. It should be free from other crop seeds, expressed in number/kg
Crop Designated inseparable other crop seeds
Barley Wheat, Oats and Gram
Oats Wheat, Gram and Barley
Wheat Oats, Gram and Barley
 Should be free from objectionable weed seeds
Crop Designated objectionable weeds
Paddy Wild paddy (Oryza sativa var. fatua)
Wheat Convolvulus arvensis (Hiran kuri)
Bhendi Wild Abelmoschus sp
Rape & Mustard Argemone mexicona
Cucurbits Wild Cucurbita sp.
Berseem Chicory (Chicorum intybus)
Kasuri methi Melilous sp.
Lettuce Wild lettuce(Lactuca sativa)
 Should have good shape, size, colour, etc., according to specifications of variety

7.  Should possess high longevity and shelf life
 Should have high market value
Crop Designated disease Causal organism
Wheat Loose smut Ustilago tritici
Sorghum Grain smut or Kernel smut Sphacelotheca sorghii
Mustard Alternaria blight Alternaria sp
Pearl millet Grain smut
Green ear
Ergot
Tolyposporium penicillariae
Sclerospora graminicola
Claviceps microcephala
Sesame Leaf spot Alternaria sp
Brinjal Little leaf Datura virus 2
Chilies Anthracnose leaf blight
Leaf blight
Gloesporium piperatum
Alternaria solani
Cucurbits Mosaic Cucumis virus
Cowpea Anthracnose Colletotricum sp
Bhendi Yellow vein mosaic Hibiscus virus 1
Potato Brown rot
Root knot nematode
Pseudomonas solanacearum
Meloidogyne incognita
Tomato Early blight
Leaf spot
Alternaria solani
Xanthomonas vesicatoria
3. ADVANTAGES OF QUALITY SEED
 Saves your money as you need less seed.
 Quality seed means a higher percentage of seed emergence.
 There will be a minimum of replanting.
 Seedlings will be strong or vigorous.

8.  Plants stand will be uniform.
 Plants will grow more quickly.
 There will be greater resistance to stress and diseases.
 There will be uniform in ripening which means more uniformity in the harvested
grain.
 A yield increase by 15-20%.
 There will be less mixture and that can mean a higher price in the market.
4. ROLE OF SEED IN AGRICULTURE
 Only the good quality seed will respond to the fertilizers and other inputs.
 Though the seed form only a small part of the total cultivation expenses, it will pay its
dividends as yield.
 Seed acts as a carrier of a new technology.
 Seed is a basic tool for secured food supply.
 Seed acts as a principal means to secure crop yield under less favorable
production areas.
 Seed acts as a medium for rapid rehabilitation of agriculture in case of natural
disaster.
5. GOALS OF SEED TECHNOLOGY
 Major aim of seed technology is to increase agricultural production through the spread
of a good quality seeds of high yielding varieties and hybrids suitable for the area
of production.

9.  5.1. Rapid multiplication
 5.2. Timely supply
 5.3. Assured high quality seeds
 5.4. Reasonable price
6. AN OVERVIEW
Physical purity
 Carrot/ Amaranth: 95 %
 Bhendi: 99 %
 All other crops: 98 %
 Sorghum, sesame, rape seed and mustard, jute, soybean, Celery , parsely: 97 %
 Groundnut, Asparagus, spinach, sugarbeet: 96 %
Germination %
 Cotton varieties and hybrids, Sunflower, Watermelon and other cucurbits,
Carrot, Chillies – 60%
 Bhendi, Cauliflower, Urid (black gram) – 65%
 Groundnut, Soybean, Tomato, Onion, Radish, Brinjal – 70%
 Hybrid bajra and open -pollinated varieties, Arhar (Redgram), Mung
(Greengram), Peas, Cowpeas – 75%
 Hybrid Jowar and varieties, Rice, Sesamum (til), Linseed – 80%
 Wheat, Barley, Bengalgram, Rapeseed and mustard – 85%

10.  Hybrid maize (other than single cross), Maize composites and open-pollinated
varieties – 90%
Moisture content
 Cereals – 10 to 12%
 Pulses and Oilseeds – 8 to 10%
 Vegetables – 6 to 8%