This document discusses seed classifications and standards. It covers three classifications: botanical based on cotyledons, breeder classification based on genetic quality, and storage classification based on moisture tolerance. Breeder classification includes nucleus, breeder's stock, foundation, certified, and truthfully labeled seed. Standards are provided for crops like rice, wheat, barley, lentil and others in terms of pure seed, germination, moisture, weed seeds and other parameters. Good seed is described as having high vitality, true to type, pure, clean, and tolerant to stresses. The document lists references used to compile the information.

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