Seed production in vegetables pgs-504

Seed Production in Vegetable Crops
PGS-504
Submitted by:- Tapan Adhikari
Ph.D. Scholar, First Year
F-2019-15-D
Dept. Of Forest Product
Discipline: Medicinal & Aromatic
Plants
Submitted to:- Dr. Upender Singh

Seed production of
1.Leafy vegetable crops
2.Legume crops
3.Tuber crops
4.Cole crops
5.Root crops

1.Seed production of
Leafy vegetable crops

 Spinach – (Spinacea oleracea)
 Beet leaf - (Beta vulgaris var bengalensis)
 Beet root – (Beta vulgaris)- Root crop
 Amaranths - (Amaranths spp)
 Fenugreek
 Lettuce - (Lactuca sativa)

Spinach (Spinacea oleracea)
Family: Chenopodiacea
 The tender leaves are rich in Vit A, iron and calcium and is
considered to be an anti-aging vegetable.
 Spinach bolting is initiated by day length and ancestral
forms of this crop bolt very easily under less than 14 hours
of day length.
 Central Asiatic Centre of origin

Botany
 It is a herbaceous annual plant for leaf production and
biennial for seed production.
 Low temperature and short days favours vegetative growth
and delays bolting.
 Leaves are either smooth or Savoy. It produces short stem
having rosette of leaves in vegetative phase.
 The central axis elongate and a flower stalk is developed
when plants enter into reproductive phase.

 Spinach is tetramorphic and usually plants are dioecious.
1. Extreme males: Bear only staminate flowers, plants are
small. The seed stalk is characterized by lack of foliage or
if foliage is present, they tend to be small or even barely
more than scales. They bolt ahead of other three types.
2. Vegetative males: Bear staminate flowers only but leaves
present on seed stalk are fully developed.
3. Monoecious plants: Male and female flower present on
same plant and they are rare in most vars.
4. Female plants: only pistilate flowers are present. Flower
stalk leaves are fully developed to the tip of stalk.

 Extreme males are undesirable plants as they bolt very early
and small in size.
 Based on the morphology of seed two distinct types are
observed in spinach.
1. Smooth seeded type e.g. Early Smooth Leaf
2. Prickly seeded type e.g. Virginia Savoy
 There is close association between dark green colour leaves
and late bolting.
 Spinach is highly cross pollinated and pollinated by wind.
 Seed should be harvested from a minimum of 120 plants during
selection in order to maintain seedling vigour and avoid
inbreeding depression.
 A larger population of 200 plants or more is recommended to
maintain good genetic diversity.

Climatic requirements:
 It is a cool season crop
 Plants grow best at soil temperature of 200 C for vegetative
phase
 A low temperature or cool nights will make the plants more
erect and causes savoring in savoy cultivars.
 Seeds germinate well at a temperature of 4.40C-100C and
temperature >15.50C reduces germination.
 For early rapid growth temperature of 15.50-21.10C is ideal.
 Maximum leaf yields are obtained under short days and mild
temperature, while long days and higher temperature will
result in bolting of the plants.

I. Field Standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation
Seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the column 1 of the
Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants Minimum distance (meters)
Foundation Certified
1 2 3
Fields of other varieties 1600 1000
Fields of the same variety not conforming
to varietal purity requirements for
certification. 1600 1000

A. Specific requirements
Factor Maximum permitted (%)*
1 2 3
*Off-types 0.10 0.20
*Maximum permitted at and after flowering.

Roguing: Three times
Vegetative stage
Bolting and pre flowering stage
Seed maturity

Harvesting and storage
 If harvested early seeds are immature and have low
germination and if delayed may result in seed shattering or
destroyed by inclement weather.
 Crop is harvested when 60-80% of seeds has turned tan-
brown in colour.
 Spinach seed having 9% moisture can be stored for 3-4 years
under low temperature and low RH.
Seed yield: 800-1000kg/ha

I. Seed Standards
Factor Standards for each class
Pure seed (minimum) 96.0% 96.0%
Inert matter (maximum) 4.0% 4.0%
Other crop seeds (maximum) 5/kg 10/kg
Weed seeds (maximum) 5/kg 10/kg
Germination (minimum) 60% 60%
Moisture (maximum) 9.0% 9.0%
For vapour-proof containers (maximum) 8.0% 8.0%

Beet leaf (Palak)
(Beta vulgaris var bengalensis) family: Chenopodiaceae
 Center of origin- Indo-Chinese 2n=2x=18
 The plants are herbaceous and biennial for seed production
 It has more iron content than spinach
 Vars grown in India- Pusa Palak, Pusa Jyoti, Pusa Harit (Suited for
hills and late bolting), All Green, Banerjee’s Giant etc.
 Beet leaf is a cross pollinated crop and pollinated by wind.
 It is a crop which can be successfully grown in tropical and sub
tropical climate. It can tolerate low temperature.
 High temperature causes bolting.

Land requirement
 Free from volunteer plants
 Soil rich in organic matter
 Palak is cross pollinated by wind
 It does not cross with spinach (Spinacea oleracea)
 Cuttings: Not more than 2-3 cuts should be taken from the
seed crop.

1 2 3
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification. 1600 1000
Fields of the swiss chard (chard, sea kale beet,
silver beet): Beta vulgaris Linn. var. cicla Moq.,
sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and garden beet
(beet root, mangels or stock beet): Beta vulgaris
(L.) var. rubra Moq. for spinach beet only
1600 1000
Field Standards
A)General requirements
•Isolation
Seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the column 1
of the Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said
Table:

1 2 3
*Off-types 0.10 0.20
B) Specific requirements

Roguing : Three times (Remove early bolters)
 Vegetative stage
 Bolting and pre-flowering
 Seed maturity
Harvesting and storage
 Harvesting is done when seeds are fully nature.
 Seed are cleaned and dried till 9% moisture.
 Seed can be stored for 3-4 years at 9% moisture under low
temperature and low RH.
Seed yield: 600-100 Kg/ha

For vapour-proof containers
(maximum)
8.0% 8.0%
•Seed Standards

Garden beet/Beet root (Beta vulgaris)
 It is root crop
 Mediterranean Center of origion
 Seeds of beet root are produced in hills (1200m amsl)
 Land should be free from volunteer plants
Isolation:
 Same as Beet leaf
 Isolation distance of at least 5m should be followed for
mother root production.

Methods of seed production
Seed to seed method
Root to seed method (mostly
followed)

Root to seed method
 Crop is sown during July (i.e. 2nd or 3rd week of July) and last week of
June for late vars.
 Crop should be sown on ridges at 45x10cm spacing
 The mature roots are harvested in Nov-Dec.
 Selection of roots for transplanting (Preparation of stecklings)
 Thorough selection of roots is necessary. Ascertain carefully the leaf
and skin colour and also shape and size of roots. For examining the
interior, cut their 1/4th or 1/3rd portion. The roots having uniform and
rich flesh colour with indistinct rings should be selected. Also reject
diseased and malformed roots.
 Transplanting time Nov-Dec. at a distance of 60x60 or 60x45cm
depending upon var.
 Treat the roots before transplanting
 “Note in dry temperate region the roots are stored in underground
trenches same as carrot”

Roguing: Three times
 At selection of stecklings
 Before flowering or at bolting
 Seed maturity

Harvesting:
 Seed stalk elongation starts in early April and flower
opens in May-June
 The seed matures in July and seed quality gets affected
due heavy rain at that time.
 Due to this reason the seed production of garden
beet/sugar beet is preferred in dry temperate region
where there is little or no rainfall during July.
 The ripening of seed is not uniform
 When 70-80% of seed balls on plants get hardened and
those at the base of shoot turn brown, then the crop
should be harvested.
 Curing of crop is necessary
Seed yield: 800-1000kg/ha

Field and seed standards for
Spinach beet or beet leaf/ Beet root / Sugar
beet are same.

AMARANTH – CHAULAI (Amaranthus blitum L.var. oleracea Duthie)
AMARNTH (TENDER) – BARICHAULAI (Amaranthus tricolor L.)
AMARANTH (GRAIN) – CHAULAI (Amaranthus cruentus L.)
 Richest source of Iron
 Land should be free from volunteer plants.
 A minimum isolation of 400m (foundation seed) and 200m (certified
seed) from fields of other var and same var not confirming to varietal
purity.
 It is a cool season crop.
 Periodical cuttings of leaves may be taken as usual. For seed crop the
last 1-2 cuttings are not taken.
 Roguing of off types and wild Amaranths spp from seed fields prior to
flowering and during flowering should be done.
 The crop is harvested when most of the leaves turn yellow.
 Seed yield – 200-300kg/ha

1 2 3
Fields of the same variety not
conforming to varietal purity
requirements for certification and wild
amaranth (Kantewali chaulai):
(Amaranthus spinosus L.)
400 200
Field Standards
•Isolation
Amaranth seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the column
1 of the Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said
Table:

1 2 3
Off-types 0.10 0.20
**Objectionable weed plants 0.010 0.020
**Objectionable weed shall be :
wild amaranth (Kantewali chaulai): (Amaranthus spinosus L.)

Total weed seeds (maximum) 10/kg 20/kg
*Objectionable weed seeds (maximum) 5/kg 10/kg
Other distinguishable varieties
(maximum)
10/kg 20/kg
Seed Standards

FENUGREEK
Methi/fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
Fam: leguminosae
 Oldest cultivated spice crop of the world.
 In India, it is the third largest seed spice crop after coriander
and cumin
 Two types of methi- Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
 Kasuri/champa (T. corniculata)Methi

 Some of its health benefits are
 Balance cholesterol
 Treating diabetes and lowering blood sugar levels
 Herbal cure for skin inflammation
 Natural cure for Heart burn and acid reflux
 Home remedy for fever
 Breast enlargement
 Reduce menstrual discomfort
 Remedy to ease child birth for pregnant women
 Reduces cardiovascular risk
 Remedy to aid milk production in lactating mothers.

Botany
 It is an annual herb
 Flowers white or yellow in colour, bisexual
 Self pollinated crop
 Anthesis time 9am to 6pm peak at 11.30 am
 “The healthy crop can fix biological ‘N’ in
the soil upto 283kg/ha indicating a
potential candidate for organically
managed production system”

Climatic requirements
 It is a cool season crop
 It can be grown under temperate and
tropical conditions right from sea level to
2000m amsl
 It can tolerate frost and freezing conditions
for short periods.
 Dry conditions are required during seed
ripening stages
 Plants grow better at 15-180C

Contaminants Minimum distance
(meters)
1 2 3
requirements for certification
50 25
A) General requirements
•Isolation
Seed fields offered for certification shall be isolated from the contaminants
shown in the column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in
columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:

1 2 3
Off-types 0.10 0.20
*Maximum permitted at the final inspection.
**Objectionable weed shall be: Senji (Melilotus spp.)

Roguing : Three
Vegetative stage
Flowering stage
Pod stage

Harvesting:
 When 75% of the pods have turned yellow, the crop is
harvested.
 Do not uproot the plants rather cut them so that ‘N’ fixed
remain in the soil.
 Cure the crop for 3-4 days and then threshing is done.
 Seed dried to 8% moisture content before storage.
 Seed viability is 1-2 years at room temperature.
Seed yield: 10-12q/ha (common methi)
6-8q/ha (Kasuri methi)
 “No leaf cutting or 1-2 leaf cutting can be done in seed crop”
 The seed quality is better in no leaf cutting

Other distinguishable varieties (maximum) 10/kg 20/kg
Germination including hard seed
(minimum)
70% 70%
•Seed Standards

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Family- Compositae/Asteraceae
 Lettuce is the most of important crop of family composite
followed by Endive, salsify, chicory.
 Lactuca meaning ‘Milk forming’.
 The exact origin of lettuce is not known.
 It is believed that lettuce quickly spread from Egypt, around
the Mediterranean basin and was adopted by the Greek and
Roman civilizations

There are six morphological types in lettuce
1. Crisp head – Iceberg type- produces large heads with tightly
folded, green outer and yellowish inner leaves. It is famous in USA
2. Butter head- Relatively small and loose heads, soft textured
leaves. Famous in Northern Europe.
3. Cos type- Romain type –elongated leaves dark to light green with
heavy ribs. Most population Southern Europe and Mediterranean
basin
4. Leaf type- Do not form head, form rosette of leaves and mostly
used in home gardens.
5. Stem type- Not consumed raw. It is cooked. Grown in orient
6. Latin type- Resembles butter head in forming loose head. Leaves
are elongated same as cos type. Popular in Mediterranean and
South America.
 Lettuce contain moderate amount of Vit A and Ca, P, Fe, Na and K. It is
low in nutrition as compared to other leaf vegetables.

Reproductive development
 It is a cool season crop.
 Lettuce vars are either long day sensitive or day neutral and
high temperature (above 180C) promote bolting.
 In some cases, particularly crisp head type, the head is so
tight and firm that seed stalk is unable to emerge from
head. Three methods are used.
1. Deheading- Physical removal of head leaves surrounding
seed stalk
2. Slashing and quartering- Cutting the seed head at its apex
in a x-shape (as in cabbage)
3. Application of growth regulating chemicals- GA3@ 20-
500ppm at 3-5 leaf stage promote bolting

 Lettuce produces as panicle with many individual compound
flowers formed into a capitulum inflorescence.
 Over 90% of seed yield comes from flowers that open
during first 35 days of 70 days flowering period.
 The flowers contain fused stamens that release pollen at
the time of style elongation through the anther sheath
ensuring self pollination.
 Flower opens only once for a short time period in one
morning and then never reopen; a process that also reduces
access to foreign pollen.
 The lettuce fruit (seed) is an achene and 1000 seed weight is
0.6-1.0 g depending upon cvs.

Planting:
 The minimum soil temperature required for germination is 1.7 0C
and optimum is 15-200C. High temperature i.e. >300C inhibit
germination.
 When lettuce seed is exposed for more than 24 hrs to a
temperature too high for germination, the seeds become
dormant.
 Germination at 300C can be increased if seeds are soaked in 0.5%
solution of thiourea.
 Dormancy can be broken by placing moist seed at 10-150C and
lights are required.
 Lettuce require light for germination. (Photoblastic seeds)
 Under dark condition photo-dormancy is induced in lettuce seed.

1 2 3
requirements for certification and wild
lettuce (Lactuca scariola L.).
100 50
Field Standards
•Isolation
Lettuce seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the
column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3
of the said Table:

1 2 3
Off-types 0.10 0.20
***Plants affected by seed
borne disease
0.10 0.50
*Maximum permitted at the final inspection.
**Objectionable weed shall be: wild lettuce (Lactuca scariola L.).

Method of seed production
 Seed to seed method (Mostly followed)
Isolation distance – Highly self pollinated crop
 Foundation seed : 50m
 Certified seed: 25m
Roguing:
 Bolting stage
 Seed maturity stage

Harvesting:
 A period of 12-21 days is required from flowering to mature
seed formation.
 Lettuce plants are harvested when approximately half of
the seed heads have feathered (Seed pappus is fully
expanded and dry)
 Storage: Lettuce seed retain their viability for 4-5 years.
 Seed moisture content should be 6-7%

Other crop seeds (maximum) None None
(maximum)
10/kg 20/kg
•Seed Standards

Seed production of leguminous
vegetable crops

Pea (Pisum sativum)
Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
“Family leguminosae is distinguished by
its unique flower in which self
pollination is the rule”.

PEA (Pisum sativum)
 Garden pea is an important vegetable crop rich in digestive
protein alongwith carbohydrates and vitamins.
 Green peas are good for those who are trying to loose weight
as it is low in calories.
 High Iron and Vit C in green peas helps to strengthen the
immune system.
 The lutein present in green pea helps to reduce age related
muscular degeneration and cataracts.
 The folic acid and Vit B6 in green pea are good for promoting
cardiovascular health.
 Being rich in antioxidants like Vit C, green peas help keep
cancer at bay.
 “Total seed requirement of pea in HP is around 2000 MT”. Most
of these seed have been imported from other states by Govt
and Pvt Organizations.

Seed peas are adapted to region with
1. A relatively cool growing season.
2. Comparative freedom from diseases, insects and spring frost.
3. Ample moisture either from rain or irrigation.
4. A relatively dry atmosphere at harvesting time.
 Peas grow best in those areas where there is a slow
transition from cool to warm weather in spring.
 Pea tolerates frost to – 20 C at the vegetative stage.
 Low temperature at sowing delays germination optimum
germination temperature 180C (Range: 4.50C to 250C)
 Frost at flowering and pod stages adversely affect the
crop productivity.

Plant characters
 Pea is an herbaceous annual with a trailing, climbing or dwarf growth
habit.
 Stems, which are hollow, vary in length from dwarf to tall, depending
upon the variety.
 The terminal leaflet and at time the upper lateral ones are modified as
tendrils.
 Root is tap root and may grow up to 3-4 feet depending upon soil.
 Root nodules are induced by ‘N’ fixing bacteria (Rhizobuim)
 The flowers of most garden vars are white or pale cream. They are borne
singly or in pairs.
 The large, broad upper petal is called the ‘standard’ and encloses the two
lateral ones called the ‘wings’ the two lower ones are united to form the
‘keel’.
 There are ten stamens, nine of them form a cleft on the upper side
surrounding the ovary and the tenth is free.
 The pistil consists of a single carpel and the one-celled superior ovary
contains two rows of ovules.
 Pea is a self pollinated crop.

Land Requirements
Land to be used for seed production of
pea shall be free of volunteer plants.
Field Inspection
Minimum of two inspections are done,
 the first before flowering and
 the second at flowering and fruit stage.

Field Standards
1. Isolation
Pea seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in column 1 of the Table
below by the distances specified in column 2 and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants
Minimum distance (meters)
1 2 3
varietal purity requirements for certification 10 5
B. Specific requirements
Factor
Maximum permitted (%)*
Off-types 0.10 0.20
*Maximum permitted at the final inspection

Roguing : Three
 Flowering stage
 Pod stage
 Plains of North India and hills are suitable for seed
production of pea.
 Most of seed of pea is supplied from Tarai Region of
Uttrakhand .

Harvesting
 Approximate 30 days are required for seed crop harvesting
after pea have reached their green harvesting stage.
 A common test for maturity is to squeeze the pea seed
between figures and if the cotyledons break away from
each other and no free moisture is visible, the crop is mature
enough to be cut.
 The plants are cut and cured for 10-15 days before threshing.
Seed Yield
 Early vars: 6-8q/ha
 Main Season vars: 10-15q/ha

Seed Standards
Factor
Standards for each class
Other crop seeds (maximum) None 5/kg
Weed seeds (maximum) None None
Germination including hard seeds (minimum) 75% 75%

FRANCH BEAN
French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is
most important among beans. It is
consumed as tender pods, shelled
green beans and dry beans.
Protein in bean is cheaper than in
meat but Rajmash lacks in nutritionally
essential amino acids such as lysine,
tryptophan and cystine.

Climatic requirement
It is warm season crop, but sensitive to
temperature extremes.
A monthly mean temperature of 18-
240C is best for the crop.
Long spell of hot weather at flowering
affects fertilization adversely and
results in flower drop i.e. maximum
temperature should not exceed 300 C at
flowering.

Plant characters
 Bush and pole type vars.
 Root-tap root
 Flower closely resembles pea.
 Flowers are principally self-pollinated.

Classification of vars
French bean can be classified broadly on flowering basis.
 Conditions for use as a food e.g. snap bean,
string beans or dry beans.
 Colour of immature pods-
Green - common
Wax pods
 Growth habit
Bush type - Contender, Pusa Parvati, Arka
Komal, Solan Naina etc.
Pole type - Kentucky Wonder, SVM-1, Laxmi

Field Standards
1. Isolation
Rajmash seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in column 1 of the
Table below by the distances specified in column 2 and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants
Minimum distance (meters)
1 2 3
varietal purity requirements for certification 10 5

Factor
Off-types 0.10 0.20
**Plants affected by seed borne diseases 0.10 0.20
*Maximum permitted at the final inspection
**Seed borne diseases shall be:
Bacterial blight (Xanthomonas spp.)
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. & Magn.) Br. & Cav.)
Ascochyta blight (Ascochytaphaseolorum (Sacc.) Michelia) (for hill areas only)
Bean mosaic (Macrosiphum pisi Kalt.)

Roguing : Three time
At vegetative stage
At flowering
Pod formation and seed set.

Harvesting
 Harvest seeds from the plants which are healthy, vigorous and
high yielding.
 Dwarf beans are ready to harvest when some of the pods are
dry and most of remainder has turned yellow.
 In pole type, 2-3 pickings are required.
 Seed should be dried to 7-9% moisture contents before storage.
Seed yield:
 10-12q/ha-bush type
 12-18q/ha-pole type
 Dried bean can be stored for at least three years.

V. Seed Standards
Factor
Other crop seeds (maximum) None None
Weed seeds (maximum) None 10/kg

SEED PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF
POTATO

Common Name Potato
Scientific Name Solanum tuberosum
Family Solanaceae
Chromosome No. 2n=48
TAXONOMY

ORIGIN
 Potato is a native of Andes in South
America, mainly in the areas of Peru,
Eucador, Bolivia and Colombia.
 Potato is selected as an article of food by
Mayas, Incas and Red Indians.
 It was brought to Europe by navigators in
the later part of the sixteenth century and
from Europe, it spread to other parts of the
world.
 Introduced to India in early seventeenth

POLLINATION MECHANISM
 Potato is usually self-pollinated.
 Out-crossing takes place with the help of
insects (bumble bees, wild bees and
domestic bees).

FLORAL BIOLOGY
Flowers- Emerge 70-75 days after transplanting.
Anthesis – early morning to 10 a.m.
Stigma receptivity and Anthers dehiscence – at
same time .
Pollen viability- Viable for at least 6 hours

 Well drained , sandy loam and medium loam soils and pH=
5.0 to 6.5 is ideal.
 Requires cool season during growth and tuber formation.
 Optimum growing temperature is 15-18 °C
SOIL AND CLIMATE

 Land should be free from volunteer plants.
 Land is prepared to a good tilth by ploughing and three to
four harrowing followed by leveling.
 Ridges and furrows are made either manually and
mechanically.
LAND REQUIREMENTS

 ISOLATION
Field Standards
FOUNDATION CERTIFIED
Stage-I Stage-II
Fields of other varieties 5 5 5
5 5 5

Factor Maximum permissible limits
Stage Foundation Certified
Stage-I Stage-II
Off-types I & II Inspection 0.05% 0.05% 0.10%
Plants showing symptoms of :
Mild mosaic I & II Inspection
1.0% 2.0% 3.0%
Severe mosaic, leaf roll and
yellows
I & II Inspection 0.50% 0.75% 1.0%
*Total virus 1.0% 2.0% 3.0%
**Plants infected by brown rot
(syn. Bacterial wilt) (Pseudomonas
(E.F. Sm.) solanacearum E.F. Sm.)
I & II Inspection None None 3 plants per
hectare
***Re-growth of plants after
destruction of haulms
IV inspection 0.50% 0.50% 0.50%

1. The practice of haulm cutting is adopted as
precautionary measure to avoid chances of viral
disease transmission through aphids.
2. The haulm must be cut by the end of December or
first week of January.
3. No re-growth should be allowed
Haulm cutting

 Rouging is done at the following stages:
 1st rouging - 25 days after sowing.
 2nd rouging - 50-60 days after sowing when
crop is fully grown .
 3rd rouging – just before cutting the foliage.
Rouging

 The crop is ready for harvest 10-15 days after haulm cutting when
the skin of tubers become firm to reduce the skin damage.
 Premature harvesting causes handling problem.
 During harvesting moisture in soil should be optimum for
obtaining clean tubers.
 Tubers should be immediately lifted and stored in cool place .
Harvesting

A. Specification in respect of size and weight of seed material
for foundation stage-I, foundation stage-II and certified
class shall be as under
Seed standards for tuber
Size Mean length and two widths
at the middle of tuber
Corresponding weight
(a) Hill seed (HS)
Seed size 30mm-60mm 25-150gm
Large size above 60mm above 150gm
(b) Plains seed (PS)
Seed size 30 mm- 55 mm 25-125gm
large size above 55 mm above 125 gm

B. Maximum tolerance limit of tubers showing visible symptoms
caused by the diseases mentioned below will be as follow
Contaminants Maximum permissible limits
Stage-I Stage-II
Late blight (Phytophthora infestans), dry rot
(Fusarium caeruleum) or charcoal rot
(Macrophomina phaseoli )
1.0%
(by
number)
1.0%
(by number)
1.0%
(by number)
Wet rot (Sclerotium rolfsii) None None None
*Common scab (Streptomyces scabies) 3.0%
(by
number)
3.0%
(by number)
5.0%
(by number)
**Black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani) 5.0%
(by
number)
5.0%
(by number)
5.0%
(by number)
***Total diseases 5.0%
(by
number)
5.0% (by
number)
5.0%
(by number)

*Even if a single tuber infected with common
scab is detected in a seed lot, the entire seed
lot shall be treated with approved fungicide
before seed lot is declared fit for certification.
• Seed lots having infected tubers more than
the prescribed limits will not be certified
even after treatment.

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH HILL
GROWN SEED
 Hill seed is not of right
physiological age for use in
the plains
 It carries soil and tuber borne
pathogens not often found in
the plains
 Long distance transport
 Area in hills is insufficient for
seed production

APHID POPULATION BUILDUP IN
SUB-TROPICS

 Potato seed crop is planted in first week of October in
western Indo-Gangetic plains and a week to fortnight
later in the central and eastern Indo-Gangetic plains
using indexed (virus free) seed tubes.
 This provides enough time for growth and bulking (75-85
days) before critical aphid levels are reached in
respective regions.
 Closely spaced seed tubers in moderately rich soil and
use of optimum dose of NPK ensure high percentage of
medium size tubers in the produce.
Salient Features of
Seed Plot Technique

 The growing seed crop is inspected at least twice
in early growth and again before haulm cutting to
rogue out unhealthy and off type plants.
 Irrigation is restricted after mid December (12-15
days before haulm cutting) to check re growth
after haulm cutting.
 The haulms are pulled, cut or destroyed by
chemical sprays before aphid population reaches
critical level (20 aphids per 100 leaves).
 This prevents spread of viral diseases in the seed
stocks.

 The crop is harvested and heaped in cool place for
further curing of the tuber skin.
 After grading and packing, the produce is shifted to cold
store in March.

COMPONENTS OF SEED PLOT TECHNIQUE
Disease free seed Blind earthing
Plant Dehaulm Harvest
Punjab,Haryana Oct.7 Dec. 31 Jan, 15
NW & Central plains Oct.15 Jan. 10 Jan. 25
Eastern UP & MP Oct. 31 Jan. 15 Jan. 31
Bihar & W.Bengal Nov. 7 Jan. 20 Jan. 31
 Systemic granular insecticide at planting/earthing
 Removal of off types & diseased plants
 1-2 sprays of systemic insecticide + Metalaxyl-Mancozeb in Dec- Jan
 Crop rotation 2-3 yrs  Hot weather cultivation
 Green manure  Tuber treatment- boric acid
 Original  Refinement

 ISOLATION
Field Standards
Fields of other varieties including the commercial
hybrid of the same variety
50
Fields of the same hybrid (code designation) not
conforming to varietal purity requirements for
certification
50
Between blocks of the parental lines of the same
hybrid in case female and male parents are
planted in separate blocks
5

Factor Maximum permissible limits
Certified seed stage
(for both the parents)
*Off-types 0.10%
**Plants showing symptoms of :
Mild mosaic
3.0%
Severe mosaic, leaf roll and
yellows
1.0%
**Plants infected by brown rot
(syn. Bacterial wilt) (Pseudomonas
(E.F. Sm.) solanacearum E.F. Sm.)
3 plants per Hectare

Class Genetic purity(%)
(Minimum)*
Certified Hybrid seed 90.0

Planting of Hybridization Block
• Plant male and female parental lines in two
separate but adjacent blocks.
• Area required for planting male block is kept
about 1/4 to 1/6 of the female block.
• Plant the male block about a week before
planting female block
• After planting, trim the plants in the female
block to retain single stem/plant.

1) Hand emasculation and pollination
2) Pollination without emasculation
3) Use of chemical hybridizing agents
METHODS OF HYBRID SEED
PRODUCTION

 Emasculation is done in the afternoon hours.
 Only the flower buds having long or medium style are
emasculated.
 Flower buds about one to two days away from opening
should be chosen for emasculation.
 Use sharp-pointed forceps to open the unopened bud, and
then carefully remove all the anthers inside leaving only the
petals, ovary, and style.
 The emasculated flower buds are covered with bags or left
uncovered depending on the field isolation condition and
insect activity.
Emasculation and pollination

 Pollinate the flowers of female line by dipping the stigma in
pollen or applying pollen to stigma by brush.
 First pollination is done between 8-10 AM .
 And then repollinate at interval of 8 hrs to increase seeds /
berry.
 Pollen germination begin within half an hour of pollination .
 Optimum temperature for pollination is 15-20 ⁰ C
Pollination

Harvesting
• Berries are ready for harvest after about 6-7
weeks of pollination.
• After which seed can be extracted.
• Seeds from prematurely harvested berries are
less dormant and less viable than seed extracted
from fully developed berries.

 Keep harvested berries in trays and allow them to ripen at room
temperature for 2 weeks .
 Mash the soft ripe berries.
 After mashing , separate out the TPS with a high pressure water
source.
 Treat the seed and pulp mass with 10% hydrochloric acid (HCL) with
continuous stirring for 20 minutes.
 Wash the seed with water at least 3-4 times to ensure complete
removal of HCL.
 Spread the seed in a thin layer at room temperature in good
ventilated area for drying.
 The shade-dried seeds kept are exposed to warm sun for half an hour
and dried to moisture content of 8%.
Seed extraction and Drying

Factor Standard for certified seed class
Pure seed (minimum) 98.0%
Inert matter (maximum) 2.0%
Weed seeds (maximum) 10/kg
Germination (minimum) 80%
Moisture (maximum) 8.0%
(maximum)
6.0%
Seed standards

Seed Production
Technology of
Cole Crops

Cabbage Brassisca oleracea var capitata
Cauliflower Brassisca oleracea var botrytis
Broccoli Brassisca oleracea var italica
Brussels sprout Brassisca oleracea var gemmifera
Knolkhol Brassisca oleracea var gongylodes
Kale Brassisca oleracea var acephala

Brassisca oleracea var alboglabra Chines kale
Brassisca oleracea var costata Portuguese cabbage
Brassisca oleracea var medullosa Marrow stem kale
Brassisca oleracea var palmifolia Tree cabbage
Brassisca oleracea var ramosa Thousand head kale
Brassisca oleracea var sabaunda Savoy cabbage
Brassisca oleracea var sabillica Collards
Some other species

 Common Name: Cabbage
 Botanical Name:
Brassica oleracea var capitata
 Family: Cruciferae/ Brassicaceae
 Chromosome no.: 2n=18
 Origin: Western Europe & Mediterranean region.
 Edible Part: Head.
115
Botanical classification

 The flowers are borne in racemes on the main stem and
its branches.
 Flowers- protogynous.
 The anthesis of flowers start at 9:00 AM and continues
upto 3.00 PM under normal conditions.
 The anthers start dehiscing at the time of flower opening.
In general anther dehiscence occur maximum at 11.00
AM. The pollen fertility reduced one day after anthesis.
 The stigma remain receptive 2-3 days before and after
anthesis
FLORAL BIOLOGY

Method of seed production
Cabbage requires two seasons to produce seeds.
In the first season the heads are produced and in
the following season seed production follows.
Two methods are followed.
1. In situ method - for certified seed production
(Seed to seed method)
2. Transplanting method for nucleus seed
production (Head to seed method)

In situ method
 In this method, the crop is allowed to over winter and
produce seeds in their original position, where they
are first planted.
Transplanting/ replanting method
 In this method the matured plants are uprooted and the
outer whorls removed.
 Then the plants are replanted in a well prepared new
field.
 In cabbage, during seed production, three
methods have been followed to
facilitate flowering and seed production.

1.Stump method
2.Stump with central core intact method
3.Head intact method

Images of seed production methods

 When the crop in the first season is fully matured,
the heads are examined for true to type.
 The plants with off type heads are removed.
 Then the heads are cut just below the base by means
of a sharp knife, keeping the stem with outer whorl of
leaves intact.
 The beheaded portion of the plant is called 'stump'.
Stump method

 The stumps are either left in situ or replanted in the
second season.
 After over wintering (dormancy breaking), the buds
sprouts from the axis of all the leaves and leaf scars.
Advantages
 Gives extra income by way of sale of heads
 Crop matures 12 -15 days earlier
 Seed yield is slightly high
Disadvantage
 Flower stalks are decumbent and requires very
heavy staking

 When the crop is fully matured in first
season, off type plants are removed and
rejected.
 Then the heads are chopped on all sides with
downward perpendicular cuts in such a way
that the central core is not damaged.
Stump with central core intact method

Advantages
• Shoots arising from main stem are not decumbent, hence
very heavy staking is not required.
• Seed yield is high.
Disadvantages
• The chopped heads cannot be marketed.

 In this method, when the crop is fully
mature in first season, the heads are
examined for true to type.
 The plants with off type heads are removed
from the field and rejected.
 The head is kept intact and only a cross cut
is given to facilitate the emergence of stalk.
Head intact method

Advantages
 Saves time and labour.
 Very heavy staking is not required.
Disadvantages
 Seed yield is slightly low as compared to
other methods.

Cabbage seed production in dry temperate region
cv Pride of India

Group Varieties Hybrids
Early Golden Acre, Chaubatia Early Pusa Mukta
Mid Pride of India, Chieftain Pusa Drum Head, Green
Express, Danish Ball
Late September, All Head
Cabbage
Large Late Drum Head,
Green Challenger, Sri
Ganesh Gol
Varieties/ Hybrids

Land Requirements
 Land to be used for seed production of cabbage shall
be free from volunteer plants.
 In the hills, select field on which the same kind of
crop or any other cole crop was not grown in the
pervious two years
 Free from soil born diseases infection
Field Inspection
 A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the
first before the marketable stage of heads, the
second when heads have formed and the third at the
flowering stage.

Isolation
Cabbage seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the column 1 of
the Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said table:
1 2 3
requirements for certification and
from the following varieties of
Brassica oleracea (L)
1600 1000
Field Standards
•General requirements

• Brassica oleracea (L.) var. oleracea : Wild cabbage.
• B. oleracea (L.) var. ramosa DC : Branching bush kale.
• B. oleracea (L.) var. millecapitata (Lev.) Helm: thousand headed kale.
• B. oleracea (L.) var. gemmifera DC : Brussels sprouts
• B. oleracea (L.) con var. acephala DC : Fodder kale (karamsag)
• B. oleracea (L.) var. viridis L. : Collards,s tree kale
• B. oleracea (L.) var. gongylodes L. : Kohl rabi or knol-khol
• B. oleracea (L.) var. costata DC: Portugal cabbage, tronchuda kale
• B. oleracea (L.) var. subauda L. : Savoy cabbage
• B. oleracea (L.) var. italica Plenck : Broccoli (Sprouting broccoli).
• B. oleracea (L.) var. botrytis L. : Cauliflower (heading broccoli).

Factor
1 2 3
Off-types 0.10 0. 20
**Plants affected by seed borne
disease
0.10 0.50
*Standards for Off-types shall be met at and after flowering and for seed borne diseases
at final inspection.
**Seed borne disease shall be:
•Black leg (Leptosphaeria maculans (Desm) Ces & De Not.)
•Block rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Pamm.) Dawson)
•Soft rot (Erwinia carotovora (L.R. Jones)
Specific requirements

 The first roughing is done at the time of handling the
mature heads. All off type plants, diseased or undesirable
types are removed at this stage.
 Second roughing is done before the heads start bursting.
The loose leaves poorly heading plants and those having a
long stem and heavy frame, most by rogued out at this
stage,
 Subsequent roguing for off types, diseased plants should be
done before flowering and from time to time as required.
Roughing

 The harvesting done in two lots.
 Generally the early matured plants are harvested first, when
the pods turn into brown colour.
 After harvesting it is piled up for curing.
 After 4 to 5 days it is turned up side down and allowed for
further curing for 4 to 5 days.
 Then the pods are threshed with sticks
 Then the seeds are dried to 7% moisture content, cleaned
and treated with Carbendazim @ 2 g/ Kg of seed.
136
Harvesting seed and Threshing

Seed Yield
The average seed yield varies from 500 to 600 kg/ha for early
varieties and 700-750 Kg/ha for late varieties.

Seed standards
Factor
(maximum)
5.0% 5.0%

SEED PRODUCTION IN
CAULIFLOWER

 Caulis – latin – stem
 Flori – flower
 Botrytis – budding
Caulifiower (Phool gobhi)
Brassica oleracia var botrytis
Brassicaceae/Cruciferae
Mediterranean region
Part used –CURDS
n = 9 (2n=18)

Different types of cauliflowers
types origin
Cornish England
Northern England
Roscoff France
Angers France
Erfurts or snowfall Germany & Netherlands

 Cornish type – 1st introduction – India – contribute resistance
genes – e.g. Black rot, self incompatibility – curd flavored,
open plant habit and exposed yellow loose curds (Swarup and
Chatterjee, 1972)
 Indian cauliflower – early maturing – annual type – tolerant
high temperature and humid condition.
 The typical Indian cauliflowers were the results of
intercrossing between Cornish and other European type.
The head of a cauliflower, also called a
“curd,” is a group of tightly packed flower
buds that have not fully developed. The buds
are attached to fleshy stalks where most of
the nutrients for their growth are stored.

 Cauliflower requires cool and moist climate for seed
production.
 The sowing and transplanting adjusted such that no danger of
snow or frost is there during curd formation.
 In Kullu valley and Saproon valley , best time of nursery
sowing is end of August and transplanting is done first
fortnight of October.
Sowing season

 The flowers are borne in racemes on the main stem and its
branches.
 The buds open under the pressure of the rapidly growing petal.
 The process starts in the after noon and usually the flower
becomes fully expanded during the following morning.
 The anthers open a few hours later being slightly protogynous.
 The anthesis of flowers start at 8:00 AM and continues upto 11 :20
AM under normal conditions.
 Maximum anthesis occurs between 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM.
 The anthers start dehiscing at the time of opening. In general
dehiscence, occurs between 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon. The pollen
fertility reduced one day after anthesis.
 The stigma become receptive two days before and remains upto
two days after anthesis
Floral Biology

Varieties Year of
Notificat
ion
Key Character1
1. Early Varieties (20 – 27°c)
Pusa Early Synthetics 1993 Plant erect with bluish green leaves, curd flat white
and compact
Early Kunwari 1973 Curd are semi-spherical with even surface
Pant Ghobi-3 1989 Long stem, semi creamy white erect leaves,
hemispherical curd
Pusa Deepali 1978 Median tall, white and waxy leaves, medium in size
Pant Ghobi-2 - Curd are medium, compact and yellowish
2. Mid Varieties (16-19°c)
Pusa Shubra 1988 Tall, long stalk ,leaves light bluish green. Twisting
backwards from the middle ,resistant to black rot.
Pusa Synthetic - Errect, frame narrow to medium flat curd creamy
white to white and compact.
Varieties

Varieties Year of
notification
Key characters
Improved Japanese - Leaves bluish green, curd compact and white
Pant Shubra 1985 Curd compact, slightly conical retentive, greenish
white in colour, non ricey and non –leafy.
Pant Ghobi-4 - Long stem semi erect leaves, hemispherical, creamy
white medium compact non -ricey
Narender Ghobi 1992
3. Late varieties (10-16°c)
Pusa Snowball - 1 1978 Curds are snowwhite, straight leaves, curds are
compact.
Pusa Snowball K-1 1988 Leaves are puckered, serrated, light green in colour.
Pusa Snow ball-2 1978
Dania - Sturdy plants, medium deep curds
Ooty - 1 - Uniform curd with attractive creamy white colour
drought resistant free from riceyness

1. Seed to seed method (In situ)
2. Transplanting method (Head to seed method)
In India seed to seed method has been found successful and is
recommended for cauliflower seed production since head to
seed method is not useful.

 In this method the plants are allowed to over winter in the field and
produce seed in the original position, where they were first planted
in the seedling stage.
 Plants with fully developed, true to type, compact curds selected on
the basis of their physiological and curd qualities are left in the field .
 All the off types diseased and poor curds are roughed off .
 These curds produce flower stalks, flowers and seeds.
In situ (Seed to seed method)

This method is not successful since the transplanted
plants do not establish well and seed yield is less.
 Selected plant with best curd are uprooted carefully and replanted in
solid block for seed production.
 In this process the curds at the time of transplanting is given with
different cutting methods to facilitate the growth of the side seed
stalk which permits better quality seed production.
Head to seed Method
( transplanting method)

 All type of curd cutting methods viz. Scooping, curd pruning
and half curd removal were effective in increasing the seed
yield.
 However scooping of curd was best compared to other
method (Priya et al.,2000)

 Scooping central portion of curd when it is fully formed
helps in the early emergence of flower stalks in hills.
 Scooping is normally not required for seed production in
plains.
SCOOPING

Cauliflower seed production Pusa Snowball K-1
Crop at Curd Stage

Land Requirements
 Land to be used for seed production of cauliflower and
broccoli shall be free from volunteer plants.
Field Inspection
 A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the first before
the marketable stage of heads, the second when heads have
formed and the third at the flowering stage.

Field Standards
•General requirements
1 2 3
and from the following
varieties of Brassica
oleracea (L)
1600 1000

 Brassica oleracea (L.) var. oleracea : wild cabbage.
 B. oleracea (L.) var. capitata L. : cabbage
 B. oleracea (L.) var. ramosa DC : branching bush kale.
 B. oleracea (L.) var. millecapitata (Lev.) Helm: thousand headed kale.
 B. oleracea (L.) var. gemmifera DC : Brussels sprouts
 B. oleracea (L.) con var. acephala DC : fodder kale (karamsag)
 B. oleracea (L.) var. viridis L. : collards,s tree kale
 B. oleracea (L.) var. gongylodes L. : Kohl rabi or knol-khol
 B. oleracea (L.) var. costata DC: Portugal cabbage, tronchuda kale
 B. oleracea (L.) var. subauda L. : savoy cabbage

Factor
1 2 3
Off-types 0.10 0. 20
**Plants affected by seed
borne disease
0.10 0.50
*Standards for Off-types shall be met at and after flowering and for seed borne
diseases at final inspection.
**Seed borne disease shall be:
Black leg (Leptosphaeria maculans (Desm) Ces & De Not.)
Block rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Pamm.) Dawson)
Soft rot (Erwinia carotovora (L.R. Jones)
Specific requirements

 Most critical stages for roguing are:-
1. Vegetative- for shape, color, margin of leaves. All weak, diseased and
planting with spreading leaves and long stalks are discarded.
2. Transition stage- transformation takes about 15 days in snowball type,
early and late types are discarded.
3. Full curd formation- most important stage. Curd characters like
maturity, size , shape, color, compactness , surface and curd depth
,freedom from bracts diseases and riceyness. Soft rot(foul smell) , grey
mould, botrytis should be uprooted.
4. Bolting stage- Remove early and late bolters.
Early bolter’s stalks emergence is from the center, which in not
desirable.
ROGUING

 The crop is ready to harvest in May to June, in 2-3 batches and
harvesting is preferably done in the morning to avoid shattering.
 Pod color (60-70%) turned to brown/yellow brown.
 Seed has synchronised development with siliqua attaining physiological
and harvestable maturity at 7 and 8 weeks after flowering,
respectively.
 Maximum amount of seed coat integrity reached at harvestable
maturity (significant loss with delay of every 7 days )
Maturity and Harvesting

 The harvested crop piled-up in small heaps (either in
tarpauline or cement floor) and covered with hay to reduce
rapid drying of branches.
 Curing helps in slow ripening of unripened seed at the cost
of food and water supply from the branches.
 It improves color of the seed (as a whole) and reduces
shattering losses.
 No over or under curing- after 4-5 days heap is turned
upside down and allowed for another 4-5 days.
In wet humid conditions curing should be done for 4-5 days
only.
 If turning is not done in time, heat will be increased in the
centre causing sprouting inside the pods.
Curing

 Threshing should be done on a clear day.
 Seeds are readily dislodged from the siliquas.
 In the morning crop is spread on floor for drying and in the
afternoon, the seed is extracted by beating with the sticks.
 Followed by Winowing seeds are sun dried to the safer
moisture level 7%.
 These operations should be done rather quickly to preserve
viability and vigour.
Threshing, Extraction and Drying

 Seed yields depends not only on the variety, environmental
factors and agronomical practices but also on the size and degree
of compactness of the curd.
 Seed yield increased with curd size but curd size has no effect on
germination.
 Average seed yield of early cauliflower varieties from 500-600
Kg/ha while in late cauliflower it varies from 300 to 400 Kg/ha.
 Grading and Packing – Cauliflower seed inspite of its small size,
need processing to eliminate the small, immature and ill filled
seeds which otherwise would lead to low viability and vigour.
 The graded seed must have 70% germination and is packed
accordingly
Seed Yield

Factor
(maximum)
5.0% 5.0%
Seed Standards

 BOTANICAL NAME- Brassica oleracea L. var italica
 FAMILY – Brassicaceae
 Chromosome No.- 2n = 18
 Broccoli is an ItaIian word from the Latin ‘Brachium’
meaning an arm or branch and is used in Italy to refer
to young edible floral shoots.
 It is a cool season crop and its most types are
biennial.
 It is a new crop in India which is most nutritious
member of cole group being rich source of
sulphoraphane, a compound associated with
reducing risk of cancer.
Sprouting Broccoli

 Its marketable plant part is head composed of immature
flowers or florets.
 Different types of broccolis are available but green types
are more popular. The green forms called as calabrese is
mainly cultivated for frozen food.
 Broccoli is believed to have originated in eastern
Mediterranean with Italy as main centre of its
distribution.
 It is widely spread along coasts of Mediterranean and
North Atlantica. Cultivation spread over to U.K., Japan,
USA and Europe.
 In India its cultivation has been started recently around
the metropolitan cities.

 The process of opening of the buds starts in the
afternoon, the flowers become fully expanded
during the following morning.
 The anthers open a few hours later being
protogynous. Peak hour of anthesis are between 8 to
9 am.
 Anther dehiscence begins at the time of anthesis and
maximum occurs between 10 a.m. and 12 noon.
 Pollen fertility is considerably high at time of anthesis
.
 The stigma becomes receptive two days before and
remains upto two days after anthesis
FLORAL BIOLOGY

 Broccoli is a cross pollinated crop due to-
1.Protogyny
2.Self incompatibility
3.Male sterility
 The pollination is carried out by bees, which collect pollen
and nectar. It is secreted by two nectaries situated
between bases of the short stamens and the ovary.
 Percent of cross pollination in Sprouting broccoli is 95%.
POLLINATION MECHANISM

Seed production of Broccoli cv Green Head

TYPES
 Heading broccoli- It resembles cauliflower, in that it forms a
large central head without sprouting florets.
 Sprouting broccoli- it contains clusters of green buds on
stems that branch out small clusters like ‘sprouts’ from the
stems.

1. Palam Kanchan- yellowish green (heading broccoli)
2. Palam Vichitra- purple (heading broccoli)
3. Palam Haritika- Green (sprouting broccoli)
4. Palam Samridhi- Green(sprouting broccoli)
5. Pusa KTS-1- sprouting broccoli
6. Italian Green
7. Green Head
8. Punjab Broccoli
VARIETIES

 It is not much sensitive to hot weather.
 Above mean temperature of 20 degree celsius, the flower
buds open prematurely and bud clusters become loose
quickly and results in undesirable leafiness in the heads.
 18 -20 degree celsius is optimum temperature for seed
production.
 In bud production stage even a light spell of frost is
undesirable and causes freezing , browning , and rotting
of bud clusters.
CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS

 Cole crops are temperate vegetables requiring temperate
climate especially during a specific stage of their growth for
successful seed production.
 During this period these vegetables must have the
vernalization requirement necessary for stimulating the
conversion of vegetative phase into reproductive phase i.e
induction of flowering and bolting.
 Flowering season and vernalization temperature-February-
April
10-15 Degree Celsius

1. Srinagar valley(J&K)
2. Upper Kullu valley (Himachal Pradesh)
3. Lahaus valley, Kinnaur( H.P)
4. Kalpa valley, Kinnaur(H.P)
5. Saproon valley, solan (H.P)
6. Kumaon hills( Uttar Pradesh)
7. Kalimpong – Darjeeling Hills (WB)
8. Nilgiri hills(South India)
MAJOR SEED PRODUCTION AREAS IN INDIA

1. In situ method (seed to seed)
2. Transplanting method (head to
seed)
For seed production, seed to seed method
is recommended since the head to seed
method in India has not been very
successful because there is no rest period
between the sprouts stage and flowering.
METHODS OF SEED PRODUCTION

 The crop is allowed to over-winter and produce seed in
the original position, where they are first planted in the
seedling stage.
 Plants with fully developed , true to type, compact heads
selected and are left in the field.
 All diseased, off-types , and poor heads/sprouts removed.
ADVANTAGES
1. High seed yield
2. Less cost of seed production
3. Crop matures 10 – 15 days earlier
In situ Method of Seed Production

Field and seed standards
are same as that of
cauliflower

 Most suitable stages for rouging are;
1. Vegetative stage- shape, color ,venation, margins of leaves
etc.
2. Transition stage
3. Head formation stage- maturity, size, shape, color,
compactness, freedom from bracts .
4. Bolting stage – remove early or late bolters.
ROUGING

Removal of knol khol plant from broccoli seed plot

Roguing in a Broccoli seed plot

 Generally the seed ripen in May to June, when 70% of the
pods have turned brown and the rest of the crops change
to yellow brown.
 Harvesting should be done preferably in morning hours
to avoid shattering. It may be done in two lots.
 After harvesting it is piled up for curing. After 4 to 5 days
it is turned upside down and allowed to cure for another
4 to 5 days in the same way.
 In the morning crop is spread on the tarpauline or
concrete floor for drying and in afternoon seed is
extracted by beating with sticks.
 Seed yield: 900 -1100 kg/ha.
HARVESTING AND THRESHING

Seed Production of Important
Root Crops

Carrot
Radish
Turnip
Important Root Crops

Carrot (Daucas carota)
Family- Umblliferae

Introduction
 Important root crop of the world.
 Rich in beta-carotene (a precursor of Vit A which is good for eyes) &
also contain appreciable amount of thiamine and riboflavin.
 Root have nutrients “Potassium succinate” which is anti-
hypertensive.
 Root juice provide good energy for those suffering from diabetes.
 Middle Asian in origin.
 Carrot requires a period of 6-8 weeks of low temperature (<10OC) for
flower induction and flowering is accelerated under long days.

Floral biology
 Carrot umbel is compound inflorescence.
 First umbel to flower is primary umbel which is terminal to the main
stalk.
 Branches from main stalk form secondary umbels and subsequent
branches from these form tertiary umbels.
 A primary umbel is bigger in size i.e. upto 1000 flowers/ umbel. The
size decreases in secondary and tertiary umbel.
 About 8 days later the process starts in one or more secondary
umbels to be followed about 9 days later by the third order.
 Flowers usually begin opening on the periphery of the central umbel
first.
 The time required for an umbel to pass through flowering is 7-10
days depending upon size and environment .
 The flowers are perfect and protoandrous.
 It is a cross pollinated crop and crossing is usually done by
honeybees.
 Flowers are epigynous with five small sepals, five petals, five stamens
and two carpels.
 The carrot fruit is a bilocular schizocarp, which dries and spilt upon
maturity to yield two mericarp with one seed each.

Climatic requirement
 Requires cool temperature
 High day and night temperature during
pollination, fertilization or early stage of
seed development can greatly reduce carrot
seed yield and quality.
 Carrots are of two types
Biennial or temperate types (requires
vernalization for seed stalk development) e.g.
Early Nantes, Chanteny, Solan Rachna .
Annual or Orientation/ Asiatic types (seed can be
produced in plains) e.g. Pusa Kesar

Land requirement
 Should be free from volunteer plants.
 Should be deep and having good drainage.
There are two distinct methods
1. Root to seed methods (ex situ method)
2. Seed to seed method (in situ method)
Of these former is the standard method
generally followed for seed production.

Root to seed method
 In first season, the method of cultivation remains same as for fresh
market root production except time of planting which is early in case
of roots produced for seed i.e. Aug-Sept in mid hills of HP or northern
Indian plains.
 Sow on ridges for better root development as compared to flat bed.
 Preparation of roots for replanting
 Fully developed roots are lifted and true to type roots are selected.
 The foliage is cut leaving 4-5 cm stump of petioles .
 Also cut roots leaving 1/3 or ½ length of roots towards petiole.
 From one hectare carrot crop, roots shall be available for 8-10 ha of
seed crops.

Seed production of temperate carrot
(Root to seed method)
 Roots are produced in first season i.e. July- Nov in dry
temperate zone. In November roots are uprooted,
selected and stored in underground trenches from
December to March to fulfill vernalization requirements.
The roots are removed from trenches in first week of
April and stecklings are replanted in 1st or 2nd week of
April for seed production. The seed gets mature in
October.
 The roots are produced in Aug to Nov in the mid hills of
HP and then transported and stored in trenches from Dec
to March in dry temperate region for seed production as
in first case.
 The ideal root storage requires a temperature of just
above 32 O F (0OC) and RH 90-95 %.

Field Standards
Mother root production stage Seed production stage
Foundation Certified Foundation Certified
1 2 3 4 5
Fields of other varieties
including commercial hybrid
of the same variety
5 5 1000 800
Fields of the same hybrid
(code designation) not
5 5 1000 800
1. Isolation
Seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the column 1 of the Table
below by the distances specified in columns 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the said Table:

Factor Maximum permitted (%)
1 2 3
*Roots not conforming to the varietal
characteristics including forked roots
0.010%
(by number)
0.050%
(by number)
Off-types (plants) in seed parent at and
after flowering
0.010% 0.050%
Off-types (plants) in pollinator at and
after flowering
0.010% 0.050%
Plants of pollen shedding umbels in seed
parent at flowering
0.050% 0.10%
*Maximum permitted at second inspection at mother root production stage

 Planting distance of steckling
 45x30, 60x30, 45x45, 60x45 & 75x60 cm is followed at
different places.
 45x30 cm spacing is recommended in HP
 Rouging
 1st – at the time of preparation of steckling
 2nd- before flowering
 3rd- at the time of seed maturity before harvesting

 Single spray of GA3 @750ppm at 8-10 leaf stage increases seed
yield via increase in seed number per umbel.
 Harvesting
 The primary umbels mature first and then secondary followed by
tertiary. Hence umbels are harvested manually when they mature
and turn brown.
 Shattering is not a serious problem so harvesting can be delayed for
few days.
 For quality seed production, primary and secondary umbels should
be used and other umbels should be removed at the time of
flowering.

Curing, threshing and grading
 The seed turns brown 6 weeks after pollination.
 Before the seed shatters, cut and place umbels into paper bags to dry
completely.
 Late-season rains can reduce seed quality.
 For small amounts, handpick each umbel as it dries brown. Large
amounts of seed can be harvested by cutting the entire stalk as
umbels begin to dry.
 Allow seed to mature in a cool, dry location for an additional 5-7 days
by putting umbels in a heap (Curing).
 Seeds can be removed by hand-beating or rubbing umbels between
hands. Winnow to clean.
 Remove spines from dry seed by rubbing.
 Seed Yield-500-600 kg/ha

Seed Standards
(maximum)
5/kg 10/kg

A pit prepared for storage of roots

Sclerotinia rot during storage in pits

Seed Production of Carrot Cv. SOLAN RACHNA at VRS-KALPA (HP)

Radish is one of the important
vegetable crops because of its year
round cultivation and demand.
It is rich in pungent flavour
compound ‘isothiocynates’ which is
anti-carcinogenic.
Useful in liver and gall bladder
problems.

 Best suited for cool and moderate climate.
 According to temperature tolerance and seed production varieties can be
divided into two groups.
 Temperate / European types- seed can be produced in hill e.g. Pusa Himani,
White Icicle, French Breakfast
 Tropical/ Asiatic types e.g. Pusa Reshmi, Pusa Chetki, Japanese White (JW)-
Seed can be produced in plains but good quality seed especially of JW can be
produced in hills.
 Photoperiod affects root development which is more in short days i.e. <
12 hours day light.
 Long days and high temperature results in premature seed stalk
formation.
 Temperature above 30OC is harmful for seed setting
 Temperate type vars require chilling during winter for bolting . e.g. Even
under Solan (Nauni) conditions bolting and seed setting is poor in Pusa
Himani as compared to JW.

Land requirement
 Free from volunteer plants.
 Deep, well drained, light and friable
Roguing
 1st – Pre-uprooting stage
 2nd – Uprooting & replanting stage
 3rd – Bolting and pre-flowering stage

Field Standards
Mother root production
stage
Seed production stage
1 2 3 4 5
Fields of other varieties of the
same species
5 5 1600 1000
and rat-tail radish (Raphanus
caudatus L.)
5 5 1600 1000
1. Isolation
Seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the column 1 of the Table
below by the distances specified in columns 2,3,4 and 5 of the said Table:

Factor Maximum permitted (%)
1 2 3
*Root not conforming to varietal
characteristics
0.10%
(by number)
0.20%
(by number)
**Off-types 0.10% 0.20%
***Plants affected by seed borne
diseases at final inspection
0.10% 0.50%
*Maximum permitted at second inspection at mother root production stage.
**Maximum permitted at flowering at seed production stage.
*** Seed borne diseases shall be :
Black rot: (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Pamm.) Dawson.)
Black leg: (Leptosphaeria maculans (Desm) (Ces. & de Not)

Methods of seed production :
1. Seed to seed (in situ) method
2. Root to seed method

1. Seed to seed (In situ) method
 Not preferred
 Roots thinned to desirable distance upon maturity and are
allowed to bolt and produce seed on the same field without
uprooting.
 Seed yield is higher but quality is poor due to non selection
for root characters.
 A very high quality seed should be used for sowing in this
method.

2. Root to seed method
 This method produce quality seed.
 Roots are uprooted on maturity and true
to type roots are selected and replanted
for seed production.
 The main advantage of this method is that
there is no scope for off types although
this method is more laborious and gives
low yield.

 Selection of roots for steckling
 Selected roots
 True to type as per specification of the vars
 Free from pests and diseases
 Rejected roots
 Off types, diseased, forked, deformed, cracked etc.
 Preparation of steckling
 Cutting of shoots- 5-10 cm basal part of shoot should be
left
 Cutting of roots- keep 15-20 cm of root top and remove
the rest portion (optimum size 15 cm)
 Fungicide treatment- dip in the solution of Bavistin (0.1%)
or Mancozeb (0.3%) or Ridomil (0.3%) for 20-30 minutes.

Harvesting, curing and threshing
 Crop is harvested when majority of the pods are yellowish
brown
 The crops is cured for 5-6 days in heaps.
 The crop is less prone to shattering.
 Threshing seeds from pods are difficult. Allow the plants to
mature fully; then bring them to the threshing floor for drying.
 Threshing is done by hand-beating with sticks. The seed is then
dried further.
 After thrashing seed should be dried to 6-8% moisture content.
 Seed yield- 600-800 kg/ha

Radish seed production (Pusa
Himani)

Pure Seed (minimum) 98.0% 98.0%
Other crops seeds (maximum) 5/kg 10/kg
weed seeds (maximum) 10/kg 20/kg
(maximum)
5.0% 5.0%
•Seed Standards

 Important root crop of family cruciferae.
 Best adapted to cool and moderate climate.
 Biennial in seed production.
 High temperature during flowering and seed setting results
in poor seed yield.
 Vars of turnip are grouped into two groups
 Temperate or biennial types- PTWG- seed can only be produced
in temperate region/ hills
 Tropical or annual types- seed can be produced in plain/ tropical
climate

Land requirement
 Free from volunteer plants.
 Soil should be deep, well drained, light and
friable
Roguing
 1st - Pre-uprooting stage
 2nd – Uprooting & replanting stage
 3rd – Bolting and pre-flowering stage

Mother root production stage Seed production stage
1 2 3 4 5
Fields of other varieties 5 5 1600 1000
Fields of the same variety not conforming
to varietal purity requirements for
certification and from other species of
genus Brassica listed below:
5 5 1600 1000
Brassica pekinensis (Lour.) Rupr. : Chinese cabbage (heading).
Brassica chinensis L.: Chinese cabbage (non-heading).
Brassica napus (L.) var. napobrassica (L.) Peterm.: rutabaga (swede)
Brassica juncea(L.) Czern. & Coss. subsp. juncea: Indian mustard or rai or bangla sarson.
Juncea var. rugosa (Roxb.) Pahadi rai.
B. juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss. subsp. integrifolia (West) Thell: Vegetable mustard or rai
B. chinensis Juslen; non-Duthie and Fuller: brown sarson or kali sarson.
B. napus L. var. glauca (Roxb.) Schulz: yellow sarson or pilli sarson or sarish.
B. napus L. var. napus : laha or maghi or achara rai.
B. tournefortii Gouan: Punjabi rai or jangli rai.
B. nigra (L.) Koch: true mustard or black mustard or banarasi rai
B. alba (L.) Robenh: white mustard
Field Standards
•A)General requirements
1. Isolation
Seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the column 1 of the Table below by
the distances specified in columns 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the said Table:

1 2 3
Off-types 0.10 0.20
**Plants affected by seed
borne diseases
0.10 0.50
*Maximum permitted at and after flowering in the case of off-types and
at final inspection in case of seed borne diseases.
** Seed borne diseases shall be:
Black rot: (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Pamm.) Dawson.)
Black leg: (Leptosphaeria maculans (Desm.) (Ces. & de Not)
2. Specific requirements

Methods of seed production :
1. Seed to seed (in situ) method
2. Root to seed method
Advantages and disadvantages are
same as radish

1. Seed to seed (In situ) method
 Not preferred
 Roots thinned to desirable distance upon
maturity and are allowed to bolt and
produce seed on the same field without
uprooting.
 Seed yield is higher but quality is poor due
to non selection for root characters.
 A very high quality seed should be used for
sowing in this method.

2. Root to seed method
 This method produce quality seed.
 Roots are uprooted on maturity and true to
type roots are selected and replanted for
seed production.
 Cut the top as in case of radish but remove
only the tap root in this case.

Harvesting, curing and thrashing
 Seed crop is prone to shattering so harvest
the crop in morning hours when pods are
reddish brown in colour.
 After curing for 5-7 days crops can easily be
thrashed
 Dry seeds to 6-8 % moisture content before
storage
Seed yield- 600-800 Kg/ ha

Pure Seed (minimum) 98.0% 98.0%
Other crops seeds (maximum) 5/kg 10/kg
weed seeds (maximum) 5/kg 10/kg
(maximum)
5.0% 5.0%
•Seed Standards

Seed production in vegetables pgs-504

Seed production in vegetables pgs-504

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