Crop Stage for Field Inspection in Seed Technology
Crop Stage for Field Inspection in Seed Technology
The number of field inspection required to be conducted depends upon the nature and pollination behaviour of the seed crop.
1) Self pollinated crops – 2 inspections.
2) Often crops pollinated crops 2 to 3 inspections.
3) Cross pollinated crops. Hybrids – 4 inspections.
The appropriate stages for field inspection of seed plots are
1) Pre-flowering stages.
2) Flowering stages ( may be II,III or IV)
3) Pre-harvest stage and
4) Post harvest stage.
Any additional field inspection conducted over and above the minimum number will be beneficial the key points to be observed at each inspection, are as under.
Stages of Crop | Inspection Number | Key Points to be Observed |
1) Sowing to Pre-flowering | I | 1. Varietals eligibility for verification.2. Verification of source of seed.3. Land Requirement.4. Isolation distance.5. Planting ratio and border rows in case of hybrid seed plot. 6. Area of seed plot. |
2) Flowering Stage | May be II,III,IV | 1. Check of factors which were noticed during pre-flowering, inspection.2. Confirm isolation from the source of contamination and plot and calculation of area rejected if any on account of isolation requirement.3. Confirm observation on planting rations, border, rows, rougeing of off types, diseased plants, pollen shedders, detasseling made during preveious inspection. 4. Taking field counts for different specific requirements for prescribed for crop being inspected. |
3) Post flowering and Pre-harvest Stage | May be III, IV, or V | 1. Confirm the correctness of observation made in earlier inspection.2. Rougeing and taking field counts.3. Issue of instruction to seed grower for harvesting, drying, threshing, bulk packing, storage and transportation to seed processing plant. 4. Estimate seed yield. |
4) Post harvest stage | Last | 1. Verify in seed crops involving two parents that male parent rows have been separately and completely harvested and removed from the field and to seal if necessary the harvested male row produce. 2. Verify that the crop from the area rejected due to inadequate isolation or poor rougeing has been separately and completely harvested and removed from the field and to seal if needed the produce so harvested. 3. Avoidance of admixture of any type of contaminant at field stage threshing yard etc. 4. Sealing of threshed produce after initial cleaning and drying. 5. Instruction to the seed grower for sale storage and transportation. |