INTRODUCTION


Production of improved seed is an important area of plant breeding. The seed of a released and popular variety produced by scientific method is referred to as improved seed or quality seed Improved seed plays an important role in maximizing the production and productivity of field crops. Improved seed leads to (1) better germination, (2) vigorous seedling growth. (3) higher


crop stand. (4) better quality of produce, and (5) ultimately in higher crop yield. In plant breeding two types of seed production programs are carried out, viz. (i) varietal seed production and (ii) hybrid seed production. This chapter deals with varietal seed production.


There are five classes of improved seed, viz. (1) nucleus seed, (2) breeder seed, (3) foundation seed, (4) registered seed, and (5) certified seed. A brief description of these classes of seed 15 presented below :

Nucleus Seed


Nucleus seed is the initial seed of an improved variety which is always limited in quantity It is produced by the originating plant breeder. Main features of nucleus seed are given below


or agriculture university, under the supervision of original plant breeder or sponsored plant (i) Production : It is produced at the experimental farms of the concerned research institute breeder.


 Purity: It is genetically and physically cent per cent pure.


Certification: For nucleus seed certification is not required.

Varietal Seed Production


 Uses: Nucleus seed is used for the production of breeder seed. It is not meant for general





Breeder Seed


is not meant for geners Research Institute or Agricultural University. Breeder seed is the progeny of nucleus seed or breeder seed. It is produced supervision of original or sponsoring plant breeder at the research


distance differs from species to species. under the strict farm of the concerned Crop (ⅰ) Production: Breeder seed is produced in isolation from


other varieties. The isolation (iⅱ) Purity: Breeder seed is genetically and physically cent per cent pure. The genetic purity


maintained by proper roguing.


is from National Seeds Corporation and State Seed by a monitoring team which consists of original or sponsored plant breeder and (iiⅲ) Certification: Certification is not required for breeder seed. The seed plot is inspected

each Certification Agency. one representative Uses: Breeder seed is used for the production of foundation seed. It is not meant forgeneral distribution.



Foundation Seed



Foundation seed is the progeny of breeder seed. 


Itsmain features are given below (ⅰ) Production: It is produced by the National Seeds Corporation under the strict per of research scientists and experts from NSC. Production of foundation seed is taken up at the send multiplication farms of government, research farms of ICAR Institutes and Agricultural Univers and also on cultivators' fields. Proper isolation distance is adopted for the seed which varies from crop to crop.


(iⅱ) Purity: Foundation seed is genetically cent per cent pure. However, physical purity of 98% is permissible. The remaining 2% includes inert matter


(ⅲ) Certification: In case of foundation seed, certification is required which is undertaken by the State Seed Certification Agency.


(iv) Uses: Foundation seed is used for the production



Registered Seed


Registered seed is the progeny of either foundation seed or registered seed. In India registered seed is generally omitted and certified seed is produced directly from the main features of registered seed are given below:


foundation seed. The (i) Production: It is produced at the farms of progressive


cultivators according to technical advice and supervision of National Seeds Corporation. (iⅱ) Purity: It has 100% genetic purity. However, the


physical purity of 98% is permaible. (iii) Certification: This class of seed also requires certification which is undertaken by the State Seed Certification Agency.


(iv) Uses: Registered seed is used to produce certified seed or registered seed. It is also not meant for general distribution.


. Certified Seed


Certified seed is the progeny of either foundation or registered or certified seed. Its main features are given below:


(i) Production: It is produced on the fields of progressive farmers under the strict supervoon of State Seed Certification Agency. This work is also taken up by the NSC, if required. Priper isolation distance is adopted which varies from species to species.


(ii) Purity: It has genetic purity of 100% and physical purity of 98%. The other crops seeds, and weed seed should not be more than prescribed standards which vary from species to species


(iii) Certification: This class of seed requires certification which is undertaken by the Sue Certification Agency. For certification, the seed must meet rigid requirements of punity and germination.


(iv) Uses: Certified seed is available for general distribution to the farmers for commercial crop production.