A Closer Look at Different Classes of Seeds

A Closer Look at Different Classes of Seeds: A seed is defined as a “fertilized mature ovule consisting of an embryo, protective coat, and stored material”. Seed is any material used for planting like seeds, vegetative elements such as bulbs, cuttings, grafts of any sort, corms, tubers, rhizomes, setts, and tubers.

Most of the agronomic requirements for seed production are essentially the same as for good crop production but in seed production strict attention in given to the maintenance of genetic identity and purity of varieties. As a result, a seed production generation system has been developed.

DIFFERENT CLASSES OF SEEDS: A Closer Look at Different Classes of Seeds

A. The Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) seed program classifies seeds into four distinct generations.

• Breeder seed (equivalent of OECD pre-basic)
• Foundation seed (equivalent of OECD basic)
• Registered seeds
• Certified seed

B. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) seed program identifies three different types of seeds.

• Pre-basic (PB) – seed material of any generation between the parental material (nucleus seed) and basic seed. It is produced by the breeder.
• Basic (B) – seed cultivated by or under the breeder’s supervision, intended for certified seed production, and referred to as basic seed. This stage represents the final phase where the breeder closely supervises.
• Certified– the offspring of basic seed, produced under the supervision of a seed enterprise, whether public or private. Certified seed can serve as the basis for subsequent generations of Certified seed (Certified 1, Certified 2, etc).

Designation of seed classes in some countries

Ethiopia	Morocco	New Zealand	Egypt	OECD	AOSCA
Nucleus	Head-rows	Nucleus	Nucleus	Nucleus	Nucleus
Breeder	Pre-basic	Breeder	Breeder	Pre-basic	Breeder
Pre-basic	Basic	Basic	Foundation	Basic	Foundation
Basic	Certified R1	Certified 1	Registered	Certified 1	Registered
Certified 1	Certified R2	Certified R2	Certified 1	Certified R2	Certified R2
Certified 2	–	–	–	–	–

C. In India, Four primary seed categories: Nucleus seed, Breeder seed, Foundation seed, and Certified seed.

1. Nucleus Seed:

2. Breeder seed

• This seed is the offspring of the nucleus seed.
• Breeder seed is produced directly from the concerned breeder under the supervision of the plant breeder at the research center or Agriculture University.
• Purity: The genetic and physical purity of breeder seed is 100%.
• Certification is not required.
• Breeder seed tag color:  Golden yellow color 
• Breeder seed tag size: 12×6 cm
• Uses: Source for initial and recurring increase of foundation seeds.

3. Foundation seed

• The foundation seed is often referred to as the mother seed.
• It is a progeny of breeder seed.
• Production of foundation seed at an Agriculture University or agriculture station under the supervision of a seed certification agency (SCA).
• Production of foundation seed is the responsibility of the state Department of Agriculture, National Seed Corporation (NSC), and central and state seed corporations.
• Quality check by: State Seed Certification Agency (SSCA)
• Purity: Genetic purity is 99.5% and physical purity
• Foundation seed tag color: White color
• Foundation seed tag size: 15×7.5 cm
• Uses: For the production of Certified seed or Registered seed

Registered seed

• It is a progeny of foundation seed.
• In India registered seed is not practiced and certified seed is produced from foundation seed.
• Certification done by the State Seed Certification Agency (SSCA)
• Registered seed tag colour: Purple color
• Registered seed tag size: 15×7.5 cm

4. Certified seed

• It is the progeny of the foundation seed.
• Production of Certified seed at progressive farmers under the supervision of the State Seed Certification Agency (SSCA).
• Purity: Genetic purity is 99% and physical purity
• Quality check by: State Seed Certification Agency (SSCA).
• Certified seed tag color: Azhar blue color
• Certified seed tag size: 15×7.5 cm
• Uses: Certified seed is a source for farmer commercial crop production. 

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CERTIFIED SEED AND TRUTHFUL SEED

Certified seed	Truthfully Labelled seed
Certification is voluntary	Truthful labeling is compulsory for all notified kind of varieties
It should have minimum field and seed certification standards	Tested for physical purity and germination
Seed certification officer and seed inspectors can take samples for inspection	Only Seed inspectors can take samples for checking
National Seed Corporation (NSC)	Normally used in private seed company
Tag color is azhar blue color	The tag color is azhar blue color

Also visit: Types of seed dormancy, Seed pelleting, Seed Storage, list of seed born disease