Annals of Horticulture

Good quality seed is the symbol of better yield. Only seed with assured quality can give expected response to fertilizers, irrigation water and other inputs. Good quality means the seed of an improved variety exhibiting the genetic potential for higher yield, better quality, response, with wider adaptability, resistance to adverse conditions and proper synchronous maturity. In addition to this the quality seed should be genetically and physically pure show higher germination and vigour with optimum moisture content and good health. Genetic purity generally means that plants in a population of a particular variety are genetically identical, true to the type and population is homogeneous. But during stages of repeated multiplication, the variety gets deteriorated due to mechanical admixture, unwanted pollination, residual segregation and mutation etc. So in order to assure the supply of genetically and physically pure seeds to farmers there is need of sound certification system for seed quality control trough verification of seed source and visiting at phases of seed production, processing, storage, handling and seed testing so as to meet the prescribed requirements laid down for foundation and certified seeds. The breeder's seed is produced under the direct supervision of the concerned breeder and the quality of seed is supervised by the breeder seed monitoring team which provide a certificate about the quality of the seed and issue a gold yellow colored certificate for this category of seed. Grow-out test and certain quick laboratory biochemical methods like phenol test in wheat and electrophoreses of proteins and enzymes have been developed for testing varietal purity in different crops.