Standards For Planting Material

STANDARD GUIDELINES
FOR PLANTING
MATERIAL OF
HORTICULTURAL
1. FRUITS
Mango (Mangirfera indica L.)
1. Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification

Standards
a. The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and together

with the following specific standards constitute the standards to
certification of mango clones.
b. The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically
to mango.
All certified clones shall be produced by asexual methods like
veneer grafting or soft wood grafting or epicotyls grafting or
inarching
II. Land Requirements
a. Land to be used for clonal propagation of mango shall be free

from volunteer plants
b. Soils with high chloride content should be avoided
III. Field Inspection
a. Root stock
A minimum of one inspection shall be made before grafting
when the rootstock has attained graftable stage
b. Mother Plant/Scion
Mother Plant should be healthy, true to type and free from

diseases and pests. The trees should be certified for the desirable
characters by the Certifying agency and a certificate to this effect
shall be given to the nurseries. A minimum of one inspection shall
be made at the time of fruit maturity for health and fruit quality of
the mother tree.
c. Grafted Clones
A minimum of two inspections shall be made before the sale

of the clones after attaining the specified size to verify relevant
factors.
IV. Field Standards

A. General Requirements
1. Isolation: The clone propagation plots of mango shall be isolated
from the contaminants as shown in the following table.
Contaminants Minimum distance Certified

(meters)
Foundation
Field of other varieties 3 3
Fields of the same variety not 3 3
conforming to varietal purity
requirements for certification
2. Spacing: The spacing between plants in clone propagation plots

should be 20-30 cm and between rows 30-40 cm.
1. Rotation: Nursery should be rotated to other plots after raising
mango three times in the same plot.
B. Specific Requirements
a. Foundation Clones
1. Foundation clones being a group of common ancestry shall be
genetically pure in Absolute terms. Off types should be discarded
under the supervision of Certification Agency.
2. The plants should be free from malformation, anthracnose and
dieback.
b. Certified Class
Factor Maximum permitted (%)*
Certified
Off type 0.10
Plants infected with malformation 0.20
or anthracnose
Plants infected with dieback None
* Standards for off types shall be met at final inspection.
V. Clone Specifications
The specifications in respect of size of clones for foundation and
certified classes shall be as follows:
1. the diameter of the stock should range from 1.0-1.25 cm
2. The height of the grafting should range from 15-25 cm
3. The diameter of the grafts at 10 cm above the graft union should
range from 1.25-1.5 cm and height of the graft 60-100 cm.
4. Height of the plant should be 25-40 cm in case of
5. The grafted clones should be free from suckers.
6. In the clone lot, clones not conforming to specified size shall not
exceed 5.0% (by number)
VI. Clone Standards
Standard for each class

Factor
Foundation Certified
Pure living clones (minimum) 99.5% 98.0%
(by number) (by number)
Other living plants including 0.5% 2.0%
rootstocks (maximum) (by number) (by number)
Plants infected with dieback None None
Sweet Orange (Citrus chinensis Osbeck)
I. Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification

Standards
a. The General Certification Standards are basic and together with

the following specific standard constitute the standards for
certification of sweet orange clones.
to sweet orange.
shield budding or patch budding.

a. Land to be used for clonal propagation of sweet orange shall be free
from volunteer plants.

a. Rootstock
A minimum of one inspection shall be made before budding when
the rootstock has attained graftable stage.
characters by the Certifying Agency and a certificate to this effect
the mother tree.
c. Budded Clones
A minimum of one inspection shall be made before the sale of the
clones after attaining the specified size to verify relevant factors.
IV. Field Standards

(meters)
Foundation
should be 25 cm and between rows 40 cm.
mango two times in the same plot.
genetically pure in Absolute terms. Off types should be discarded
2. The plants should be free from malformation, anthracnose and
dieback.
b. Certified Class
Certified
Off type 0.10
1. The diameter of the stock should range from 0.6-1.00 cm
range from 1.0-1.25 cm and height of the Budd 30-50cm.
4. The Budded clones should be free from suckers.
VI. Clone Standards

Factor
Mandarin (Citrus reticulate Blanco)

Standards

certification of mandarin clones.
to mandarin.

shield budding or patch budding.

a. Land to be used for clonal propagation of mandarin shall be free

a. Rootstock
the rootstock has attained buddable stage.
shall be given to the nurseries. A minimum of two inspection shall
the mother tree.
c. Budded Clones
A minimum of two inspection shall be made before the sale of the
IV. Field Standards

(meters)
Foundation
mango two times in the same plot.
genetically pure in absolute terms. Off types should be discarded
2. The plants should be free from viruses.
b. Certified Class
Certified
Off type 0.10
4. The Budded clones should be free from suckers.
VI. Clone Standards

Factor
Acid lime (Citrus aurantium Swingle)

Standards

certification of sweet orange clones.
to sweet orange.
All certified clones shall be produced by layering or nucellar
seedlings.

Land to be used for clonal propagation of sweet orange shall be free

a. Mother Plant/Scion
the mother tree.
c. Clones (Layers/Nucellar Seedlings)
IV. Field Standards

1. Isolation: The clone propagation plots of Acid Lime shall be
isolated from the contaminants as shown in the following table.

(meters)
Foundation

acid lime two times in the same plot.
2. The plants should be free from viruses, canker and greening.
b. Certified Class
Certified
Off type 0.10
1. The diameter of the stock should range from 0.6-1.00 cm and
height of the clone 20-40 cm
VI. Clone Standards

Factor
Plants with virus, canker or None None
greening
Lemon (Citrus limon Burn.)

Standards

certification of lemon clones.
to lemon.
All certified clones shall be produced by asexual methods like air

layering or cuttings.

a. Land to be used for clonal propagation of lemon shall be free from
volunteer plants.

the mother tree.
b. Budded Clones
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation: The clone propagation plots of lemon shall be isolated

(meters)
Foundation

lemon two times in the same plot.
2. The plants should be free from viruses and canker.
b. Certified Class
Certified
Off type 0.10
1. The diameter of the clone at 10 cm above the ground level should
VI. Clone Standards

Factor
Guava (Psidium guajava L.)

Standards

certification of guava clones.
to guava.

patch budding or ring budding or stooling or inarching or air
layering.

a. Land to be used for clonal propagation of guava shall be free from
volunteer plants.

the mother tree.
b. Clones (Budded/Grafted/Stool layers/Air layers)
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation: The clone propagation plots of guava shall be isolated

(meters)
Foundation

guava three times in the same plot.
b. Certified Class
Certified
Off type 0.10
3. The diameter of the grafts at 10 cm above the graft union and self
rooted plants at 10 cm above ground level should range from 1-
1.25 cm and height 50-75 cm.
4. The grafted clone should be free from suckers.
VI. Clone Standards

Factor
Pure living clones 99.5% 98.0%
(minimum) (by number) (by number)
0.5% 2.0%
Other living plants including (by number) (by number)
rootstocks (maximum)
Apple (Malus domestica Brokh.)

Standards

certification of apple clones.
to apple.

tongue grafting or chip budding.

a. Land to be used for clonal propagation of apple shall be free from
volunteer plants.

a. Rootstock
A minimum of one inspection shall be made before
grafting/budding when the rootstock has attained graftable stage.
the mother tree.
c. Grafted / Budded Clones
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation: The clone propagation plots of apple shall be isolated

(meters)
Foundation
apple three times in the same plot.
2. The plants should be free from woolly aphis, collar rot, rubbery
wood and sanjose scale.
b. Certified Class
Certified
Off type 0.10
Plants infected with woolly None
aphis, collar rot, rubbery
wood or sanjose scale
range from 0.75-1.0 cm and height 75 - 120cm.
VI. Clone Standards

Factor
Pure living clones 99.5% 98.0%
(minimum) (by number) (by number)
0.5% 2.0%
Other living plants including (by number) (by number)
rootstocks (maximum) None None
Plants infected with wooly
aphis, collar rot, rubbery
wood or sanjose scale
Banana (Musa paridasiaca L.)

Standards.
The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together

with the following specific standards constitute the standards for
certification of banana clones.
II. Land requirements
Land to be used for clonal propagation of banana shall be free from

volunteer plants and diseases.
Mother plant:

diseases and pests. The plants should be certified for the desirable
the mother tree.
Clones (Suckers)

IV. Field Standards

1. Isolation: The clone propagation plots of banana shall be

isolated from the contaminants with 3-meter distance.
2. Spacing: The spacing between plants in clone propagation

plots should be 1.5 m and between rows 1.5 m.
3. Rotation: Nursery should be rotated to other plots after

raising banana three times in the same plot.
B. Specific requirement :
Clones
1. Foundation clones being a group of common ancestry shall
be genetically pure in absolute terms. Off types should be
discarded under the supervision of Certification Agency.
2. The plants should be free from bunchy top, nematode and

Panama disease.
The specifications in respect of size of clones shall be as follows:
1. The diameter of the sucker should range from 7.0 - 10.0 cm.
2. In the clone lot, clones not conforming to specified size shall

not exceed 5.0% (by number).
Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

Standards.

certification of litchi clones.
The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically

to litchi.
All certified clones shall be produced by asexual methods viz., air

layering.
Land to be used for clonal propagation of litchi shall be free from

volunteer plants.
Mother plant:

the mother tree.
Clones (Air Layers)

IV. Field Standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation: The clone propagation plots of litchi shall be isolated

from the contaminants with 3-meter distance.

litchi three times in the same plot.
Nursery:
1. Clones being a group of common ancestry shall be genetically

pure in absolute terms. Off types should be discarded.
2. The Off-types should not exceed to 0.1% by number.
VI. Clone Specifications
1. The diameter of the plant should range from 1.0 - 1.5 cm and
height of the plant 10-75 cm.
exceed 5.0% (by number).
Grape (Vitis vinifera L.)

Standards.

certification of grape clones.

to grape.
All certified clones shall be produced by asexual methods like chip

budding or cutting.
Land to be used for clonal propagation of grape shall be free from

volunteer plants.
Rootstock

Mother plant:/Scion

the mother Block.
Clones (Budded/rooted cuttings)

IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation: The clone propagation plots of grape shall be isolated
from fields of the same variety not conforming to purity and
field of other varieties by 3-meter (Minimum).


grape three times in the same plot.
B. Specific Requirement :

2. The plants should be free from nematode and anthracnose.
3. The Off-types should not exceed from 0.1% by number

(maximum).
VI. Clone Specifications
1. The diameter of the stock should range from 1.0 - 1.25 cm.
2. The height of the budding should range from 8-10 cm.
3. The diameter of the grafts/rooted cuttings should range from

1.0-1.25 cm and height 25-40 cm.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus Merr.)

Standards.

certification of Pineapple clones.

to Pineapple.

suckers or slips.
Land to be used for clonal propagation of Pineapple shall be free

Mother plant:

the mother plants.
Clones (Suckers/Slips)

IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation: The clone propagation plots of Pineapple shall be

isolated from fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity and field of other varieties by 3-meter
(Minimum).

Pineapple three times in the same plot.

2. The plants should be free from mealy bug.
1. The weight of sucker should be 400-500g and slip 350-450g..
Sapota (Achras sapota L.)

Standards.

certification of Sapota clones.

to Sapota.

inarching or air layering.
Land to be used for clonal propagation of Sapota shall be free from

volunteer plants.
Rootstock:
A minimum of one inspection shall be made before grafting when

the rootstock has attained graftable stage.
Mother plant/Scion:

the mother tree.
Clones (Grafted/Air Layers)

IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation: The clone propagation plots of Sapota shall be
isolated from fields of the same variety not conforming to
(Minimum).

Sapota three times in the same plot.

2. The Off-types should not be more than 0.10% (maximum).
1. The diameter of the stock should range from 1 - 1.25 cm.
2. The weight of the grafting should range 15-25 cm.
3. The diameter of the grafts at 10 cm above the graft union

should range from 1 - 1.25 cm and height 50 to 75 cm
(inarched) and 30-60 cm (air layered).
Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.)

Standards.

certification of Jackfruit clones.

to Jackfruit.

patch budding or ring budding or veneer budding.
Land to be used for clonal propagation of Jackfruit shall be free

Rootstock:

Mother plant/Scion:

the mother tree.
Budded Clones

IV. Field Standards
Isolation: The clone propagation plots of Jackfruit shall be isolated
from fields of the same variety not conforming to varietal purity
and field of other varieties by 3-meter (Minimum).

2. Off-types should not be more than 0.10% (maximum).
1. The diameter of the stock should range from 1 - 1.25 cm.
2. The height of the grafting should range 15-20 cm.
3. The diameter of the grafts at 10 cm above the graft union

should range from 1.25 - 1.50 cm and height of the graft 30 to
50 cm.
Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims)

Standards.

certification of Passion fruit clones.

to Passion fruit.
All certified clones shall be produced by asexual means viz.,

cutting.
Land to be used for clonal propagation of Passion fruit shall be free

Mother plant(s)
Mother Plant(s) should be healthy, true to type and free from

the mother plant(s).
Clones (Rooted cuttings)

IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation: The clone propagation plots of Passion fruit shall

be isolated from fields of the same variety not conforming to
(Minimum).
2. Rotation: Nursery bed should be rotated to other plots after
raising passion fruit three times in the same plot.

2. Off-types should not be more than 0.10% (maximum).
1. The diameter of the plants at 10 cm above ground level should

range from 0.42 - 0.60 cm and height of the plant 15 to 25 cm.
TISSUE CULTURE BANANA
Tissue Culture Raised Plants : Standard guidelines/parameters
Plant tissue culture or micropropagation is the aseptic culture of cells,

pieces of tissue, or organs. It is the true-to-type propagation of a selected
genotype using in vitro culture techniques. By this technique, it is
possible to regenerate new plants from small pieces of plant tissue
because each cell of a given plant has the same genetic makeup and is
capable of developing along a pre-determined pathway leading to the
formation of an entire plant that is identical to the plant from which it
was derived. It has been ground that plants can reproduce whole plants
from fragments of plant material when given a nutrient media capable of
supporting growth and appropriate hormone control. Using
micropropagation, millions of new plants can be derived from a single
plant. Micropropagation can be used to establish and maintain virus
infected, even though the remainder of the plant may be. Once new
plants are developed from the apical meristem, they can be maintained
and distributed as virus-free plants.
The standard process flow chart for production of quality planting

material is as follows
1. Establishment and maintenance of 'Elite certified mother nursery'
2. Selection of mother plants - Testing for virus & quality
3. Explant
4. Multiplication through axillary bud/meristem culture
5. Rooting, primary, secondary hardening and rouging
6. Periodic identification of somaclonal variations and off-types
7. Nursery plantation - Testing for virus & quality

8. Field transfer - Testing for quality, Virus indexing and
Certification
Criteria for production of quality planting material
I. Evaluation of Tissue Culture Labs
A tissue culture lab is governed by infrastructure facilities, quality

control mechanism and competence of the technical supervision. Each of
these areas have a prominent role in ensuring the production of good
quality planting material.
Score Card for Assessing TC Units.
Sl.No Description Marks

.
1. Infrastructure and Lab facilities
Washing room 5
Media preparation room 10
Inoculation room 10
Growth room 10
2. Quality control
Maintenance of certified mother block nurseries
Selection of mother plants 10
Periodic virus indexing of mother block nursery 10
Explant selection and culture initiation 5
Virus indexing of explant 5
Clonal fidelity and number of multiplication 10
Identification of somaclonal variations and off-

types* 5
Overall quality of the plants
3. Hardening facilities
Transfer area, Greenhouse/shade area, Nursery 10
4. Technical supervision and monitoring 10
Monitoring of the production process and the staff

involved therein
Technical competence of the production supervisory

staff
Operators
TOTAL 100
The TC I units getting an overall score of less than 65 should not be

considered eligible for distribution of micropropagated planting material
till such time when the facilities are improved as per norms. The lab
facilities including hardening facilities carry the maximum marks of 60
followed by quality control with 30 marks. These two areas are most
crucial for enabling the production and supply of disease free planting
material.
II. Testing for virus and quality
Tissue culture is an useful approach for generating virus-free planting

material. In order to minimize the risk of inadvertent propagation of virus
infected plants and introduction of somaclonal variability, tissue culture
raised plants need to be thoroughly indexed for freedom from viruses and
checked for quality. Careful indexing based on recent biotechnological
methods such as immunoprobes, nucleic acid probes and polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) would ensure phytosanitary safety during the
movement of planting material. Similarly, molecular testing will ensure
quality control. The PCR based technique known as Randomly Amplified
Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) provides a reliable methodology for identifying
genotypes and studying the genetic variation.
Virus testing
Various immunological and molecular techniques like ELISA, DIBA,

Western blotting, immunofluorescence, nucleic acid hybridisation using
radio-labelled probes have been used successfully for the diagnosis of
virus infection in a variety of plant species, ELISA, immuno-electron
microscopy, dot-blot and PCR are the most sensitive and reliable and can
be very effectively used for the purpose of diagnostic services to tissue
culture industry in the country. Nucleic and hybridization, c-DNA probes
are also available for the Gemini-, poty-, tobamo-, and badnaviruses.
Electrophoresis and direct electron-microscopy are also being commonly
used particularly for detecting viroids and unknown viruses.
Quality control
With the advent of the PCR technique and DNA based molecular
markers, some laboratories in India expertise in these areas and are
using them for assessment of genetic diversity, phylogenetic analysis for
establishing true to type nature of tissue cultured plants. From the
contrasting reports on the use of molecular marker techniques for
analysis of micropropagated plants, it is essential that the marker system
chosen for analysis needs to be evaluated for its suitability for the
application before it is used.
The above guidelines are generic and would vary in terms of the steps
and parameters for assessment for individual species. Some species-
specific parameters are listed.
* There is a difference of opinion among researchers and production labs
on the number of passages that could be regarded as "safe" for shoot
multiplication in banana with respect to clonal uniformity of plants. In
tissue culture it is well known that lesser the number of subcultures, lower
will be the chances of somaclonal variation. However, it must also be
realized that if the number of passages are far too small then the entire
production process becomes economically unviable. Therefore, efforts
should be made to optimize the shoot multiplication process and extend the
number of passages only till the clonal uniformity of the progenies is
maintained. This could be achieved through a) strict monitoring of shoot
multiplication process ensuring that adventitious shoots are not multiplied
and b) confirming the clonal fidelity of tissue cultured plants using
molecular markers in different passages. However, in banana under no
circumstances shoots should be subcultured for more than 8 passages.
Quality Standards for production through tissue culture
Standards for Laboratory and Greenhouse Facilities
1. All micropropagation and greenhouse facilities must fulfill the

standards set by the competent authority.
2. Laboratory and greenhouse facilities used for production of

plantlets shall be maintained free of pests or vectors of banana
pathogens. Failure to keep such pests under control may cause
rejection of all lots maintained in the facility. All potting or growth
media shall be sterile. Water sources used in the laboratory or
greenhouse operation shall be treated or otherwise rendered free of
all possible pathogens by the applicant.
3. Hygienic conditions shall be strictly observed during

micropropagation, potting, planting, irrigating, movement and use
of equipment and other laboratory and greenhouse practices to
guard against the spread of diseases or pests in the facilities used
for banana plant multiplication.
Minimum Quality Standards for growing of plants inside

greenhouses/polyhouses
The following requirements must be met for production of plantlets :
1. Elite mother nursery block' and Selection of mother plants
• Mother plant should be healthy, true to type and free from diseases
and pests especially virus diseases. It should be certified for the
desirable characters by the certifying agency and a certificate shall be
given to the nurseries. Minimum two inspections shall be made at the
time of vegetative phase (6th month) and at the time of flowering and
fruiting stage.
• Mother plants whose varietal purity is confirmed through molecular
markers should be used as source plants.
• The male flower bud should be retained to check the presence of virus
diseases (Male flower bud exhibits symptoms of late infection of
viruses like BBTV and BBMV).
• Mother plants should be raised under topless insect proof shade net
with sufficient height.
• Isolation distance - Mother nursery location must be away from other

banana plantations with an isolation distance of 500m to maintain
purity and to avoid spread of virus diseases.
• Mother plants should be grown under very good management

conditions so has to facilitate the true expression.
• Individual plant should given a master code number so that the

plantlets developed could be traced back to the mother plant.
• Pedigree record and source of each mother plant should be

maintained and catalogued.
• Varieties must be separated by physical barriers, which will prevent

varietal mixture.
2. Virus indexing of mother plant nursery
• Should be done twice during its crop duration,
1. at 6 months stage
2. and at fruiting stage
• The indexing should be carried out primarily for four viruses, namely
Banana Bunchy top Virus, Banana Bract mosaic virus, Banana
Streak virus and Cucumber mosaic virus.
• The entire clump of plant, suckers along with infected mother
underground corm should be removed and destroyed.
3. Explant selection and culture initiation
Choice of explant is vital
• Well maintained mother plants should be selected
• The sucker should be healthy and not less than 60-80 days of age
• Growing meristem should be of 1.0 cubic cm in size
• The explant should not be cut to avoid injury to the growing meristem
and eventual abnormalities
4. Number of subculture cycles and rouging
a. No. of subculture cycle
The maximum number of subculture cycles should be 6 or less

and should not be more than 7
b. Rouging at various stages of proliferation
• Only true to type proliferating buds should be selected for

further sub culturing
• Differentiated plant in the culture bottle should exhibit true to

type plant traits and those exhibiting abnormal growth should
be discarded
5. Rooting, primary hardening and rouging
(Ex agar Management and selection of proper container and

potting mixtures)
• The rooting media should be 100 per cent free from pathogen
• Water used for irrigating the plants should be free from

pathogens and nematodes
• Strict rouging by trained personnel should be done to remove
the off types once in 7 days
• Sample plants from each batch should be randomly virus

indexed (at least 10 plants from each batch/explant)
• While shifting of primary hardened plants, two longitudinal cuts

of net pots should be given to facilitate further corm growth.
• Indexing of plants at nursery stage - 1% from each batch

will be indexed.
• True to type quality assessment using molecular markers -

10% of the pants have to be assessed.
6. Maintenance of Pedigree Block
7. Plants from each batch should be maintained for one year for
cross confirmation.
8. Ideal Tissue Culture Plant
• Plant should be free from all viral diseases and confirmed

through virus indexing.
• Plant is confirmed for its true to its type.
• A well hardened plant should be 30 cm in height and should

have a pseudostem circumference of 5.0-6.0 cm after 60 days of
hardening.
• The plant should have 5 photosynthetically active leaves and

inter foliar space must be not less than 5.0 cm
• The plant should have approximately 25-30 active roots at he

end of secondary hardening stage
• The length of active roots should be more than 15 cm with a

good number of secondary roots
• The polybag should be of size (20.0 cm in length and 16 cm in
diameter) with potting media filled to ¾ full of the bag
• The media/potting mixture approximately should weigh about

750-800 g. on dry weight basis
• Plantlets should be free from any visual symptoms of leaf spot,

pseudostem rot and physical deformations.
• Plantlets should be free from the presence of root pathogens like

Erwinia rot symptoms, nematode lesions and root knots.
Random checking of roots is very essential at the time of
procurement
• Those exhibiting abnormal growth must be discarded
Certified class
Factor Max. Permitted
Off type <1%
Plants infected with virus diseases None
Plants infected with nematodes None
Plants infected with fungal diseases None
Banana is highly susceptible to tissue cultured somaclonal variation and

it varies from 4-40% depending on the variety. All Cavendish clones
including, Grand Naine, Robusta, Dwarf Cavendish, Giant Cavendish,
Shrimanti, Williams etc. are highly susceptible. This group is followed by
Plantain group which includes Nendran and its ecotypes. Mysore and
Poovan group are medium susceptible to variations. Keeping a broad
spectrum of susceptibility among varieties, the maximum
acceptable variation <1%
2. VEGETABLES
BRINJAL (Solanum melonegna L.)
I. Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification

Standards
The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and, together

certification of Brinjal seed.
Land to be used for seed production of Brinjal shall be free of

volunteer plants.
A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the first before

flowering, the second at the flowering and fruiting stage and the
third at mature fruit stage and prior to harvesting.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in

column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in columns
2 and 3 of the said table:
Contaminants Minimum distance (meters)
1 2 3
Fields of other variety 300 150

requirements for Certification
B. Specific requirements
Factor Minimum permitted

(%)*distance
1 2 3
Off types 0.10 0.20
** Plants infected seed borne diseases 0.10 0.20
* Standards for off types shall be met at and after flowering and for seed
borne disease at final inspection.
** Seed borne disease shall be: Phomopsis blight (Phomopis vexans (Sacc.
& Syd.) Harter.)
V. Seed standards
Factor Standard for each classes
1 2 3
Pure seed (minimum) 98.0% 98.0%
Inert matter (maximum) 2.0% 2.0%
Other crops seeds (maximum) None None
Weed seeds (maximum) None None
Germination (minimum) 70% 70%
Moisture (maximum) 8.0% 8.0%
For vapour-proof containers (max) 6.0% 6.0%

CAPSICUM (SWEET PEPPER) (Capsicum annuum L. Var. grossum
Bailey) AND CHILLI (HOT PEPPER)(Capsicum frutescens l.)

Standards

certification of Capsicum and Chilli seed.
Land to be used for seed production of Capsicum and Chilli shall

be free of volunteer plants.

flowering, the second at the flowering and fruiting stage and the
third at mature fruit stage and prior to harvesting.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Seed fields offered for certification shall be isolated from the

contaminants shown in column 1 of the Table below by the
distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:
1 2 3

Fields of Capsicum from Chilli and vice 500 250

versa

(%)*distance
1 2 3
Off types 0.10 0.20
** Plants infected seed borne diseases 0.10 0.50
* Maximum permitted at and after flowering in the case of off types

and the final inspection in the case of seed borne diseases.
** Seed borne disease shall be: Leaf blight (Alternaria solani

Sorauer.); Anthracnose (Ripe rot, Die back) : (Collectotrichum
capsici (Syd.) Butler & Bisby)
V. Seed standards
1 2 3
Other crops seeds (maximum) 5/kg 10/kg
Weed seeds (maximum) 5/kg 10/kg

For vapour-proof containers (maximum) 6.0% 6.0%

OKRA (BHINDI) (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Standards

certification of Okra seed.
Land to be used for seed production of Okra shall be free of

volunteer plants.

flowering, the second during peak flowering and fruiting stage and
the third at mature fruit stage and prior to harvesting.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Okra Seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in

1 2 3

requirements for Certification and wild
Okra (A. ficulneus (L.) Wt. & Arn. A.
manihot (L.) Medic. And A. moschatus
(L.) Medic.)
Factor Minimum permitted (%)*
1 2 3
Off types 0.10 0.20
** Objectionable weed plants None None
* Maximum permitted at and after flowering.
** Objectionable weeds shall be wild Okra: (A.ficulneus (L.) Wt. &

Arn. A. amnihot (L.) Medic.,
A. moschatus (L.) Medic.)
V. Seed standards
1 2 3
Total Weed seeds (maximum) None None
* Objectionable weed seeds (maximum) None None
Other distinguishable varieties 10/Kg 20/Kg

(maximum)
Germination including hard seeds 65% 65%
(minimum)
* Objectionable weeds are the same as given at IV.B. above.

LETTUCE (Lactuca sativa L.)

Standards

certification of the Lettuce seed.
Land to be used for seed production of Lettuce shall be free of

volunteer plants.

heads have formed in heading types, and before full grown stage in
on-heading types, the second when heads have formed in heading
types, and at full grown stage in non-heading types and the third
at flowering stage.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Lettuce seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown

in 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 Wild
lettuce (Lactuca scariola L.)
1 2 3
Off types 0.10 0.20
** Objectionable weed plants 0.010 0.020
*** Plants affected by seed borne disease 0.10 0.50
* Maximum permitted at the final inspection.
** Objectionable weeds shall be:wild Lettuce (Lactuca scariola L.)
V. Seed standards
1 2 3
Total Weed seeds (maximum) 5/Kg 10/Kg
* Objectionable weed seeds (maximum) 2/Kg 5/Kg

(maximum)


ONION (Allium cepa L.) HYBRIDS

Standards
A. The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and, together

certification of hybrid Onion seed.
B. The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically

to the hybrids of Onion:
1. Eligibility requirements for certification
(a) An inbred line to be eligible for certification shall be from a

source such that its identity may be assured and approved by the
Certification Agency.
(b) Hybrid seed to be eligible for certification shall be the

progeny of two approved inbred lines, one of which shall be male
sterile.
2. Classes and Sources of seed
(a) An inbred line shall be a relatively true breeding strain

resulting from self-pollination with selection.
(b) The Foundation class seed shall consist of an approved male

sterile line to be used as a female parent and an approved inbred
line to be used as a male parent for the purpose of producing
hybrid seed.
(c) A male sterile line shall be a strain (A) carrying cytoplasmic

genetic male sterility, which sheds no viable pollen and is
maintained by the normal sister strain (B) which is used as
pollinator.
(d) The Certified class seed shall be the hybrid seed to be

planted for any use except seed production.
Land to be used for seed production of hybrid Onion shall be free

of volunteer plants.
A. Mother bulb production stage
A minimum of two inspections shall be made as follows:
1. the first inspection shall be made after transplanting of

seedlings in order to determine isolation, volunteer plants, off types
including bolters and other relevant factors;
2. the second inspection shall be made after the bulbs have

been lifted to verify the true characteristics of bulbs.
B. Seed production stage
A minimum of four inspections shall be made as follows:
1. the first inspection shall be made before flowering in order to

determine isolation, volunteer plants, out crosses, planting ratio,
errors in planting and other relevant factors;
2. the second and third inspections shall be made during

flowering to check isolation, pollen shedding umbels, off types and
other relevant factors;
3. the fourth inspection shall be made at maturity to verify the

true nature of umbels and other relevant factors.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation

distances specified in columns 2 and 3, 4 and 5 of the said table:
Mother bulb Seed production
production stage stage
Foundati Certified Foundati Certified

on on
1 2 3 4 5
Fields of other variety 5 5 1200 600

including commercial hybrid
of the same variety
Fields of the same hybrids 5 5 1200 600

(code Designation) not
Fields of the other varieties of - - 1500 750

different skin colour
Fields of the other hybrids 5 5 - -

having common male parent
and conforming to varietal
purity requirements for
certification
1 2 3
* Bulbs not conforming to varietal 0.010% 0.050%

characteristics
Off types (umbels) in seed parent at and 0.10% 0.050%

after flowering
Off types (umbels) in pollinator at and 0.010% 0.050%

after flowering
Pollen shedding (umbels) in seed parent 0.050% 0.10%
at flowering
* Maximum permitted at second inspection at mother bulb

production stage.
V. Seed standards
1 2 3
Other crops seeds (maximum) 5/Kg 10/Kg
Weed seeds (maximum) 5/Kg 10/Kg

POTATO – TISSUE CULTURE –RAISED MINITUBER – (PTCMT)
Standard
I. Application and Amplification of General Seed Standards for

PTCMT
A. The General Seed Standards are basic and, together with the
following specific standards constitute the standards for approval
of PTCMT. As the name implies, these standards are applicable to
tissue culture raised mini tubers multiplied under laboratory and
greenhouse conditions as laid here.

to the PTCMT:
1. Eligibility requirements for PTCMT production:
The PTCMT to be eligible for production shall be from a source

meeting the following standards for laboratory and greenhouse
facilities.
i. Laboratory and greenhouse facilities used for production of

plantlets/microtubers or minitubers shall be maintained free of
potato pests or vectors of potato pathogens. Failure to keep such
pests under control may cause rejection of all lots maintained in
the facility. All potting or growth media shall be sterile. Water to be
used in a laboratory or greenhouse operation should be free from
impurities.
ii. Hygienic conditions shall be strictly observed during

micropropagation, potting, planting, irrigating, movement and use
of equipment and other laboratory and greenhouse practices to
guard against the spread of diseases or pests in the facilities used
for seed multiplication.
iii. All micro propagation and greenhouse facilities must be approved,

as per the standard/guidelines. These facilities must have a
changing area between the double doors.
iv. The greenhouse (protected environment) must be “insect proof”

and be equipped with a double-door entrance, provision for
footweat disinfection prior to entering the protected environment
and insect proof ventilation screening on intakes and exhaust
openings. The persons entering the protected environment should
use Wellington boots (Plastic boots) and change lab-coat in the
changing area to reduce the chances of inadvertent introduction of
vector insects clinging to clothes.
v. The material being initiated for producing PTCMT must be of

Registered/Notified variety1 and confirmed identity. It must be duly
documented with respect to origin.
vi. The plants of a potato varieties being initiated for tissue culture
should be tested in an accredited laboratory2 for freedom from the
following:
PVA, PVS, PVM, PVX,PLRV, PALCV, PSTVd and endophytic or epiphytic

bacteria and fungi. Tests must be carried on a minimum of ten plantlets
of each variety selected at random. For virus testing ELISA or an
equivalent method should be used, for viroid RT-PCR should be used,
and for fungi and bacteria light microscopy and culturing on media
should be used.
2. Sources of seed:
(i) The facility should use recognized aseptic initiation and

propagation procedures (i.e. follow procedures and use equipment,
which will maintain sterile conditions as per standard tissue
culture norms.)
(ii) The initiating facility must maintain following information on each

variety for review and audit by the competent authority once in a
year: variety identification, date of initiation, origin and testing
results from accredited laboratory.
(iii) Tests must be carried out on a minimum of ten plantlets, selected

at random, for each variety by an accredited laboratory. No plant
should contain PVA, PVS, PVM, PVY, PVX, PLRV, PALCV, PSTVd
and other endophytic or epiphytic bacteria and fungi.
(iv) Valid pathogen testing results are required prior to the initiation of
micro tuber production cycle or planting of test tube plantlets in
the greenhouse.
(v) PTCMT shall be produced and multiplied from approved source in
vitro plants or microtubers, as per the requirements.
(vi) PTCMT may be used as breeder seed for further production

certified classes of seed as prescribed in the Indian Minimum Seed
Certification Standards.
(vii) Concerned laboratory should issue a certificate to the effect that

the PTCMT has been produced with the standards as prescribed
under their supervision.
II. Greenhouse/Controlled Environment Requirement
1. All micropropagation and greenhouse facilities must meet the

standards given above under eligibility requirements.
2. The soil used for PTCMT production should not be infested with
pathogen and pests of potato, particularly the following:
• wart (Synchtrium endobioticum (Schilb.) Perc.) and or cyst

forming nematodes;
• brown rot (Pseudomonas solanacearum (E.F. Sm.) E.F. Sm. Or

non-cyst forming nematodes within the previous three years;
• common scab (Streptomyces scabies (Thaxt.) Waks. & Henrici).
III. Inspection of Greenhouse/Controlled Environment facility

used for production of PTCMT
1. The grower must notify the Competent Authority of his production

plans well in advance of the planting.
2. The crop must be grown from approved basic source in vitro plants
or micro tubers, which were produced, in an aseptic environment.
3. A minimum of three inspections shall be made as follows:
i. The first inspection shall be made 35 days and 45 days after

planting for plains and hills respectively to verify growing
conditions, extent of disease infection and off types and also to
confirm isolation requirement of one meter between different
varieties as to avoid mechanical admixture.
ii. The second inspections shall be made at 60-65 days after planting
to verify off types, disease infection if any and pathogen testing, on
a representative samples, comprising of 1% of the plants with a
minimum of 5 and a maximum of 25 plants sampled for each
variety;
iii. The third inspection shall be made immediately after haulms

cutting/destruction in order to verify that haulms have been
cut/destroyed by the prescribed date and proper manner.
4. Effective sanitation practices including insect and disease

monitoring and prevention must be adhered to.
5. Basic Stock can be planted in commercially available medium,

which has not been recycled. If nursery beds are used, the
substrate should be properly sterilized before planting.
6. The greenhouse must be free from all potato and solanaceous plant
debris before planting.
7. No field-produced seed potatoes (including pathogen tested clonal

selections), non-seed potatoes, nor any other solanaceous species
of plants can be grown in the protected environment while used to
produce Basic Stock.
8. Varieties must be separated by appropriate partitioning of

greenhouse to prevent varietal mixture.
9. If testing performed by an accredited laboratory reveals the

presence of banned virus (es), fungus or bacteria all the crops in
the protected environment will be ineligible for multiplication and
the entire material will be destroyed.
10. In the eventuality of detection of insect (particularly aphids, thrips

and white flies) vectors (for which yellow stricky traps should be
put at least at three places in a greenhouse) by competent
Authority, the grower must provide post harvest test results to this
authority. A representative sample, representing each variety
grown in the protected environment must be post harvest tested
and if the results are negative for PVA, PVS, PVM, PVX, PLRV and
PALCV, the crop will be assigned basic stock status or otherwise
rejected.
IV. Field Standards:
A. Field Standards of PTCMT at greenhouse
a. General requirements
1. Isolation: Minimum 1 meter between the different varieties grown

in greenhouse so as to avoid mechanical admixture.
2. All micropropagation and greenhouse facilities must be notified

(approved) by DAC, as per the standards given above under
eligibility requirements.
b. Specific requirements
Maximum permissible limits
Factor
* Off types 0.05%
** Plants showing symptoms of:
- Mild mosaic 0.05%
- Severe mosaic, leaf roll, yellows 0.05%
and apical leaf curl
** Plants infected by brown rot nil
(syn. Bacterial wilt)
(Ralstonia solamacearum)
* Maximum permitted before dehaulming

** Maximum permitted at final inspection, though the diseases
mentioned above are not expected to be present in tissue culture
raised plants but it essential to maintain a good crop hygiene.
c. Seed Standards for PTCMT
Factor Standards for PTCMT
Weight of mini tuber (minimum) 1.0gm
Germination/sprouting (minimum) 90%
Varietal Purity (minimum) 99%
Pure seed 98%

Virus 0.01%
B. Field standards for Foundation Crops and Certified Crop raised out
of Potato-Tissue Culture raised Mini Tuber (PTCMT) (shall be same
as prescribed for conventional method)3 at Annexure-III.
1In vitro multiplication for custom production of an imported variety or a
non-notified variety can be taken up by the industry exclusively for export
purposes. Such varieties, however, should be introduced following the
approved guidelines of Government of India.
2 The following laboratories of the ‘National Facility for Virus Diagnosts
and Quality Control of Tissue Culture Raised Plants’ are currently
accredited for virus testing: (1) Advanced Centre for Plant Virology, Indian
Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (2) Indian Institute of
Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake PO, Bangalore, (3) Institute of
Himalayan Bioresources Technology,2 Post Box. No.6, Palampur (HP). In
addition Central Potato Research Institute is also accredited. Of these four
laboratories, Advanced Centre for Plant Virology, Indian Agricultural
Research Institute will act as Referred lab.
3 Details not required here but given for reference
LABORATORIES FOR CERTIFICATION OF PTCMT – MINIMUM
REQUIREMENT
Under the National Facility for Virus Diagnosis and Quality Control
of Tissue Culture Raised Plants, the following three centers are working
for the virus testing.
1. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (Referral

Laboratory)
2. Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore
3. Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur
All the three centers of the National Facility for Virus Diagnosis
and Quality Control of Tissue Culture Raised Plants have excellent infra-
structure facilities and welt trained and experienced scientists to test for
plant viruses using state-of the-art diagnostic techniques like ELISA,
PCR, dot blot hybridization, Western blotting, immuno-
electromicroscopy, etc. Considering the availability of expertise and
necessary infrastructure, these laboratories are accredited to test and
certify plants for freedom from viruses. Apart from these three
laboratories considering the availability of expertise and necessary
infrastructure for this work, the Central Potato Research Institute,
Shimla is also accredited for virus testing of PTCMT.
1. Advanced Centre of Plant Virology, Indian Agricultural Research

Institute, New Delhi-110012 (Referral Laboratory)
The Centre was established in 1988 for characterization of plant

viruses and development of management practices. Since then, a large
number of viruses have been characterized, their diagnostic reagents
prepared and technologies developed for the management of important
viral diseases of plants. This center is well equipped with all the
necessary facilities required for virus work like ultra centrifuges,
electron-microscope, electrophoretic sytems, PCR machines, nucleic acid
sequencer, insect-proof glass houses, environment controlled glasshouse
meeting biosafety requirement and plant growth chambers. The Centre
has scientists trained in various laboratories in the USA and Europe on
different aspects of virology including molecular virology. It is a leading
National Centre for work on plant viruses.
2. Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore
The Indian Institute of Horticultural Research has a very strong

unit for work on plant viruses affecting horticultural crops. It has the
basic facilities like ultra centrifuges, electromicroscope, electrophorotic
systems, PCR machine, etc. It also has a very good insect-proof glass
house facility for growing plants under controlled conditions. The
scientists working in the unit are very well trained in India and abroad.
The Centre is playing an important role in testing for viruses in
horticultural crops.
3. Institute of Himalayan Bioresources Technology, Bangalore
Institure of Himalayan Bioresources Technology has also developed

excellent facility for work on plant viruses. It has developed diagnostic
technique for testing of viruses affecting horticultural plants particularly
the ornamentals. The Centre has good with ultracentrifuges,
eelectrophorotic systems, PCR machines, ELISA reader, Sequences, etc.
The Centre has a good team of scientists trained in India and abroad.
Considering the above capabilities, it would be useful to identify all the
three centers as testing centers for the purpose on certification for
freedom from viruses.
4. Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla.
Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla was established in 1949 to

improve potato production in the country through intensive multi
disciplinary research and production of healthy seed potato. As a result
of technologies developed at this institute potato production has
increased by nearly 15 times and potato productivity 2.67 times, making
India the fourth largest producer of potato. The Institute has developed
excellent facilities and has highly competent scientists for virus testing of
PTCMT. The facilities available at the Institute include electron
microscope, ultracentrifuges, electrophoritic systems, PCR machines,
EUSA reader, nucleic acid hybridization facility etc. They also have well
maintained insect-proof glasshouses. The scientists of the Institute have
been trained in India and abroad.
General Requirements for accrediting a laboratory for virus testing
1. The laboratory must be adequately equipped for virus diagnostic

work. It must have basic equipment like ultracentrifuge,
electrophoritic system, PCR machine, ELISA reader, etc.
2. The laboratory must have facilities for growing plants under insect-
proof conditions.
3. The laboratory must have at least two scientists with good training
in virology, preferably Ph.D in virology, and experience of working
on virus diagnosis.
Labelling of Potato – Tissue Culture Mini tuber (PTCMT)
PTCMT shall be supplied in sealed containers. A cloth-lined label of

12 cm x 6 cm containing following information shall be affixed on the
container.
Label No.
Crop Potato
Variety
Class of seed PTCMT
Lot No.
Approved laboratory
and reference:
Date of test
Germination/sprouting %
(Minimum)
Producing Agency
(Name and address)
“The container should also have printed on it the kind, variety and
name of Institute’.
2. The label shall be rubber stamped with signature, name and
designation of the concerned Agency. Colour of the label shall be
diagonally yellow No.356 (IS 5-1978) and opaline green (IS No.275).
3. PTCMT (Breeder seed) producing Agency shall maintain the

account of labels printed and issued.
Seed Certification Standards for Potato Tissue Culture raised
Minitubers (PTCMT)

Standards
A. The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and,

together with the following specific standards constitute the
standards for certification of seed potato.
B. Classification of seed potato on the basis of area of Production:
There shall be two types of seed ptatoes, namely the Hills and
Plains – grown and shall be designated as Hill (HS) and Plains
Seed (PS) respectively. Hill Seed (HS) shall be grown in the high
hills generally 2500 meters above the mean sea level or in
situations declared technically suitable for seed production.
Plains Seed (PS) shall be grown in such areas where aphid
infestation is low during the crop growing season and which are
technically suitable for seed production.
A crop of seed shall not be eligible for certification if grown on land

infested with:
- Wart (Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilb.) Perc. And or cyst

forming nematodes;
- Brown rot (Pseudomonas solanacearum (E.F. Sm.). E.F. Sm.

Or non-cyst forming nematodes within the previous three
years;
- Common scab (Streptomyces scabies (Thaxt.) Waks. &

Henrici).
1. the first inspection shall be made about 45 days after

planting the PTCMT in the hills and about 35 days after
planting the PTCMT in the plains to verify isolation, off types
and the extent of disease infection with specific reference to
mild and severe mosaics, leaf roll, yellow, brown rot and
other relevant factors;
2. the second inspection shall be made about 60-65 days

planting the PTCMT for early varieties and about 70-75 days
after planting the PTCMT for late varieties or at appropriate
growth stage depending on the crop duration of the variety
concerned to check isolation, off types and extent of disease
infection with specific reference to mild and severe mosaics,
leaf roll, yellows, brown rot and other relevant factors;
3. the third inspection shall be made immediately after haulms

cutting/destruction in order to verify that haulms have been
cut/destroyed by the prescribed date and in proper manner;
4. the fourth inspection shall be made about 10 days after

haulms cutting/destruction and before harvesting in order to
verify that no re-growth of haulms has taken place.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
The fields of seed potato shall be isolated from the

distances specified in columns 2, 3 and 4 of the said Table:
Stage-I Stage-II
1 2 3 4
Fields of other varieties 5 5 5
Fields of the same hybrid not 5 5 5

conforming to Varietal purity
Maximum permissible limits
Factor Stage Stage-I Stage-II Stage-III
1 2 3 4 5
Off types I & II 0.050% 0.050% 0.10%
Inspection
Plants I & II 1.0% 2.0% 3.0%
showing Inspection
symptoms of:
- Mild mosaic
-Severe I & II 0.50% 0.75% 1.0%
mosaic, leaf Inspection
roll and
yellows
*Total Virus - 1.0% 2.0% 3.0%
** Plants I & II None None 3 Plants per
infected by Inspection hectare
brown rot
(Syn.
Bacterial wilt)
(Pseudomonas
solanacearum
(E.F. Sm.)
E.F. Sm.)
***Re-growth IV 0.50% 0.50% 0.50%
of plants after Inspection
destruction of
haulms
* Of the two inspections, the higher virus percentage will be
considered for the purpose of the specified limits of tolerance.
** The presence of brown rot infected plants within the specified
limits of tolerance shall be permitted in the areas known to be
infected with this disease. In case of plants suspected to be
infected with brown rot, the neighbouring plants, one on either
side should also be rogued along with tubers.
*** Standards for re-growth after destruction of haulms shall be
met at fourth inspection to be conducted about 10 days after
haulms cutting.
Note: 1. All off types and diseased plants should be rouged out along
with the tubers
and destroyed.
2. Gaps in the seed plot should not be more than 10.0%.
3. Haulms must be destroyed as close to the ground as possible
before the date specified by the Certification Agency. Failure to
destroy haulms in time shall render the crop liable for rejection.
V. Seed Standards
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:
Size Mean length and two Corresponding weight

widths At the middle of
tuber
(a) Hill Seed (HS)

Seed Size 30 mm – 60 mm 25 – 150 gm
Large size above 60 mm above 150 gm
(b) Plains Seed (PS)

Seed Size 30 mm – 55 mm 25 – 125 gm
Large size above 55 mm above 125 gm
Note:
1. The size of tuber will be decided either on the basis of mean of

two widths of a tuber at the middle and that of length or on the
basis of corresponding weight of tuber.
2. In a seed lot, tubers not conforming to specific size of seed shall

not exceed more than 5.0% (by number).
3. (a) The seed material shall be reasonably clean, healthy, firm

and shall conform to the characteristics of the variety. The
tubers not conforming to the varietal characteristics shall not
exceed 0.050% and 0.10% (by number) for Foundation and
Certified seed classes respectively.
(b) Cut, bruised, unshapy, cracked tubers or those damaged by
insects, slugs or worms shall not exceed more than 1.0% (by
weight).
(c) Greenish pigmentation on tubers will not be a

disqualification for certification.
B. Maximum tolerance limit of tubers showing visible symptoms

caused by the diseases mentioned below will be as follows:
Minimum permissible limits
Diseases Foundation Certified
Stage-I Stage-II
1 2 3 4
Late blight )Phytophthora 1.0% 1.0% 1.0%

infestations (Mont.) de Bary),
(by (by (by number)
dry rot (Fusarium caeruleum number) number)
(Lib.) Sacc.) or Charcoal rot
(Macrophomina phaseoli (Tassi)
G. Goidanich).
Wet rot (Sclerotium rolfsii) None None None

Sacc.)
* Common sacb (Streptomyces 3.0% 3.0% 3.0%

scabies (Thaxt) Waks. & (by (by (by number)
Henrici)
number) number)
** Black scurf (Rhizoctonia 5.0% 5.0% 5.0%

solani Kuehn.)
(by (by (by number)
number) number)
*** Total diseases 5.0% 5.0% 5.0%

(by (by (by number)
number) 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.
** (a) A tuber carrying 10.0% or above scurfed surface will be

considered as one infected unit.
(b) Seed lots having black scruf infection more than the prescribed
limits could be certified after treatment with approved
chemical/fungicide.
(c) For all diseases, the higher disease percentage will be considered
for the purpose of the specified limits of tolerance.
3. FLOWERS
ASTER (Callistephus spp. (Linn.) Nees syn. (Aster sp.. Linn.)

Standards
The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and together

with the following specific standards - constitute the standards for
certification of Aster.
Land to be used for seed production of Aster shall not be eligible

for certification if planted on land on which the same kind of crop
(including Aster – singles) was grown in the previous year unless
the crop(s) as grown in the previous year was/were of the same
variety and of an equivalent or higher class of certified seed and
was/were certified.
A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the first at pre-

flowering stage, the second during flowering and the third before
(harvesting) pappus or “fuzz” begins to show.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Aster seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in

1 2 3
Fields of other varieties 600 300

1 2 3
Off types 0.050 0.10
* Standards for off types shall be met at after flowering.
V. Seed standards
1 2 3

ANNUAL CARNATION (MARGURITE OR CHAUBAD TYPE) (Dianthus
Caryophyllus Linn.)

Standards

certification of the seeds of Annual Carnation.
Land to be used for seed production of Annual Carnation shall be

free of volunteer plant.
A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the first after

transplanting, the second during flowering and the third before
(harvesting) capsules start opening (shattering).
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Annual Carnation seed fields shall be isolated from the

distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said table:
1 2 3

1 2 3
** Plants affected by designated disease 0.10 0.20
* Standards for off types shall be met at and after flowering and for
designated disease at final inspection.
** Designated disease shall be
Streak mosaic virus.
V. Seed standards
1 2 3

SNAPDRAGON (Antirrhinum spp. Linn.)

Standards

certification of Snapdragon seeds.
Land to be used for seed production of Snapdragon shall be free of

volunteer plant.

flowering, the second during flowering and the third at maturity
prior to harvesting.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Seed fields of Snapdragon shall be isolated from the contaminants

shown in column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in
columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:
1 2 3

1 2 3
*Off types 0.050 0.10
** Plants affected by designated 0.10 0.20

diseases
* Standards for off types shall be met at and after flowering and for
designated diseases at final inspection.
** Designated diseases shall be:
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum antirrhini & C. fuscum)
Blight (Phyllosticta antirrhini_Syd.)
V. Seed standards
1 2 3


SNAPDRAGON HYBRIDS (Antirrhinum spp. Linn.)

Standards

with the specific standards constitute the standards for
certification of hybrid snapdragon seeds.

to the hybrids of Snapdragon.
a. An inbred/parental line to be eligible for certification shall be from

a source that its identity may be assured and approved by the
certification agency.
b. *Hybrid seed to be eligible for certification shall be the progeny of

two approved inbred/parental lines, one of which shall be male
sterile.
a. An inbred/parental line shall be a relatively true breeding strain

resulting from self-pollination with selection and/or developed
through in-vitro culture.
b. he foundation seed class shall consist of an approved male sterile

line (genetic male sterility-apetalous sterile line) to be used as a
female parent and an approved inbred line to be used as a male
parent for the purpose of producing hybrid seed.
c. *A male sterile line shall be a monogenic recessive strain carrying

genetic male sterility, which sheds no viable pollen and is
maintained by the monogenic dominant heterozygous strain and is
used a maintainer in propagation blocks.
d. The certified class seed shall be hybrid seed to be planted for any
use except seed production.
(*Applicable if male sterile line is used)

Land to be used for seed production of Snapdragon shall be free of

volunteer plant.
A. Foundation and certification seeds.
A minimum of three inspections shall be made as follows:
1. The first inspection shall be made before flowering in order to

determine the isolation, volunteer plants, outcrosses, and other
relevant factors.
2. The second inspection shall be made during flowering / podding

stage to check isolation, off types, fertile segregants in seed parent
and other relevant factors.
3. The third inspection shall be made at pod maturity and prior to

harvesting to check off types, the designated diseases and other
relevant factors.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Seed fields of Snapdragon hybrids shall be isolated from the

1 2 3
Fields of other varieties including 600 300

Hybrids of the same cultivar

1 2 3
Off types in seed parent 0.050 0.10
Off types in pollinator 0.050 0.10
Fertile segregants (Pollen 0.050 0.10

shedding spikes in seed parent)

diseases
* Standards for off types and fertile segregants (pollen shedding

spikes) in seed parent shall be met at and after flowering and for
designated diseases at final inspection.
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum antirrhini & C. fuscum)
Blight (Phyllosticta antirrhini_Syd.)
V. Seed standards
1 2 3


ANNUAL CHRYSANTHEMUM (Chrysanthemum spp. Linn. )
Standards
certification of Annual Chrysanthemum.
A seed crop of Annual Chrysanthemum shall not be eligible for
certification if planted on land on which the same kind of crop was
grown in the previous year unless the crop (s) of Annual
Chrysanthemum grown in the previous year was / were of the
same variety and of an equivalent or higher class of certified seed
and was / were certified.
A minimum of three inspections shall be made as under:
1. The first inspection shall be made at pre – flowering stage in
order to determine land requirements, isolation, volunteer
plants, and other relevant factors.
2. The second inspection shall be made during flowering to
verify relevant factors;
3. The third inspection shall made at maturity prior to
harvesting.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Annual Chrysanthemum seed fields shall be isolated from
the contaminants shown in column 1 of the Table below by
the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:
1 2 3

1 2 3
Off types at and after flowering 0.050 0.10
* Plants affected by designated 0.10 0.20

diseases
* Designated diseases shall be:
Grey mould (Botrytis cinerea Pers.)
Blotch (Septoria chrysanthmella Sacc.)
V. Seed standards
1 2 3

PETUNIA (Petunia spp.)

Standards

with the flowering specific standards constitute the standards
for certification of hybrid seeds.
Land to be used for seed production of Petunia shall be free of

volunteer plant.
A minimum of two inspections shall be made the first before

flowering / during flowering to check isolation off types etc. and
second at fruiting state / maturity prior to harvesting.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Seed fields of petunia hybrids shall be isolated from the

1 2 3

1 2 3

diseases
* Standards for off types shall be met at and after flowering and
for designated diseases at final inspection.
Leaf bright (Alternaria alternate (Fr.) Kiessler)
Crown rot (Phytophthora parasitica Dast.)
V. Seed standards
Factor Minimum for each class
1 2 3

PETUNIA HYBRID (Petunia spp.)

Standards

certification of Petunia hybrid seeds.

to the hybrids of Petunia.
1. Class and source of seed
a. Only the class “Certified” shall be recognized.
b. A Hybrid to be certified must be produced from certified foundation

seed or seed stocks approved by the certification agency.
a. A hybrid is one to be planted for any used except seed production.

It may be one of the following:
(i) Single cross
The first generation resulting from controlled crossing of two

approved self – incompatible but cross – compatible inbred lines. It may
be of three types depending upon procedure of seed production.
- Seed of only female percent are harvested and certified
- Seeds of both the parents are harvested separately and

certified and
- Seed of both the parents are harvested together, mixed and

certified.
(ii) Double cross
The first generation resulting from the controlled crossing of two

approved self – incompatible but cross – compatible single
crosses.
(iii) Three way cross
The first generation resulting from controlled crossing of an
approved inbred line and certified foundation single cross being
self – incompatible individually but cross –compatible to each
other.
a) Land to be used for seed production of petunia hybrids shall

be free of volunteer plants.
1. The first inspection shall be made at pre – flowering stage

check isolation, out crosses and other relevant factors;
2. The second inspection shall be made during flowering to

check isolation, off types and other relevant factors;
3. The third inspection shall be made before harvesting to

check off types, the designated diseases and other relevant
factors.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Seed fields of Petunia hybrids shall be isolated from the

1 2 3

commercial Including commercial
hybrids of same cultivar

Between blocks of the parental lines in - 005

case seed parent and pollinator are
planted in separate blocks.
1 2 3
Off types in each parent 0.050 0.10

diseases
* Standards for off types shall be met at and after flowering and
plants infected with designated diseases at final inspection.
Leaf blotch (Cercospora petuniae (saito) Muller &)
Leaf spot (Ascochyta petuniae)
Phyllostica leaf spot (Phyllostica petuniae Speg.)
Leaf bright (Alternaria alternate (Fr.) Kiessler)
Crown rot (Phytophthora parasitica Dast)
Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)
V. Seed standards
1 2 3

ORNAMENTAL SUNFLOWER (Helianthus spp. L)

Standards

certification of Ornamental Sunflower seeds.
A seed crop of ornamental sunflower shall not be eligible for

certification if planted on land on which the same kind of crop
was grown in the previous year unless the crop (s) grown in
the previous year was / were of the same variety and of an
equivalent or higher class of certified seed and was / were certified.
1. The first inspection shall be made at the stage of 6-7 pairs of leaves
in order to determine isolation, volunteer plants, designated
disease and other relevant factors.
2. The second inspection shall be made during flowering to check

isolation, off types and other relevant factors;
3. The third inspection shall be made at maturity and prior to

harvesting to verify designated diseases, true nature of plant and
head, characteristics of seed and other relevant factors.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Ornamental sunflower seed fields shall be isolated from the

1 2 3

1 2 3
*Off types at and after flowering 0.10 0.20
Plants infected with downy mildew 0.050 0.050

diseases (Plasmopara halstdii (Feri.)
Beri & De T.) at each inspection
Plants infested with Orobanchi cumana None None

Guss, Non- Wallr. At final inspection.
* Sterile plants of the same variety shall not be considered as off

types.
V. Seed standards
1 2 3
Huskless seeds (maximum) (By number) (By number)
None None
Seeds (maximum) 5/Kg 5/Kg
Seeds infested with Orobanche cumana None None

guss Non – wallr (maximum),

ORNAMENTAL SUNFLOWER (Helianthus spp. L.) Hybrid

Standards
A. The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and together

certification of Ornamental sunflower hybrid seeds.

to the hybrids of ornamental sunflower.
a. An hybrid line to be eligible for certification shall be from a source

such that its identify may be assured and approved by the
Certification Agency.
b. Hybrid seed to be eligible for certification shall be the progeny of

two approved inbred lines, one of which shall be made sterile.
a. An inbred line shall be a relatively true breeding strain resulting

from self-pollination with selection.
b. The foundation seed class shall consist of an approved male sterile

line to be used as a female parent and approved inbred line to be
uses as a male parent for the purpose of producing hybrid seeds.
c. A male sterile shall be a strain (A) carrying cytoplasmic – genetic

male sterility, which sheds no viable pollen and is maintained by
the normal sister strain (B) which is used as pollinator.
d. The certified class seed shall be the hybrid seed to be planted for
any use except seed production.
A seed crop of ornamental sunflower hybrid shall not be eligible for

certification if planted on land on which the same kind of crop was grown
in the previous year unless the crop (s) grown in the previous year was of
the same variety and of an equivalent or higher class of certified seed and
was / were certified.
1. The first inspection shall be made at the stage 6-7 pairs of

leaves in order to determine isolation, out crosses, volunteer
plants, planting ration, errors in planting, designated disease
and relevant factors;
2. The second and third inspection shall be made during

flowering to check isolation, pollen shedding heads, off types
and other relevant factors;
3. The fourth inspection shall be made at maturity and prior to

harvesting to verify designated diseases, true nature of plant
and head, characteristics of seeds and other relevant factors.
IV. Specific requirements
1. Isolation
1 2 3

commercial Including
commercial hybrids of same
variety
Fields of the same hybrid (code 400 200

designation) not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for
certification and wild Helianthus
spp.
1 2 3
*Off types in each parent at and 0.20 0.50

after flowering
Off types in pollinator at and 0.20 0.50

after flowering
Pollen shedding heads in seed 0.50 1.00

parent at flowering
**Objectionable weed plants at None None

and after flowering
Plants infected with downy 0.050 0.50

mildew disease (Plasmopara
halstedii (Farl.) Barl & de T.) at
each inspection.
Plants infested with Orobanche None None

cumana Guss Non – Wallr.) at
final inspection
* Sterile plants of the same strain shall no be considered as off

** Objectionable weed plants shall be: Wild Helianthus spp.
V. Seed standards
1 2 3
Huskless seeds (maximum) 2.0% 2.0%

(By number) (By number)
None None
Other crop seeds (maximum) None None
Total weed seeds (maximum) 5/Kg 10 /Kg
*Objectionable weed seeds (maximum) None None
Seeds infested with Orchanche cumana None None

Guss Non- Wallr. (maximum)
*Objectionable weed is the same as given at IV. B. above.

MARIGOLD (Tagetes spp. Linn.)

Standards

with the specific standards are basic and, together with the
Specific standards constitute the standards for certification of
Marigold seeds.
A seed crop of Marigold shall not be eligible for certification if

planted on land on which the same kind of crop was grown in
the previous year unless the crop (s) grown in the previous
year was / were of the same variety and of an equivalent or higher
class of certified seed and was / were certified.
1. The first inspection shall be made at the stage of 6-7 pairs of leaves
in order to determine isolation, volunteer plants and other relevant
factors.
2. The second inspection shall be made during flowering to check

isolation, off types and other relevant factors;
3. The third inspection shall be made at maturity to verify designated

diseases, true nature of plant and other relevant factors.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Marigold seed fields of shall be isolated from the contaminants

shown in column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in
columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:
1 2 3

1 2 3
Off types at and after flowering 0.050 0.10
*Plants affected by designated disease 0.10 0.20

at final inspection.
*Designated diseases shall be:

Leaf spot (Alternaria tagetica shome & Mustafee)
Flower bud rot (A. alternate (Fr.) Keissler & A. dianthi Stevans &
Hall)
Collar rot (Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn)

V. Seed standards
1 2 3
Other crops seeds (maximum) 10/kg 20/ kg

MARIGOLD HYBRID (Tagetes spp.Linn)

Standards

certification of hybrids Marigold seeds.
B. General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to

the hybrids of Marigold.
a. An inbred line to be eligible for certification shall be from a

source such that its identity may be assured and approved
by the certification Agency.
b. Hybrid seed to be eligible for certification shall be the

progeny of two approved inbred lines, one of which shall be
male sterile.
2. Class and source of seed
a. An inbred line shall be a relatively true breeding strain

resulting from self-pollination with selection and/or
developed through in-vitro culture.
b. The foundation seed class shall consist of an approved male

sterile (apetalous) line to be used as a female parent and an
approved inbred line to be used as a male parent for the
purpose of producing hybrid seed.
c. *A male sterile line shall be a monogenic recessive strain

carrying genetic male sterility, which sheds no viable pollen
and is maintained by the monogenic cominant heterozygous
strain and is used as maintainer in propagation blocks.
d. The certified class seed shall be hybrid seed to be planted for

any use except seed production.
*(Applicable if male sterile line is used)

A seed crop of hybrid marigold shall not be eligible for certification

if planted on land on which the same kind of crop was grown in
the previous year unless the crop (s) grown in the previous year
was/were of the same variety and of an equivalent or higher class
of certified seed and was/were certified.
1. The first inspection shall be made at the state of 6-7 pairs of

leaves in order to determine the isolation, volunteer plants,
out crosses, planting ration (demarcation between female
and male block if planted separately) and other relevant
factors;
2. The second and third inspection shall be made during

flowering to check isolation, pollen shedding heads in seed
parent, off types and other relevant factors;
3. The 4th inspection shall be made at maturity and prior to

harvesting to verify the designated diseases, true nature of
plant and capitulum and relevant factors.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation
Seed fields of marigold hybrids shall be isolated from the

contaminants shown in column 1 of the table below by the
1 2 3

commercial Including commercial
hybrids of same cultivar
Fields of the same hybrid (code 600 300

designation) not conforming to Varietal
purity requirements for Certification
Between blocks of the parental lines in - 5

case seed parent and pollinator are
planted in separate blocks.
1 2 3
Off types in seed parent at and after 0.050 0.10

flowering
Off types in pollinator at flowering 0.050 .010
Pollen shedding heads in seed parent 0.050 0.10

at flowering

diseases at final inspection
* Designated diseases shall be:
Leaf spot (Alternaria tagetica shome & mustafee)
Flower bud rot (A. alternata (fr.) Keissler & dianthi Stevans &
hall)
Collar rot (Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn)

V. Seed standards
1 2 3

Descriptors – Flowers & Ornamental Plants
Plant height, plant spread, leaf shape, branching habit, flower

type, days required for flowering, number of flowers per plant or per
stem, colour and size of flowers, flowering duration fragrance, petal
texture, cut flower life, longevity of flower on the plant, length of flower,
stem stalk, flowers single/semi-double, double, flower yield,
common/commercial use, suitable for domestic/export market,
suitability for growing under open/cover conditions and reaction to
diseases and pests.
B. Specific for different crops:
a) Perennials
b) Rose
Bud length, foliage flossyness, colour retention, bloom center and

reaction to cold.
ii) Carnation:
Calyx splitting, bud opening and shape of Corolla margins.
iii) Chrysanthemum:
Photo-sensitiveness, colour rentention and disc florets

hidden/visible.
iv) Orchids:
Habitat (epiphytic/terrestrial), lip shape and sepal colour.
v) Gerbera:
Hollowness of flower stalk and petal shape.
vi) Anthurium:
Spathe shape, spadix shape and flowering type/non-flowering type.
b) Bulbous Plants:
i) Gladiolus: Spike weight, internode length, floret arrangement
number of florets remain fresh at a time, branching of spike,
dormancy period and corm and cormel multiplication.
ii) Narcissus and Daffodil: Shape of perianth cup or corona, leaf
colour and flowers in umbel or solitary.
iii) Tulip: Flower shape and leaf colour
iv) Hyacinth: Leaf colour
v) Iris: Beard present/absent, beard shape and rhizomatus/bulbous.
TUBEROUS BEGONIA:
Petal shape, growth habit, flower shape and foliage colour.
c) Annuals:
i) Marigold:
Flower weight, stem colour and foliage colour present/absent
ii) China Aster:
Growth habit and stem colour.
iii) Carnation:
Calyx – splitting and petal shape
iv) Antirrhinum:
Flower shape and growth habit.

4. PLANTATION CROPS
SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FOR COCONUT
Land Requirement:
Avoid using the same nursery area again the nursery should not
be in any diseased area particularly root (wilt) and ganoderma disease.
i) Selection of seed garden:
Garden should have a record of consistently high yield
Garden should contain a high proportion of heavy bearers
Garden should be free from the incidence of disease and not prone to
severe attack of pests
Do not select mother palms from very small holdings maintained under
highly favorable conditions of growth.
Palms located near cattle sheds, compost or manure pits, waterways etc.,
should preferably be avoided.
ii) Selection of mother palms:
Palms selected as mother palms should be regular bearers and should

give annual yield of not less than 80 nuts under rain fed conditions.
The copra content per nut should be around 150 g.
Select palms which have reached full bearing stage and giving regularly
high yield for at least four consecutive years
Very old palms (above 60 years) should be avoided
Mother palm should have at least 30 fully opened leaves on the crown
The leaves should have short and strong petioles with vide leaf base
firmly attached to the stem.
The trees with crown having leaf orientation to all directions which are
commonly known as umbrella stage is ideally suited as mother palms.
Trees having a drooping or upright position for the leaves are generally
poor yields and such palms should be avoided.
Every leaf axil should have one inflorescence with a large number of
spikes
The female flower distribution per spike should be one or two which
insures high set and stability in yield,
At any time, there should be minimum 12 bunches with nuts at different

stages of development on the crown.
Peduncle should be short and stout so that there is no chance of bucking

of the bunches.
Palms producing barren nuts, alternate bearing irregular should be

avoided.
iii) Selection of nuts:
For seed purpose; nuts of round and oblong shapes without ridges
should be selected.
Palms having higher proportion of husked nut, thickness or kernel and

size of the embryo should be selected.
The seed nut collection season should be adjusted according to the rainy
season of the area.
Tall cultivars, two months storage of seed nut is required for greater
germination
Nuts with fully dried husk alone should be sown lest germination will be
delayed.
15 days to 1 month storage is required for dwarf nuts

Store the nuts under shade, to retain nut water
Seednuts should be fully matured (i.e.,) 12 month old.
Nuts with irregular shape, size and improper development should be

rejected.
Nuts having cracks on the husk at the stalk or at the base should be
discarded.
SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FOR COCOA
I. Application for general seed certification standards.
(a) The general seed certification standards are basic and along with
the following standards it forms the standards for certification of
cocoa plants for varieties pods.
(b) The general standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically
to cocoa. All clarified classes fo cocoa viz. Criollo, Forastero,
trinitaria and hybrids shall be produced through graft/budded
(clonal) plants whose source and identifications may be ensured
and approved by certification agency.
(b) Nursery area should be away from old and ill managed cocoa
gardens as well as away from cashew plots so as to avoid
infestation of scion materials with ten-mosquitoes.
(c) The area should be free of cocoa swollen shoot virus, vascular
streak disease and phytophthora stem canker disease.
III. Varieties
(a) Selection of mother plants as per the specific characters of the

variety has to be inspected and approved.
(b) Mother scion plats must not be from a diseased tract and the
plant must be free of disease.
(c) Mother scion plants must be an heavy bearer, with precocity,
high vigor, less pod index and with other quality parameters
like high been size <(1.0 g) less shelling percentage (<10.12%)
and high butter content (>55% and with tolerance to stresses of
biotic and abiotic nature.
(d) Nurseries inspection should be carried at 4-5 times to confirm
the pedigree, and proper, maintenance, to cull out the diseased
and off types and to ensure the proper clonal multiplications
IV. Field standards
I. Isolation
The biclonal orchards with known compatible cocoa lines may be

maintained at an isolation distance of 300 mm from other blocks. So as
to avoid mixing of pollens in the desired hybrid combinations. Otherwise
it does not carry any meanings while only scion materials are to be
procured from the mother plants block. Polyclonal orchards must be
avoided in hybrid pod production.
II. Specific
Production of clones o f selected mother varieties can be carried

out through soft wood wedge grafting or patch budding using only
chupons (orthotropic branches with helical leaf arrangement and
symmetrical leaves) as scion sticks / budwoods.
The hybrid pods and the seedlings there of from the biclonal orchards
must be subjected to verification with reference to their F1 hybrid
characters as per the descriptors.
Characters of clones
Six months old grafted or budded clonal cocoa plants with vigorous
scion having hardened green 5-6 leaves and no sprouts from rootstock
portion are ready for planting on to mainfield.
The clones/hybrid seedlings must be free of pests and diseases.

SEED CERTIFICATION OF ARECANUT
I. Application for general seed certification standards.
3. The general seed certification standards are basic and along with
following standards it forms the standards for certification of
arecanut seeds for varieties.
4. The general standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically
to arecanut. All clarified classes of arecanut viz. Tall and semi tall
shall be produced through seednuts which source and identify
may be ensured and approved by certification agency.
(b) Land to be used for nursery shall be free of old nuts and must
be protected from nuts falling from arecanut palms if nursery
area is in the arecanut garden. Swammy and clayey conditions
may be avoided.
(c) Avoid using the same nursery area again. The nursery should
not be in any diseased area particularly yellow leaf Disease.
III. Varieties
(a) Selection of mother palms as per the specific characters of the

variety has to be inspected and approved.
(b) Mother palm must be from a diseased tract. Palms must be free of
disease.
(c) Inspection during harvesting of seednuts must be carried out.
Mother palms should be early bearers with high percent age of
fruit set, and more than ten years old. From these palms, fully ripe
and heavier (>35g) nuts should be selected.
(d) Nursery inspection must be carried out four times to rogue out off
types. Seedlings markets specific to the varieties must be listed for
rouging off types.
IV. field standards
V. General requirements
I. Isolation
The mother blocks of arecanut varieties shall be isolated from the other
contaminants at a distance of 500 m. All off types in the population must
be removed.
a. Specific
Production of pure nuts of selected varieties must be carried out by

inter use mating/sip meting. The population from which the nuts are
produced must be confirm to the varietal characters as per the
descriptions.
Characters of seedlings
(i) One year old seedlings should confirm approximately the following
criteria apart from being vigorous.
Cultivars Girth (cm) No. of leaves

Tall 20 cm 5-6
Semi tall 15 cm 5-6
Twelve to eighteen months old seedlings with five leaves and high
selection index (SI) should be used for transplanting to the main field. SI.
No. of leaves x 40 – height. Shorter seedlings with 5 to 6 leaves are
preferred for planting.
(II) Seedlings should be absolutely free of insects and diseases.

(III) In case of sale of seednuts, seednuts should have germination level
of 90% and above.
SEED/PLANTING MATERIAL CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FOR
CASHEW
ESTABLISHMENT OF CASHEW SCION BANK:
Land : Soils with water logging and excessive salinity or alkalinity should
be avoided.
Scion banks for the recommended cashew varieties should be established

by adopting a closer spacing of 4 m x 4 m
Plants should be fertilized with the recommended quality of NPK (500 g

N, 125 g 1205 and 125 g K2O per plant) during monsoon season.
Tender shoots should be protected from tea mosquito & other sucking
pests by giving timely sprays of insecticides *Endosulfan/
Monocrotophos @ 1.5 ml/l)
During flowering season, the flower panicles should be cut off in order to
get more no. of scions.
If mature scion sticks are not utilized due to some reason, such shoots
should be headed back so that more no. of lateral shoots are produced.
The plants in the scion bank should be maintained by heading back the
top (detopping) to a height of 1.5 m from ground level.
The pruned trees should be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture (1%)
Selection of scion and pre curing:
Select non-flowered lateral shoots of current season growth (3-6 months

old)
The selected shoots should be 10-12 cm long, straight, uniformly round

with pencil thickness brown coloured. The top leaves (4-5) should be
dark green in colour indicating proper maturity.
Precure by clipping off leaf blades. After 10-15 days scion sticks can be
detached
The procured scion sticks should be separated from the mother tree
before they sprout.
The procured scion sticks should be separated early in the morning.
Variety name should be labeled

The scion sticks should be dipped in water wrapped in moist cloth and
placed in polythene bag and brought to nursery shed.
Raising of root stick seedlings:
1. Collect the seed nuts during peak period of Harvest (February-

April)
2. Seed nuts are sun dried for 2-3 days
3. Medium sized nuts (6-7g) should be selected
4. The seeds should be perfect formation (well filled) and with the
highest possible specific gravity.
5. The seeds should be treated with carbaryl (5 g/kg of seed) before
storing in gunny bags.
Preparation of grafts:
1. Root stock seedlings of about 60 days old should be used

2. On the selected rootstock seedling, two pairs of bottom leaves are
retained and the other leaves removed using a sharp grafting knife.
3. At a height of 15-20 cm from ground level a transverse cut is made
and the terminal shoot is removed.
4. A cleft of 6-7 cm deep is made in that middle if the decapitated
stem by giving a longitudinal cut.
5. The wedge of the scion is inserted into the cleft of the rootstock
6. The graft joint is secured firmly with 2-5 cm vide 30 cm long
polythene strip of 100 gauge thickness.
7. A white H.D. polythene bag (15 cm 12-5 cm 100 gauge) is inserted
on the grafted. Plant tied at the bottom.
8. The grafted plants are left for 2 weeks to encourage sprouting
9. After 2 weeks polythene caps are removal
10. 70-80% grafts sprout within 3-4 weeks.
Management of Cashew grafts:
1. Cashew grafts should be watered daily during dry periods.

2. During heavy rains, excess water in bags should be removed by
pressing the sides.
3. Grafts should be arranged in beds after spreading black HD.
Polythene sheet of 100 gauge.
4. During summer month, grafted plants should be protected from
sun by providing partial shade.
5. Bordeaux Mixture 1%) spray to be given at 10 days interval as a
prophylactic Measures.
6. Insecticides such as Ekalux/Monocrotophas 1.5 ml/l to be sprayed
to control sucking pests.
7. The shoots arising from leaf axis of root stock below the graft joint
to be removed.
8. Flower panicles to be removed.
9. Polythene strip should be removed from graft joint after 4 months
of grafting to avoid girdling of the graft joint.
10. The bottom leaves on the root stock should be removed after 3
months of grafting when the scion leaves turn from bronze colour
to green.
11. 5-12 months old grafts are to be supplied.
5. SPICES
CROP STANDARD FOR BLACK PEPPER (Piper nigram L.)
PLANTING MATERIAL
In black pepper, the rooted cuttings constitute the planting material.

Hence the standards are for the production of quality rooted cuttings.
Phase of certificate
1. Field Inspection for selection of the field (for single season certified
nursery – conventional method – three nodded cuttings).
1.1. Selection of mother vines:
The material meant for multiplication should be selected only from an

uniformly established gardens free from diseases/inoculants of diseases
such as Phytophthora foot rot, Stunt and Phyllody diseases. Elite mother
vines are to be identified at such gardens with the following
characteristics.
a. Age of the elite mother vines should at least be not less than 7 years.
b. The vine should have given stable yield of at least 2 kg dry
pepper/vine/year for 4 consecutive years.
c. Management practices followed for those vines during the last five
years should be noted.
d. These selected vines should be monitored at least once in a year for a
possible infection of the disease and continuously monitored for
future use.
Vines with above characters are identified, labeled and runner shoots
from such lines only should be used for large scale multiplication. In
any such selection, varietal purity should be maintained. Close
examination is essential to avoid physical mixing of varieties. To avoid
such mixing, support trees and vines should be examined carefully so
that if more than one variety of pepper vines are growing on the same
tree support, such vines should be rejected.
1.2 Field inspection team:
The field from which planting material are to be collected should be

inspected by a team consisting of a breeder, pathologist, entomologist
and nematologist besides an agronomist.
1.2.1. Minimum specific number of field inspection:
Two inspections are to be carried out; one during October-November for

identifying mother vines with the specifications of the crop field as
mentioned in para 1.1 and the other during January-February to inspect
field for the incidence of pests and diseases if any particularly to locate
Phytophthora foot rot and stunt/phyllody diseases. A certificate to the
effect the vines selected meet the standards para 1.1. It is mandatory for
any commercial nursery to obtain this certificate annually.
2. Standards for planting material production methods
2.1 Nursery inspection – standards
The are in which nursery is to be established in a well drained preferably

in a slightly elevated place. This surface soil (0-15 cm depth) in this are
should be tested for the present/absence of disease causing
fungi/bacteria/nematodes particularly for the fungus Phytophthora
capsici, nematode viz., Radophollu similes and Meloidogyne incognita.
These tests should be carried out by the qualified personnel.
2.2 Method
Collect the runner shoots from the mother vines selected as per the
criteria in the para 1.1. Keep the vines to prevent them from striking
roots in the soil. Separate the runner shoots from the vines during
February-march. The middle one third portion of runner shoots are
preferred for planting. Avoid very tender and too hard portions for the
shoot. Cut the shoots into pieces of 2-3 nodes. Clip the leaves, if any
leaving a small portion of the petiole on the stem. Dip the lower cut end
(up to 2 cm) of the cuttings in 1000 ppm solution of 3 Indol Butyric Acid
(IBA) for 45 seconds will substantially increase root formation and
development (This solution can be prepared by dissolving 1 g of IBA in
one litre of water containing 3-5 g of sodium carbonate (Washing soda).
Adhere to the dipping period of 45 seconds as any deviation from this
may be injurious.
Treating the cuttings with Seradix B2 is equally effective. But IBA

treatment is cheaper and hence is recommended for large nurseries
where technical supervision. Seradix B2 can be conveniently used by the
farmers and small scale nurseries.
Plant the treated cuttings in polythene bags (20 x 15 cm size with 300
gauge thickness) filled with potting mixture. The potting mixture is
prepared by mixing two parts of fertile top soil, one part of river sand and
one part of well decomposed Farm Yard Manure of Compost. When
polythene bags are used sufficient number of holes about 20) may be
provided at the base to ensure good drainage. The cutting should be
planted at least on node deep in the soil.
In large commercial nurseries, where the soil contains more than 200
nematodes per gram of soil, the potting mixture should be fumigated
with methyl bromide @ 500g per tonne of soil to destroy the nematodes.
Planting of cuttings in such a potting mixture is to be taken up only after
21 days of fumigation. The cuttings after planting should be kept under
good shade. The cuttings are to be well protected from direct sun light.
Light and frequent watering in recommended in the nursery to maintain
a humid and cool atmosphere around the cuttings. Heavy watering which
makes the soil slushy and cause water logging is to be avoided.
2.3. Minimum specifications for the rooted cuttings of black pepper
i. The age of the rooted cutting should be 21/2 moths old from the
date of planting in the polythene bags.
ii. A minimum of five leaves should be preset with vigorous growth
without exhibiting any nutrient deficiency symptoms
iii. Profusely developed roots with the absence Phytophthora capsici
spores and nematodes viz., Radopholus similis and Meloidogyne
incognita on the cuttings as well as in the potting mixture
iv. Maintaining varietal purity.
v. Each such bag may contain a minimum of two such rooted
cuttings
Black pepper rooted cuttings fail to meet above requirements should

not be considered as a quality planting material of black pepper.
3. Multi-season Nurseries
This nurseries are based on the bamboo method of rapid multiplication.
3.1. Nursery inspection
The nurseries should be inspected by an expert team consisting of a

plant pathologist, nematologist, entomologist and an agronomist and
certify that the nursery plants are free from sources of inoculums
specifically for the fungi Phytophthora capsici, nematodes incognita and
Radophollus similis, viral disease symptoms Stund and Phyllody disease.
This expert should inspect the nursery at least once in six months and
issue certificate as the case may be.
3.2. Minimum specifications for the rooted cuttings of black pepper
The standards prescribed as in para 2.3 are applicable here.

i. The age of the rooted cutting should be 21/2 months old from
the date of planting in the polythene bags.
ii. A minimum of five leaves should be present with vigorous
growth without exhibiting any nutrient deficiency symptoms
iii. Profusely developed roots with the absence Phytophthora capsici
spores and nematodes viz., Radopholus similis and Meloidogyne
incognita.
Black pepper rooted cuttings fail to meet above requirements
should not be considered as a quality planting material of black
pepper.
iv. Maintaining varietal purity
v. Each such bag may contain a minimum of two such rooted
cuttings
II Land requirement/Nursery requirement
Nursery shed to be used for propagation of black pepper shall be of

convenient size e.g., 24 m x 6m. Roof should allow sufficient light to pass
through it 950-75% light).
Rooting medium made of forest soil, sand, compost (or powdered cattle
manure in the para 1.1.1.
* Poly bag 15 x 10cms size.
III Field inspection / Nursery Inspection
Minimum of two inspections shall be made as follows:
1. The first inspection shall be made about 30-35 days after

planting the cuttings in the poly bag to check the sprouting.
2. The second inspection shall be made about 75-90 days to verify
cutting growth Phytophthora, mealy bugs and scales infestation.
IV Field standards
1. Isolation
The cuttings of particular variety shall be isolated from

contaminants shown in column 1 of the table below by the distances
specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said table.
Contaminants Minimum distance (meter)

Blocks of other varieties 1 1
Blocks of the same
variety not conforming to 1 1
varietal purity
requirements for
certification
Factor Foundation Certified

1. Sprouting 95% 90%
2. Phytophthora/viral 0 0
diseases 0 0
3. Scale insect/Mealy
bugs
Note:
2. Original mother plant should be free from Phytophthora,

stunted and phyllody disease infestation whose runner shoots
shall be used for propagation and it should be certified by
authorities.
3. Periodical fumigation of nursery site as well as rooting medium
is required.
* Poly bag 15 x 10 cm size.
V. Cutting standards

1. Height 20 cm 15 cm
2. Minimum No. of leaves 6 4
3. Phytophthora foot rot/leaf 0 0
spot 0 0
4. Virus infection 0 0-1%
5. Nematode infestation 0 0-1%
6. Scale/Mite/Thrips/Mealy
bugs
Note:
* Cutting shoot be healthy, vigorous free from pest and disease

and also true to type
* Before transporting it should be sprayed with approved pesticides.
CARDAMOM (Elerraria cardamomum Maton)
1. Application and amplification of general seed certification

standards:
A. The general seed certification standards are basic and together

with the following specific standards constitute the standards
for certification of cardamom.
B. The general standards are amplified as follows to apply
specifically to cardamom.
All certified classes shall be produced by seedlings raised from field

collected open pollinated seeds, seedlings, from hybrid seeds produced in
clonal seed production gardens and vegetative, through suckers (slips).
II. Nursery requirement/land requirement.
The nurseries should be established as far as possible only in virgin soils

or in soil where cardamom/other related zingiberaceous crops were not
planted earlier.
Avoid soil infected with pythium, phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, nematodes

and soil borne insect pests.
The land after preparation can be subjected to soil solarisation.
III. Field inspection/Nursery inspection.
For selection of mother plants for collection of open pollinated seeds

minimum two visit is needed. The first inspection should be at time of
the full bearing stage in the previous season (August-September) for
marking the plants having high yield parameters. The second inspection
shall be made just before the harvesting season of the current year
(September) for assessing the performance of the selected plants and also
for pest and disease incidence.
For hybrid seeds from clonal crossing blocks minimum three inspection
shall be made i.e., before flowering during flowering to rogue off
unsuitable plants if any, and also to ascertain the freedom from pests
and diseases, third inspection shall be at harvest to assess the quality of
seed capsules.
In case of nursery, minimum here inspection shall be made first at 3

months after sowing and second at 6 months to check off-types, pest and
disease and seedlings shall be transferred to poly bags final inspection
made before at the time of distribution (9-10 months) to assess the
quality of seedlings and pest and disease incidence.
IV. Field standards
1. Isolation
The clonal crossing blocks of cardamom shall be isolated from the

contaminants.
Contaminants Foundation Certified
Fields/Blocks of general 200 m 100 m
Note:
In nursery minimum 3 m isolation distance is required between varieties.
A. Specific requirements
Standards Foundation Certified

1. Uniformity of the crop 0 0
1. Present of diseases
a. Katte virus 0 0
b. Clump rot 0 0
c. Azhukal (capsule rot) 0 0
d. Kokke kandu 0 0
2. present of pests
a. Thrips 0 0
b. Capsule/shoot/Panicle 5% 10%
borer 0 0
c. Root grube 5% 10%
d. White filed
V. Capsule/seedling standards
A. Capsule Standard

2. Appearance Bold and healthy Bold and healthy
3. Uniformity 95% 85%
4. Thrips affected 5% 10%
capsules 5% 10%
5. Borer affected capsules 5 10%
6. Deformed capsules 1% 5%
7. Contamination with Brownish black Brownish black
other
8. Colour of the seed 60% 50%
9. Germination percent 80% 70%
a. without acid
treatment
b. with acid treatment
B. Seedlings standard.

1. Height 60-75 cms 60-75 cms
2. No. of leaves 5-7 5-7
3. NO. of suckers - -
4. presence of diseases
a. Katte virus 0 0
b. Kokke kandu 0 0
c. Fungal diseases 0 0
5. Insect pest 1% 5%
6. Undesirable seedlings 5% 10%
Note:
The seedlings are first sown in raised beds of convenient size at 6 months
seedlings are transferred to secondary nursery i.e., in poly bags of 25x10
size filled with nursery mixture.
CLOVE (Syzygium armaticum (L) Merrill & Perry)
1. Application and amplification of general seed certification

standards
A. The general seed certification standards are basic and

together with the following specific standards constitute the
standards for certification of clove.
B. The general standards are amplified as follows to apply
specifically to clove
No distinct varieties are recognized in India. The common method
of propagation is through seeds collected from healthy and regular
bearing trees.
II. Nursery requirements
• In order to select elite mother clove tree, minimum two inspection

shall be made. One before flowering second at the time of flowering
• In the nursery, only one check at the time of distribution shall be
made to assess the quality of seedlings
IV Field standards
1. Isolation
AS there is no distinct varieties isolation is not required. However,
in nursery clove seedlings kept 2 meter away from other crop
seedlings to avoid pest infestation.
Healthy and regular bearing mother clove tree with following

characters:
1. Number of terminals per >10 First inspection

branch >14 First inspection
2. Number of clusters per branch >100 Second inspection
3. Number of flower branch >1.5 cm Second inspection
4. Length of flowers
V. Seedlings standard
Height -50 cm
Note:
• To reach sufficient height it will take 9-24 months depending upon

management
• First, seed will be sown in sand beds, after germination seedlings
will be transferred to poly bags
• Normally no pest and diseases infests clove seedlings in the
nursery
CROP STANDARDS FOR CINNAMON (Cinnamomum verum Bercht. &
Prest.)
In cinnamon, the rooted cuttings constitute the planting material. Hence

the standards are for the production of quality rooted cuttings.
1. Nursery requirements
a) A nursery shed which can allow 75% sunlight

b) IBA or IAA 2000 ppm or Seradise-B
c) Polythene bags of 30x22 cm size and 300gz thickness for
rooting
d) Coir dust and sand mixture (1:1 ratio)
e) Potting mixture made up of well powdered garden/forest soil,
pure fine sand and well powdered dried cow dung (3:3:1 ratio)
2. Parent tree requirements:
The parent trees must have a very good regeneration capacity, high
quality bark with good yield. IISR Navashree and IISR Nithyashree are
the national varieties released recently.
3. Planting material (rooted cuttings) production:
Six month old shoot cuttings with 2-3 nodes are to be made from
the present tree. Half leaf only has to be retained at each node. The lower
cut end of the cutting (up to 2 cm) has to be dipped in 2000 ppm
solution of IBA or IAA for few seconds (quick dip method). This will
substantially increase root formation and development. This solution can
be prepared by dissolving 1g of IBA or IAA in 2 l. of water containing 3 to
5 g of Sodium Carbonate (washing soda).
Treating the cutting with Seradix B2 is equally effective. But IBA or

IAA treatment is cheaper and hence recommended for large nurseries
where technical supervision is feasible. Seradix B-2 can be conveniently
used by farmers and small scale nurserymen.
The shoot cuttings which were kept in the polythene bags could be
taken 2 to 3 months later, when roots were found through the polythene
bag. The rooted cuttings must be carefully lifted and separately planted
in polythene bag containing 3:3:1 garden soil, sand and farm yard
manure (dried and well powdered). At the time of planting, care has to be
taken that primary root is well developed (minimum 25 cm) with lot of
lateral roots (about 20). One year old such bagged cuttings must be used
for planting. It should have attained a minimum height of 25 to 30 cm.
GINGER (Zingiber officinale Rose)
I. Application and Amplification of General seed certification

standards.
II. The General seed certification standards are basic and together
certification of seed ginger.
A. The general standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically

to ginger
All certified classes shall be produced by vegetative propagation of

underground rhizome, whose source and identity may be assured and
approved by the certification agency.
III. Land requirements
• Partial shade with gentle sloppy landscape.
• Soil should be loose, friable and offer minimum resistance to

rhizome development. Soil depth 30 cm or more, high organic
matter and pH of 6-6.5 are favourable. Virgin forest soils
particularly after defestation is ideal.
• Planting should be avoided if soil is infested with Pythium sp.,

Pseudomonas solanacearum and Meloidogyne incognita.
• Land to be used for seed/planting material production of ginger

shall be free of volunteer plants.
IV. Field Inspection
A Minimum of four inspections shall be made as follows:
A. The first inspection shall be made at the time of planting

variety isolation, rhizome rot, seed piece weight and spacing.
B. The second inspection shall be made about 45-125 days

after planting to check germination, sprouting, rhizome rot
and shoot borer incidence.
C. The third inspection shall be made about 180-190 days after
planting to check off types, rhizome rot and Phyliosticta leaf
spot.
D. The fourth inspection shall be made before harvest of or

between 240-250 days after planting to verify rhizome rot,
scale insect and meal bug infestation.
V. Field Standards
Isolation
The fields/blocks of seed ginger shall be isolated from the

distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said table.

1 2 3
Factor Inspection Foundation Certified

stage (Maximum)
1. Spacing I 45x30 cm 45x30 cm
2. Seed piece weight I 20-25 g 20-25 g
3. Rhizome rot I 0 0
II to IV 0 0
4. Shoot borer II to III 1% 5%
5. Off-types III 0.5% 1%
6. Phyllosticta Leaf spot III 1% 5%
Bacterial wilt (Rhizictonis
solanecsyur)
7. Scale insect IV 1% 5%
8. Mealy bugs IV 1% 5%
Note:
1. All off types and diseased plants should be rouged out along with
rhizomes and destroyed.
VI. Seed standards

1. Appearance Healthy & plumpy Healthy & plumpy
2. Uniformity 95% 85-90%
(Minimum)
3. Dry rot (Maximum) 1% 5%
4. Phyllosticta 5% 10%
(Maximum)
5. Scales (Maximum) 1% 5%
6. Mealy bugs 1% 5%
(Maximum)
Note:
1. In a seed lot, rhizomes not conforming to specific characteristics of

a variety shall not exceed 0.5% and 1% (by number - maximum)
for foundation and certified seed classes, respectively.
2. The seed material shall be reasonably clean healthy and firm.
3. Cut, bruised, or those damaged by insects shall not exceed more

than 1.0% (by weight)
TURMERIC (Curcuma longa L.)

standards.
A. The General seed certification standards are basic and together

certification of seed turmeric.
B. The general standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically

to turmeric.
All certified classes shall be produced by vegetative propagation of

underground rhizome, whose source and identity may be assured and
approved by the certification agency.
• Soil should be loose, arable and offer minimum resistance to

rhizome development.
• Soil depth 30 cm or more, high organic matter of acidic soil.
• The crop of seed turmeric shall not be eligible for certification if

grown on the land infested with Pythium sp., Pseudomonas
solanacearum and Meloidogyne incognita.
A Minimum of four inspections shall be made as follows:

A. The first inspection shall be made at the time of planting
variety isolation, rhizome rot, seed piece weight and spacing.
B. The second inspection shall be made about 45-50 days after

planting to check germination, sprouting, rhizome rot and
shoot borer incidence.
C. The third inspection shall be made about 120-180 days after

planting in order to verify off types, shoot borer and rhizome
rot.
D. The fourth inspection shall be made before harvest of or

between 240-250 days after planting to verify rhizome rot,
scale insect and meal bug infestation.
IV. Field Standards
Isolation
The fields/blocks of seed turmeric shall be isolated from the

distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said table.

1 2 3
Factor Inspection Foundation Certified

stage (Maximum)
1. Spacing I 45x30 cm 45x30 cm
2. Seed piece weight I 20-25 g 20-25 g
3. Rhizome rot I 0 0
4. Shoot borer II to III 1% 5%
5. Off-types III 0.5% 1%
6. Scale insect IV 1% 5%
7. Mealy bugs IV 1% 5%
Note:
1. All off types and diseased plants should be rouged out along with
rhizomes and destroyed.
V. Seed standards

1. Appearance Healthy & plumpy Healthy & plumpy
2. Uniformity 95-100% 85%
(Minimum)
3. Dry rot (Maximum) 1% 5%
4. Scales (Maximum) 1% 5%
5. Mealy bugs 1% 5%
(Maximum)
Note:
1. In a seed lot, rhizomes not conforming to specific characteristics of a

variety shall not exceed 0.5% and 1% (by number - maximum) for
foundation and certified seed classes, respectively.
2. The seed material shall be reasonably clean, healthy and firm.
3. Cut, bruised, or those damaged by insects shall not exceed more than
1.0% (by weight).
C U M I N (Cuminum syminum)
Open pollinated varieties and Composites

standards.
The General seed certification standards are basic and together

certification of the seeds of cumin open-pollinated
varieties/composites.
Land to be used for seed production of cumin should be free from

volunteer plants and where cumin crop has not been taken over
preceding two years.
1. The first inspection shall be made before flowering preferably

within 45 days of planting to determine isolation, volunteer
plant off types and other relevant factors.
2. The second inspection shall be made during 50% flowering to

check the isolation, off types and other relevant factors.

harvesting to verify the true nature of plant and other relevant
factors.
IV. Field Standards
B. General Requirements
Isolation

2 and 3 of the said Table.

1 2 3
Fields of same variety not conforming 800 400
to varietal purity
Factor Maximum permitted (%)

Off type Plants 0.10 0.50
Objectionable weed plants* 0.05 0.10
*Objectionable weed shall be plantago pumila
V. Seed standards
Factor Standards for each class

Foundati Certified
on
Insert matter (maximum) 3.0% 3.0%
Other crop seed (maximum) 10/Kg 20/Kg
Objectionable weed seeds (max) 5/Kg 10/Kg
Moisture (maximum) 10% 10%
For vapour proof container (max) 8% 8%
CORIANDER (Coriandrum sativum)
Open pollinated varieties and composites.

standards.
The General seed certification standards are basic and, together

certification of the seeds of coriander open-pollinated varieties,
composites.
Land to be used for seed production of coriander should be free of

volunteer plants.
A Minimum of three inspections shall be made as follows:

plants, off types and other relevant factors.


factors.
IV. Field Standards
Isolation


1 2 3
Off type plants 0.1% 0.5%
*Objectionable weed plants None None

Foundati Certified
on
*Objectionable weed seeds None None
*Objectionable weeds Lathyrus

FENNEL (Foaniculum vulgare)
Open pollinated varieties and composites.

standards.
The General seed certification standards are basic and, together

certification of the seeds of fennel open-pollinated varieties,
composites.
Land to be used for seed production of fennel should be free of

volunteer plants.



factors.
IV. Field Standards
Isolation


1 2 3

Foundati Certified
on
Off types 0.10 0.50
*Objectionable weed None 0.05
IV. Seed Standards

Foundati Certified
on
*Objectionable weed seeds 5/Kg 10/Kg
• Objectionable weeds Dodder (Cuscuta spp.)

Suwa (Anethum suwa L.) or Indian Dill.
Open pollinated varieties and composites

standards.

certification of the seeds of Suwa (Anethum raveolens L.) open-
pollinated varieties, composites.
Land to be used for seed production of Suwa should be free of

volunteer plants.



factors.
IV. Field Standards
Isolation

column 1 of the table below by the distances specified in columns

1 2 3

Off types 0.10 0.50
*Objectionable weed None 0.05
IV. Seed Standards

Ajawain (Trachyspermum anmi L.)

Standards.

certification of the seeds of Ajawain (Trachyspeermum ammi L.)
open-pollinated varieties, composites.
Land to be used for seed production of Ajawain should be free from

volunteer plants.



factors.
IV. Field Standards

Isolation


1 2 3

Off types 0.10 0.50
II. Seed Standards

FENUGREEK (Kasuri Methi (Trigonella foenumgracum L.) AND METHI
(Trigonella foenumgracum L.)

Standards

certification of the seeds of Kasuri Methi and methi.
Land to be used for seed production of Kasuri Methi and methi

shall be free of volunteer plants.
A minimum of two inspections shall be made, the first before

flowering, the second at the flowering and fruit stage.
IV. Field Standards
1. Isolation

1 2 3

requirements for Certification.
1 2 3
Off types 0.10 0.20
** Objectionable weed plants 0.010 0.020
* Maximum permitted at the final inspection.
** Objectionable weeds shall be:Senji (Melilotus spp.),
V. Seed standards
1 2 3
Total Weed seeds (maximum) 10/Kg 10/Kg
* Objectionable weed seeds (maximum) 2/Kg 5/Kg

(maximum)
Germination including hard seeds 70% 70%

(minimum)


Standards For Planting Material

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STANDARD GUIDELINES

1. Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification

a. The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and together

II. Land Requirements

a. Land to be used for clonal propagation of mango shall be free

III. Field Inspection

Mother Plant should be healthy, true to type and free from

A minimum of two inspections shall be made before the sale

IV. Field Standards

Contaminants Minimum distance Certified

2. Spacing: The spacing between plants in clone propagation plots

Standard for each class

I. Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification

a. The General Certification Standards are basic and together with

II. Land Requirements

III. Field Inspection

Contaminants Minimum distance Certified

Standard for each class

I. Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification

a. The General Certification Standards are basic and together with

All certified clones shall be produced by asexual methods like

II. Land Requirements

III. Field Inspection

Contaminants Minimum distance Certified

Standard for each class

I. Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification

a. The General Certification Standards are basic and together with

II. Land Requirements

III. Field Inspection

IV. Field Standards

Contaminants Minimum distance Certified

2. Spacing: The spacing between plants in clone propagation plots

Standard for each class

I. Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification

a. The General Certification Standards are basic and together with

All certified clones shall be produced by asexual methods like air

II. Land Requirements

III. Field Inspection

Contaminants Minimum distance Certified

2. Spacing: The spacing between plants in clone propagation plots

Standard for each class

I. Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification

a. The General Certification Standards are basic and together with

All certified clones shall be produced by asexual methods like

II. Land Requirements

III. Field Inspection

Contaminants Minimum distance Certified

2. Spacing: The spacing between plants in clone propagation plots

Standard for each class

I. Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification

a. The General Certification Standards are basic and together with

All certified clones shall be produced by asexual methods like

II. Land Requirements

III. Field Inspection

Contaminants Minimum distance Certified

Standard for each class

I. Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification

The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together

II. Land requirements

Land to be used for clonal propagation of banana shall be free from

III. Field Inspection

Mother Plant should be healthy, true to type and free from

A minimum of one inspection shall be made before the sale of the