SEEDS TRANSPLANTS AREAS OF PRODUCTION Breeding Growing by
SEEDS & TRANSPLANTS
AREAS OF PRODUCTION • Breeding • Growing (by contract) • Purity, Germ %, & Foreign Matter • Wholesale Dealers • Importer • Distributing (Commercial or Home)
BREEDING AND STOCK SEED MAINTENANCE • Requires expert knowledge of the plant and its growth habits. Anticipation of new markert’s and what the consumer wants
STOCK SEED MAINTENANCE • The unsung heroes
BUYING SEED • Catalogues • Dealers • Statement of opinion’s • Truth in Advertising Act.
FEDERAL SEED ACT - UNIFORMITY • State • Inter-State • Federal
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN GOOD SEED • Clean • Disease Free • Viable • Well developed • Good Heritage
CLEAN • Other crops • Weeds • Dirt • Plant fragments
DISEASE FREE • Free of Pests and Diseases • Why plant seed that will infect or damage the new crop
SEED CLASSIFICATION & QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS • Breeder seed: This is produced only in small amounts and is under the control of the plant breeder. It is planted to produce foundation seed. Breeder seed is labeled with a white tag.
• Foundation seed: This is multiplied from breeder seed; it is available in limited amounts and is planted to produce registered seed. It is controlled by public or private foundation seed stock organizations. Foundation seed is also labeled with white tags.
• Registered seed: This is the seed source for growers of certified seed and is under the control of registered seed producers. It is the progeny of either breeder of foundation seed. It is labeled with a purple tag.
• Certified seed: This seed is available in large quantities and is sold to farmers for general crop production. It is labeled with a blue tag. Certified seed is of known genetic identity and purity.
COMMERCIAL SEED SHOULD: • Be true to type • Have a high germination % • Have high vigor • Have no dormancy • Be free of foreign matter • Have no disease or insect contamination
WHAT SHOULD BE ON A LABEL • Cultivar name • Lot number and/or origin • Purity • Germination % • Date of germination test • Amount of inert material • I. D. of any disease or insect control treatments
DEVELOPING A HYBRID OR OPEN POLLINATED CULTIVARS • Isolation • Time • Cost • Management
SEED ENHANCEMENT • Osmoconditioning or priming • Improves seed & seedling vigor • Improves germ. % • Uniformity • Treat the seed with temps. and air
COATED OR PELLETED SEED • Add a cellulose coat around the seed • Why use it? • Hint pg. 82
SEED GERMINATION REQUIREMENTS • Moisture • Oxygen • Temperature • Light (sometimes)
SOIL TEMPS. FOR GERMINATION • Look at table 5. 2
SEED STORAGE AND LIFE SPAN • Look at table 5. 3
TRANSPLANTING • Why? • Extend a short growing season for a late maturing crop • Improve land use efficiency • Substantially save on the cost of expensive hybrid seed • Force crop production for an early market
GROWING TRANSPLANTS • Plug trays (33 – 648) • Controlled environment • Know the exact plant population • Hardening
TRANSPLANTERS • Look at Figures 5. 6 & 5. 7
TRANSPLANTING SUCCESS • Transplant shock • Water uptake • Root growth • Handling methods • Management
DIRECT FIELD SEEDING • Dates of seeding a crop • Varies with crop & location • Seeding Methods • Drill • Precision (page 99)
PRECISION • Precision seeders • Plug mix seeders • Fluid drilling seeders
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