A.
LIMITED GENERATION
Limited
generations refer to the number of generations through which seed of a variety
may be multiplied from the Foundation seed class.
The number of generations through which a variety may be multiplied shall
be limited to that specified by the originating breeder or owner of the variety
and shall not exceed two generations beyond the Foundation seed class with the
following exceptions:
1.
Recertification of a certified class may be permitted for older varieties
where Foundation seed is not being maintained.
2.
The production of an additional generation of the Certified class only
may be permitted on a one-year basis when an emergency is declared prior to the
harvesting season. Approval is
granted after it has been determined that Foundation and Registered seed
supplies are not adequate to plant the needed certified acreage of the variety.
The permission of the originating or sponsoring plant breeder,
institution, firm or owner of the variety, if existent, must be obtained. The
additional generation of certified seed to meet the emergency need is ineligible
for recertification.
B.
PURE SEED
Pure
seed shall include all seeds of each kind, variety or type under consideration
whether shriveled, cracked or otherwise injured, and pieces of seeds that are
larger than one-half of the original size whether broken, insect-damaged or
diseased, except seeds of legumes and crucifers with the seed coat entirely
removed, which shall be classified as inert matter.
C.
INERT MATTER
Inert
matter shall include seed like structures from both crop and weed plants and
other matter not seeds as follows:
1.
Seed like structures from crop plants.
Pieces of seeds one-half the original size or less whether broken,
insect-damaged or diseased; seeds of legumes and crucifers with the seed coats
entirely removed; empty glumes and sterile florets of grasses; attached sterile
florets of grasses (which must be removed from the fertile floret except in
bluegrasses, tall meadow oatgrass, rhodes-grass, bluestems, and gramas).
2.
Seed like structures from crop plants, all badly injured, underdeveloped
or empty structures which resemble seeds, but which by visual examination
(including dissection or reflected light) can be definitely demonstrated as
having an embryo that has been destroyed by a disease organism.
Included as inert matter are structures from weak plants according to the
Association of Official Seed Analysts.
D.
KIND
Kind
shall mean one or more related species or subspecies which singly or
collectively is known by one common name, for example, corn, wheat, and alfalfa.
E.
VARIETY (CULTIVAR)
An
assemblage of cultivated individuals which are distinguished by any characters
(morphological, cytological, chemical or others) significant for the purposes of
agriculture, forestry or horticulture and which, when reproduced (sexually or
asexually) or reconstituted, retain their distinguished features.
F.
OTHER VARIETIES
Other
varieties shall include varieties, strains, or types, other than the variety
under consideration.
G.
OFF-TYPE
Off-type
plants or seeds are those which deviate in one or more characteristics from
those which were described by the breeder, originator, developer or owner of the
variety when eligibility for certification was requested.
H.
HYBRID
The
term “hybrid” applies to kinds or varieties of seed means the first
generation seed of a cross produced by controlling the pollination and by
combining (1) two or more inbred lines; (2) one inbred or a single cross with an
open pollinated variety; or (3) two selected clones, seed lines, varieties, or
species. “Controlling the
pollination” means to use a method of hybridization which will produce pure
seed which is at least 75 percent hybrid seed.
Hybrid designators shall be treated as variety names.
I.
OPEN-POLLINATION
Open-pollination
is pollination that occurs naturally as opposed to controlled pollination, such
as detasselling, cytoplasmic male sterility, self-incompatibility or similar
processes.
J.
GERMINATION
Germination
shall include only those seedlings that have developed into normal seedlings.
Broken, weak, malformed and obviously abnormal seedlings shall not be
counted in the percent of germination.
K.
HARD SEED
Hard
seed includes seeds which, because of hardness or impermeability, do not absorb
moisture or germinate under prescribed tests but remain hard during the period
prescribed for germination of the kind of seed concerned.
L.
TOTAL GERMINATION AND HARD SEED
Total
germination and hard seed is the sum of the percent of germination plus the
percent of hard seed.
M.
WEED SEEDS
Weed
seeds shall include the seeds of all plants generally recognized as weeds within
N.
NOXIOUS WEEDS
The
following weeds have been declared noxious in
1.
Bindweed, field (Convolvulus arvensis)
2.
Knapweed, Russian (Centaurea picris)
3.
Nutgrass or nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus)
4.
5.
Whitetop or Hoary cress (Cardaria draba)
6.
Wild oat (Avena fatua and Avena sterilis)
7.
Moonflower or Giant Morningglory (Colonyction
muricatum)
8.
Onion or garlic, wild (Allium spp.)
9.
Wild morningglory (Ipomoea spp.)
10.
Bindweed, hedge (Convolvulus sepium)
11.
Giant foxtail (Setaria faberii)
12.
Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) – includes (Sorghum alum)
and other indistinguishable seeds.
13.
Quackgrass (Agropyron repens)
14.
15.
Dodder (Cuscuta spp.)
16.
Corncockle (Agrostemma githago)
17.
Darnel (Lolium temulentum
18.
Dock (Rumex spp.)
19. Horsenettle (Solanum
carolinense)
20.
Nightshade, purple (Solanum elaeagnifolium)
21.
Cheat or chess (Bromus secalinus)
22.
Plantain, bracted (Plantago aristata)
23.
Plantain, buckhorn (Plantago lanceolata)
24.
Sorrel, sheep or red (Rumex acetosella)
25.
Cocklebur (Xanthium spp.)
26.
Goatgrass, jointed (Aegilops cylindrica)
27.
Buckwheat, wild (Polygonum convolvulus)
28.
Mustard, wild (Brassica spp.)
29.
Balloonvine (Cardiospermum halicacabum)
P.
PROHIBITED WEEDS
Prohibited
weed seeds are those which have no tolerance in certified seed.
They are as follows: Canada
thistle, Field dodder, Field bindweed, Hoary cress, Johnsongrass, Nutgrass,
Russian Knapweed, Wild onion/garlic, and Wild oat.
Q.
UNIT
OF CERTIFICATION
The
unit of certification shall be a clearly defined field or fields.
R.
CERTIFICATION FOR GENETIC PURITY ONLY
Certification
for genetic purity only approves seed for certification based on meeting minimum
inspection requirements for those factors affecting varietal purity only.
These factors include (1) eligibility of seed planted, (2) eligibility of
land, (3) isolation of seed production field from sources of varietal
contamination and (4) varietal mixtures as determined from both field and
laboratory inspections.
Seed
quality factors which are not considered in approving seed for certification
include: (1) germination percentage, (2) seed purity (mechanical), (3) weed seed
content, (4) other crop seed content, and (5) disease factors.
Special
wording such as the following may appear on the face of the certified seed tag
when seed is certified for genetic purity only:
1.
Certified for genetic identity only
2.
Genetic Purity Certified
3.
Variety Identity Certified
Certifying seed for genetic purity only places an even greater importance
on the information contained on the analysis tag.
S.
BREEDER SEED
Breeder
seed is a class of certified seed directly controlled by the originating or
sponsoring plant breeding institution, or person, or designee thereof, and is
the source for the production of seed of the other classes of certified seed.
T.
FOUNDATION SEED
Foundation
seed is a class of certified seed which is the progeny of Breeder or Foundation
seed and is produced and handled under procedures established by the certifying
agency, in accordance with federal seed act regulations, for producing the
Foundation class of seed, for the purpose of maintaining genetic identity and
purity.
U.
REGISTERED SEED
Registered
seed is a class of certified seed which is the progeny of Breeder or Foundation
seed and is produced and handled under procedures established by the certifying
agency, in accordance with federal seed act regulations, for producing the
Registered class of seed, for the purpose of maintaining genetic identity and
purity.
V.
CERTIFIED SEED
Certified
seed is a class of certified seed which is the progeny of Breeder, Foundation or
Registered seed and is produced and handled under procedures established by the
certifying agency, in accordance with federal seed act regulations, for
producing the Certified class of seed, for the purpose of maintaining genetic
identity and purity.