Sorghum - Open-Pollinated - Seed Certification Standards

(Includes Grain, Forage and Syrup Sorghum, Sudangrass and Broomcorn)

I.          Land Requirements

Certified seed must be produced on land which did not produce any other variety of sorghum or an uncertified crop of the same variety the previous year.

II.         Field Inspection

Two field inspections shall be made on sorghums intended for foundation seed or registered seed production, one at blooming time and the other at maturity.  One inspection is required on sorghum intended for certification after the crop has attained a mature color.  Certified seed fields shall be inspected before harvest but after the seed begins to assume mature color.

III.        Field Standards

A.        General

1.         Unit of Certification

The unit of certification shall be a field, but a portion of a field may be approved provided the discarded portion can be harvested separately and is eliminated from certification.

2.         Isolation

a.   Minimum isolation distances from other common      sorghums shall be 1,320 and 990 feet for the          Foundation and Certified classes respectively.

b.         Minimum isolation distance for sorghum or broomcorn   from sudangrass shall be 990 feet.

c.         Sudan shall be isolated 990 feet from any other   sudangrass.

 B.     Specific Requirements

Factor

Maximum permitted in each class

Foundation

Certified

Other varieties (definite)

None

1:20,000 heads

Other varieties (doubtful)

None

1:4,000 heads

Inseparable noxious weeds ¹

None

None

Kernel smut ²

None

1:2,500 heads

Head smut ²

None

1:10,000 heads

1Noxious weeds producing seed that are so similar to sorghum seed in size and specific gravity that they cannot be cleaned from the seed by the regular methods of cleaning.

2If head or kernel smut is discovered in production field, the seed produced must be treated with material as recommended by the Experiment Station before such seed is finally approved to be sold as certified seed.

   

IV.       Referee Sample

A representative 2-pound sample of the seed as it is to be sold shall be submitted to the Association for laboratory analysis.

 V.        Seed Standards

Factor

Standards for each class

Foundation

Certified

Pure seed (minimum)

98.0%

98.0%

Inert Matter (maximum)

2.0%

2.0%

Weed seed (maximum)

0.1%

0.1%

Prohibited weed seed (maximum)¹

None

None

Other kinds, including other  varieties (maximum) ²

0.03%

0.07%

Other varieties (maximum)

None

2 seeds per lb.

Germination (minimum)

80.0%

80.0%

1See Section XLI P, also, hedge bindweed (Convolvulus sepium), dock (Rumex spp), and morningglory (Ipomoea spp.).

2Other kinds shall not exceed 2 per lb. for Foundation; 10 per lb. for Certified.