eChapters

5.1 Jute Seed Production 

Jute ranks next to cotton as the most important natural fibre and it recognized as the ‘golden fibre’. Its products being biodegradable and environment friendly in contrast to synthetic substitutes, a renewed interest in this natural fibre has been generated in the recent past throughout the world. Important characteristics of jute fibre are its silky lustures, high tensile strength, low extensibility, considerable heat resistance. Because of its great abundance and shortage of cotton, jute is blended with cotton and jute/cotton blended yarns are produced mainly to take advantage of the lower price of jute fibre (Doraiswamy et al., 1998). Several diversified product is also made from jute. Since currently the paper industry has been using it as a raw material for paper. It is also being used in geotextile. The jute sticks are largely used as fuel and also for making gun powder.

5.1 Jute Seed Production

Jute ranks secand next to cotton as the most important natural fibre and it recognized as the ‘golden fibre’. Its products being biodegradable and environment friendly in contrast to synthetic substitutes, a renewed interest in this natural fibre has been generated in the recent past throughout the world. Important characteristics of jute fibre are its silky lustures, high tensile strength, low extensibility, considerable heat resistance. Because of its great abundance and shortage of cotton, jute is blended with cotton and jute/cotton blended yarns are produced mainly to take advantage of the lower price of jute fibre (Doraiswamy et al, 1998). Several diversified product is also made from jute. Since currently the paper industry has been using it as a raw material for paper. It is also being used in geotextile. The jute sticks are largely used as fuel and also for making gun powder.

Kharif onion helps maintain supply and stabilize prices when stored rabi onions become scarce. Its production is nevertheless challenged by high temperature, excessive rainfall, humidity, unsuitable varieties and limited availability of quality seed. Onion is biennial for seed production and requires bulb production followed by replanting for flowering and seed formation. Its protandrous flowers encourage cross-pollination, making adequate isolation and pollinator activity essential. This chapter explains short-day varietal requirements, bulb selection, vernalization, isolation, field management, pollination, harvesting, seed processing and storage. Improved infrastructure, organized production and farmer training are required to ensure continuous supplies of genetically pure, high-quality kharif onion seed.

4.1 Mustard 

The principle oil yielding rape seed & mustard sp. cultivated in India are

4.1 Mustard

The principle oil yielding rape seed and mustard sp. cultivated in India are

4.1.1 Land Requirement

Select seed field on which the Brassica sp. was not grown in the previous season unless the crop in the previous season was of the same variety and was grown from certified seed. To avoid disease control it is necessary to fallow a 3-4 year crop rotation so that a given field is selected one in every 3-4 years. In addition select field should be well drained, leveled and suitable for Brassica cultivation.

Potato is an important crop of the world and grown in almost all the states in India. Apart from India, potato is grown in more than 100 countries but the intensity of cultivation varies considerably. For example in the Netherlands 19.6% of the total arable land is cultivated with potatoes. The figures for Germany, Peru and USA are 10.1%, 5.6% and less than 1% respectively. India ranks fourth in area (1.29 m ha) and third in production (25.23 m ton) in the world. The productivity of potato depends mainly on the quality and quantity of planting materials and the agronomic management practices adopted. Most of developing countries including India experience release of high yielding varieties, development of adequate agronomic and pest control measures but the gap between supply and demand of good quality adequate quantity seed has to be the major constraint in increasing its productivity. The seed production in India is mainly confined to the North-Western part both in the hills and the plains, because of favourable weather and low incidence of aphids (vectors responsible for viral diseases) in this regions.

Potato is an important crop of the world and grown in almost all the states in India. Apart from India, potato is grown in more than 100 countries but the intensity of cultivation varies considerably. For example in the Netherlands 19.6% of the total arable land is cultivated with potatoes. The figures for Germany, Peru and USA are 10.1%, 5.6% and less than 1% respectively. India ranks fourth in area (1.29 m ha) and third in production (25.23 m ton) in the world. The productivity of potato depends mainly on the quality and quantity of planting materials and the agronomic management practices adopted. Most of developing countries including India experience release of high yielding varieties, development of adequate agronomic and pest control measures but the gap between supply and demand of good quality adequate quantity seed has to be the major constraint in increasing its productivity. 

3.1 Redgram or Pigeon Pea

In any production programme, the importance of quality seed needs hardly be emphasized. In fact, the major bottleneck in the pigeon pea cultivation programme is the restricted or poor availability of quality seeds of the desirable varieties. The seed has been considered as the ‘vehicle of change’. With better attention paid to their interaction among water, fertilizer and seed of improved varieties, the production can be maximized. Although a numbers of improved varieties of pigeon pea have been released since 1970, organized seed production programmes have been rather limited. Most of our national efforts in this direction continue to be centralized on cereal crops like wheat, rice and hybrid millets. Moreover, the benefits of the current research will not reach the farmers unless large-scale seed multiplication programmes are organized. Most farmers continue to use seeds of traditional varieties and consequently have not been able to expedite the higher production potential of the new strains.

3.1 Redgram or Pigeon Pea

In any production programme, the importance of quality seed needs hardly be emphasized. In fact, the major bottleneck in the pigeon pea cultivation programme is the restricted or poor availability of quality seeds of the desirable varieties. The seed has been considered as the ‘vehicle of change’. With better attention paid to their interaction among water, fertilizer and seed of improved varieties, the production can be maximized. Although a numbers of improved varieties of pigeon pea have been released since 1970, organized seed production programmes have been rather limited. Most of our national efforts in this direction continue to be centralized on cereal crops like wheat, rice and hybrid millets. Moreover, the benefits of the current research will not reach the farmers unless large-scale seed multiplication programmes are organized.

1 What is the isolation distance for raising foundation seed in bottle gourd? 

 a) 800 m b) 700 m

 c) 600 m d) 500 m

 2 Roguing of off-type plants in bottle gourd seed production should be done at how many stages?

 a) Three b) Four

 c) Two d) Five

 3 Where are bottle gourd seeds stored after extraction?

 a) Open containers b) Shade

 c) Air tight containers d) Open

Vegetable crops: A seed is borne on fruit and fruit is a mature ovary and ovary is a typical part of flower. Flower in angiosperm, consists of four parts these are calyx/sepal, corolla/petals, androecium/stamens and gynocium/pistil, outer whorl of flower is collectively referred to as calyx. The individual components of calyx are called as sepal. Petals are collectively referred to as corolla. Petal is a unit of second inner whorl after sepals. Stamen is part of flower bearing the male reproductive parts composed of anther and filaments. Pistil is part of flower bearing the female reproductive parts composed of stigma style and ovary.

Seed Production Techniques in Vegetable Crops

Share (%) of F₁ hybrids- Cabbage 85%, Watermelon 70%, Okra 23%, Tomato 80%, Chilli 80%, Cauliflower 50%. Among the Asian countries, India is the 2^nd largest production of hand pollinated hybrid seed in vegetables.

Seed Production Technology

1.    Paddy
2.    Sorghum
3.    Bajra        
4.    Maize              
5.    Blackgram    
6.    Soyabean                
7.    Cowpea             
8.    Redgram 
9.    Groundnut
10.    Sunflower
11.    Castor       
12.    Gingelly
13.    Tomato
14.    Brinjal
15.    Chilli
16.    Bhendi

1. The nucleus seed in cereals is produced by

   a) Ear to Row method

   b) Plant selection

   c) Progeny selection

   d) Head selection

2. Foundation seed is the progeny of

   a) Truthfully Labeled seed

   b) Foundation seed stage I

   c) Nucleus seed

   d) Breeder seed

Seed quality is a multiple criterion that encompasses several important attributes. A seed scientist may be concerned with each quality characteristic of an individual seed while the seed trader normally considers the quality components of a seed lot. Any individual seed may possess certain measurable seed quality components which include:

Since seed deterioration is irreversible process and the rate of deterioration might be arrested using proper packaging material, moisture proof packaging material are very effective for preserving seed viability, germination ability, vigour and other quality traits of orthodox seed. For the locations, with inadequate storage facilities and high humidity, moisture proof material is favoured. The use of high cost material is justified considering the advantage under such conditions in terms of maintaining the quality of the seeds.

In hills, farmers usually store their own seed for sowing in the next season. The uncertainty about the availability of good quality seed at proper time in the remote hilly areas develops a habit in the farmers for storing their own seed. This chapter attempts to highlight the different methods/sources of packaging of seed and their relevant advantages and limitations.

Among different containers polyethylene bags appear to be promising packaging material for storage since it is effective in preserving seed viability longer, are easily available, less expensive and need less space for storage.

1. SEED FORTIFICATION

It is process of enriching the seeds with bioactive chemicals for improving the germination and seedling vigour. To the known volume of seeds, one third volume of the nutrient solution is added and allowed to imbibe for short duration. The imbibed seeds should be dried under shade. The fortification treatments recommended for different crops are depicted

I. FILL UPS

1. _____ means the application of physical, biological, chemical agents to the seed in order to enhance the physical, genetical, biochemical and health qualities of seed.
2. _____ coined the term seed priming.
3. _____ is the impregnation of the needy substance into seed through imbibition phase.
4. In paddy, seed fortification is done with _____ chemical.
5. In groundnut, seed fortification is done with _____ chemical.

SUMMARY

Seed quality comprises the sum of all properties or characteristics, which determine the potential level of the seed or seed lot performance and crop establishment. Once the seed is sown many factors (biotic, abiotic etc.,) influence its survival and potential. Seed priming is one of the short–term and most programmatic approaches followed to improve the quality of seed so as to exhibit maximum possible potential even under adverse conditions. Seed priming is a method that well fit in to the one or more principles of sustainability, as it is practiced as a low-cost, low-risk interventions that increase and stabilize yields to have a large and direct impact on the livelihoods of farmers. Various priming methods viz., hydro priming, halo priming, matrix priming, bio priming are in practice for advancement in seed germination, better crop growth and yield. The adoption of seed priming as a successful technology is widely practiced across the Globe for various benefits at farm level. On-farm seed programme is one such   successful programmes adopted under UK aid across 11 countries towards sustainable agriculture campaign.

Seed processing is specialized activity and also a tool to improve seed quality further to an acceptable standard. Seed quality parameters like germination, vigour or genetic purity can be improved using processing. Say a seed lot having a minimum standard of 90% germination, but the competition in the market offering seed quality 92 or 95 % then to meet the market demand we can process the seed lots using re-milling or re-conditioning techniques. Also sometimes simple techniques like liquid density separation which uses specific density of the seed to separate good seed from inferior quality can be considered.

I. FILL UPS

1. _____ is a matured ovule usually developed after fertilization.
2. Seed can also be defined as the _____ in resting stage.
3. _____ of seeds refers to the trueness to type.
4. Pure live seed is calculated by _____
5. _____ is the most crucial factor in the maintenance of seed germination and viability during storage.
6. _____ refers to the sum total of all the attributes that give effective plant stand in the field.