DCPM 0208 - Seed Technology

Mr. DAUD
INTRODUCTION

• What is seed?
• General scientist’s perspective:
• Highly compressed or highly compacted and detached structure of a
plant that contains a very small plantlet which can grow and form the
normal plant.
Biologist’s perspective: Seed is

Mature fertilized ovule or embryo (mature) from which

new plants arise.

Seed is important in sexually propagated crops.

Asexual propagation has little importance in terms of

seed, except in apomictic seeds
Seed Technology
• Seed technology refers to the methods and
techniques used to enhance the quality and yield of
seeds for agricultural purposes. This includes
everything from seed selection, breeding, and
production, to seed treatment, testing, and storage.
Scope of the study (interdisciplinary)
• Development of superior varieties (Breeding): Agronomy,
Entomology, Food technology, etc
• Variety evaluation, release and maintenance : Botany, Statistics, etc
• Seed production (multiplication) : Botany, Agronomy, Mechanization,
etc
• Seed processing and storage : Botany, Physiology, Engineering, etc
Scope……
• Seed testing, quality control and certification : Physiology, Botany,
Pathology, Law etc
• Seed extension : Agricultural extension, Sociology etc
• Seed marketing and distribution : Agricultural extension, Marketing,
Sociology etc
• Seed science research : Physiology, Botany, Genetics, Biochemistry,
Pathology etc.
• The above range of activities or practices are also known as
components of seed technology.
Role of seed in agriculture
• Seed is the basic Agricultural input
• - It is a carrier of other technologies and inputs
• - It is a medium for rapid rehabilitation of agriculture in times of
natural disaster
• - It is a principal means of securing crop yields in less favorable
production areas; for example seeds of early maturing varieties
grown in areas where rains last for only a short period
• - It is a principal means of increasing crop yields. Due to improved
varieties, yield increases.
SEED AND SEEDLING STRUCTURE
• Seeds generally consist of the seed coat (testa), the cotyledon(s), the
endosperm and the embryo. The micropyle is also an important
structure.
• Cotyledons are also known as seed leaves and they serve as storage
organs of the seed.
• The cotyledons in dicotyledons usually absorb the endosperm and
become the seed’s storage structures.
Dicot seed.

d
Monocot seed.
Endosperm
• Is a mass of cells in the embryo sac that
surrounds the developing embryo. It acts as
a source of food nutrients to the embryo.
• In some plants, the endosperm is absorbed
by the growing embryo, in which situation
the cotyledons become the storage
apparatus/structures.
Embryo

• Is a rudimentary plant. Seed is, in general, an embryo

plant which is surrounded by seed coat and may have an
endosperm
• Micropyle
• Is an opening in seed coat that allows entry of gases and
water during germination.
SEEDLING STRUCTURES
• Essentially the root and
shoot systems. The root
system develops from growth
and elongation of the radicle.
The shoot system develops
from the plumule and usually
consists of seed leaves.
Why are we concerned
about seedling structure?

• Seedling structure is important in

assessment of seed quality
(vigor).
• Distinction is usually made
between normal and abnormal
seedlings
• Usually, seedling structure
informs on the crop stand
 Quiz
Differentiate seed from grain
Assignment 1

Visit the Model Farm and Identify all crops available by grouping
them based on cotyledon levels (monocot or dicot)

Submission date: 19th May 2024

22/04/2024 Sir Daud 20

Types of seeds
• Orthodox seeds
• Recalcitrant seeds
• Semi-recalcitrant seeds

Quick responses: Write 10 examples of crops belonging to each type

mentioned above
 Orthodox seeds
Orthodox seeds are seeds that can survive desiccation and
can be stored for long periods of time without losing their
viability. They are commonly found in most flowering
plants, trees, and agricultural crops.
Examples of orthodox seeds include wheat, corn, rice,
soybeans, cotton, and various types of fruits and
vegetables.
Semi- recalcitrant seeds

• Semi-recalcitrant seeds are seeds that fall between orthodox and

recalcitrant seeds in terms of their tolerance to desiccation and
storage.
• They can be stored for a limited period of time under specific
conditions before losing their viability.

• Examples of semi-recalcitrant seeds include cocoa, coffee,

rubber, and oil palm.
Recalcitrant seeds

• Recalcitrant seeds are seeds that are unable to survive

desiccation (drying out) and cannot be stored for long periods of
time without losing their viability (ability to germinate).
• These seeds are typically found in tropical trees and plants, and
are characterized by their high moisture content.

• Examples of recalcitrant seeds include avocado, mango, coconut,

jackfruit, lychee, rubber etc.
Field crops
• Field crops are crops that are grown on a large scale in open fields or large
agricultural areas.
• They are typically grown for their seeds, grains, or fibers, and are usually used for
animal feed, human food, fuel, or industrial purposes.

• Grains: wheat, rice, corn, barley, oats, rye, etc.

• Oilseeds: soybeans, sunflower, canola, cottonseed, etc.
• Fiber crops: cotton, flax, hemp, etc.
• Sugar crops: sugarcane, sugar beet, etc.
• Forage crops: alfalfa, clover, etc.
Horticultural Crops
• Horticultural crops are plants that are grown for their fruits, vegetables, flowers,
ornamental foliage, or other aesthetic or functional purposes.
• They are typically grown in gardens, nurseries, greenhouses, or other controlled
environments, and can include both edible and non-edible plants.

• Fruits: apples, oranges, strawberries, grapes, melons, etc.

• Vegetables: tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, carrots, etc.
• Ornamental plants: roses, daisies, lilies, ferns, etc.
• Herbs: basil, oregano, mint, cilantro, etc.
• Spices: ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, etc.
Forage and pasture crops
• Forage and pasture refer to crops grown to provide food for grazing
livestock.
• Examples; alfalfa, clover, timothy grass, and bermuda grass, are grown
for their high nutrient content.
SEED QUALITY

In simplest terms seed quality means suitability of

seeds for sowing and establishing a sufficiently
performing crop field

It is comprised of 10 attributes (components) of

un-equal importance. The importance varies
depending on prevailing circumstances.
1. Analytical purity

• Is the percentage weight of

seed sample that is intact
seed of the species named
on the label after laboratory
analysis, i.e. how much of it
is seed.
• It is weighed after
separation of all impurities.
• Impurities are seeds of other
crop species, weed seeds and
inert matter such as broken
seeds, chaff, pieces of leaves, soil
particles etc.
• Seed purity mainly depends on
the success of the cleaning
operations after harvest.
Percentages of 98 or more are
expected in most crop species
but may be lower in some
grasses because of empty florets
which are difficult to remove.
2. Species purity

• It is the number of
seeds of species other
than the one indicated
in the label for the
weight submitted for
analysis; example 2/kg.
 Number of weed seeds per weight of sample
examined.

Condemnable weeds are those which once

3. Freedom established are difficult to eradicate. They are
referred to as noxious weeds.
from weed
seed Expressed in numbers because weed seeds may
be so much different in size from the crop seed
that % by weight may be of no real significance.
What is important is not weight but number of
weed seeds that is sown with the crop
 4. Cultivar
purity
• Measures the seed’s genetic quality
as developed by the breeder; i.e.
freedom from seeds of other
cultivars of the same species.
• Cultivars are more certainly
identified by examination of growing
plants, during DUS (Distinctiveness,
Uniformity, Stability) test.
5. Germination capacity
• It is the percentage by numbers of pure seeds which produce normal
seedlings in a laboratory test. It indicates potential of a seed lot for
establishing in good field conditions. It is influenced by harvesting and
subsequent storage conditions and by the dormancy status of the seed.
• Germination capacity can be combined with analytical purity and
expressed as one value. The value is known as PURE LIVE SEED.
• Pure live seed = (% Analytical purity x % Germination capacity)/100.
• Pure live seed indicate how much % by weight of the seed lot consists of
seeds of the named species which are capable of germinating and produce
robust seedlings
6. Vigor
• Is the ability to establish good seedlings even under poor conditions. It is
usually associated with high germination capacity but seeds of high
germination may have low % of vigorous seeds. Vigor can be influenced by:
• - Damage to embryo incurred during harvesting or subsequent processing
• - Environment and nutrition of the mother plant
• - Stage of maturity at harvest,
• - Seed size
• - Storage conditions, for example humidity and presence of pathogens.
• - Genetic factors, for example Hybrid cultivars
7. Seed size
• Large seed size is an indication of vigor. The bigger the
seed the lager the size of the seedling and leaf area for
photosynthesis. Larger seeds have greater potential to
emerge if deeply buried. Small, shriveled seeds have no
practical planting value.
• Seed size is usually expressed as weight of 100 or 1000
seeds.
• Uniformity of seed size influences:
• - The effectiveness of seed cleaning operations
• - Uniformity of growth of seedling
• - Effectiveness of mechanical drilling during planting.
8. Uniformity
• It is nearness to identical characteristics when samples are drawn
from different points in the same lot, i.e. seed size, color, shape etc. It
may vary due to poor grading and mixtures.
9. Seed health
• Presence or absence of seed-borne pathogen in the seed; that is
seed-borne fungi, bacteria and viruses. It is best checked by
harvesting seed from healthy plants only. This is achieved by
imposing certification standards of seed health either based on
incidence of diseases in the crop or on laboratory tests of seeds to be
certified.
10. Moisture content
• It is the percent of water per unit weight of seed on wet or dry basis.
The moisture content of seeds is very important especially for
effective storage of seed.
Principles of seed production

Module 2
Isolation Distances

• Isolation distances refer to the separation required

between different varieties or crops to prevent cross-
pollination and maintain genetic purity. The distance
required depends on the type of crop and the mode
of pollination.
Isolation distances for different seed types
• For self-pollinated crops such as wheat, soybeans, and peas, the
isolation distances required are generally smaller because they rely
mainly on their own pollen for fertilization.
• Cross-pollinated crops such as corn, rice, and cotton require larger
isolation distances because they rely on external agents such as wind,
insects, or birds to transfer pollen from one plant to another.
Techniques of isolation / types of isolation
• Physical isolation (physical barrier)
• Isolation in space (physical distance) – special isolation
• Isolation in time - temporal isolation
Importance of Isolation distances
• Prevent unwanted cross pollination – prevent genetic contamination
and hybridization

• It’s the basic practice in keeping varieties true to type – maintain

genetic purity of crops
 Rouging
• Rouging is a technique used in plant breeding and seed
production to remove plants that are not true-to-type or
have undesirable traits.
• It involves visually inspecting plants and removing any
that do not meet the desired characteristics or show
signs of disease, insect damage, or other defects.
Techniques of roughing
• Visual inspection: This is the most common method of rouging and
involves visually inspecting plants for traits such as color, size, shape,
and other physical characteristics.
• DNA testing: Test plants for genetic impurities or contamination. DNA
markers may be used to identify undesired plants (genotype and are
removed).
• Image analysis: Use software to analyze digital images of plants and
identify those that do not meet the desired traits.
• Physiological testing: e.g. disease resistance, flooding, salt tolerance
or nutrient uptake
Factors for roughing
• Plant species – some species are prone to admixture
• Planting density – some roughing are done to maintain plant spacing
• Seed source – some sources of seeds influence variety admixture
hence high roughing is required (un-certified seeds)
• Desired traits (genetic purity and uniformity)
Synchronization

Synchronization is an For pollination to occur,

important technique for the male and female
achieving successful reproductive structures of
pollination in plant the plant must be at the
breeding and seed same stage of
production. development.
Supplementary pollination
• Technique used in plant breeding and
seed production to manually transfer
pollen from one plant to another
when natural pollinators or
environmental conditions are not
sufficient for optimal pollination.
• This technique is commonly used in
hybrid seed production to produce
offspring with desirable traits and can
also be used in the production of
open-pollinated seeds.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
 Brainstorming question

How supplementary pollination is conducted

for naturally self- and cross-pollinated crops?
Seed multiplication
• Seed multiplication is the process of
producing many seeds of a
particular plant variety to ensure a
consistent supply of high-quality
seeds for farmers and gardeners.
1. Field /Land selection

• Soil for seed production should be fertile with good

drainage
• The field should not have history of high weed
incidences and free from volunteer plants
• The field should have not been planted with the same
crop in previous season
• The field should receive enough sunlight and aerated
to reduce disease incidences
2. Selection of species and seed source
• Select variety preferred by farmers
• Get seeds from reliable source- class of seed to use will
depend on the class being produced
- Pre basic seed for producing Basic seed
- Basic for producing Certified 1 seed
- Certified 1 for producing Certified 2
- Basic, Certified 1 and Certified 2 for producing Quality Declared Seed
• Seeds should be genetically pure with high germination
percentage
• Before planting follow the procedures for determining
good seed (germination test, salt solution test etc.)
Depending on the type of the crop, germination
percentage should be above 80%
3. Land preparation
• Soil condition in the selected field should be
suitable for the crop.
• The field should be ploughed thoroughly without
any lumps.
• Fertilizer should be added depending on the initial
soil fertility level
• Soil should have adequate moisture before
planting- where possible irrigation should be
applied 3 days before planting
4. Planting
• Breaking seed dormancy where needed- for some
species there will be a need to break seed
dormancy by employing different methods:
i. Scarification -Removal of the hard seed coat by rubbing
the seeds with sand paper. Eg. Pulses
ii. Hot water treatment – Soak the seeds in hot water at 45-
50°C Eg. Tree crops. Leaching – Soak the seeds in water
for overnight to remove the germination inhibiting
chemicals present in the seeds Eg. Coriander
iii. Stratifcation – Subject the seeds to very low temperature
of 0-5°C to break the embryo dormancy. Eg. Cole crops
(Cruciferous of the family Brassicaceae such as cabbage,
cauliflower, broccoli etc.)
iv. Light treatment – Some seeds do not germinate in dark
and periodic exposure
to light is essential to break the dormancy. Eg. Lettuce.
• Planting seasons
- seeds planted during dry season under irrigation are
always of good quality than during rain season.
- However, this depends on facilities available. Where
irrigation facilities are not available seed can be planted
later in rain season to avoid coincidence of heavy rains
during flowering

• Planting density
- Use recommended spacing for species and variety
- Could use wider spacing than that for grain production to
avoid diseased and for obtaining quality seed (however,
making sure that seed production will be profitable)
5. Field management
• Weeds
The seed field should be maintained weed free all the
times by using herbicides or hand weeding. Weed seed
in crop seed are not required they lower the purity of
the seed
• Diseases and pests
Special care should be taken to reduce insects and
diseases at a very low level. For each crop species
there are some diseases that need to be given special
attention, especially the seed borne diseases
• Soil
Soil should be maintained at good fertility level and
aeration
• Maintenance of pure accession/variety
Isolation distance
- each species has its own isolation distance between varieties. It
depends on mode of pollination whether self- or cross-pollination,
pollinating agent-wind or insect, flying capacity of the pollen and type
of variety to be produced-hybrid or open pollinated.
- Isolation can be by space (planting distance) or time (sowing time)
Bagging
- This involves covering inflorescence by a bag to prevent unwanted
pollination (paper bags, net bags etc.)

Rouging
- This involves removing off-types in the seed field. Timely roughing is
very important such that the off-types are not allowed to produce
seeds.
- Rouging in terms of sorting out the off-types seeds after harvesting is
also important for maintaining variety purity
6. Harvesting
• Harvesting at complete seed maturity
• Harvesting should be done during dry season to ensure
the seeds are harvested when they are dry to prevent
fungal infections
• Methods of harvesting varies from crop to crop- Manual
harvesting is preferred, it reduces mechanical damage
to the seed
• Containers for putting harvested seed should be clean.
Bags should be new, need to avoid using used bags to
prevent contamination by insects and other unwanted
seeds
 7. Processing
• Cleaning
After harvesting seeds should be cleaned to remove stem pieces, chaff and
damaged seed.
There are two types of leaning Wet and dry, depending on species produced one
of the methods can be used.

Wet Method
This is suitable for plants which carry seeds
in their moist flesh e.g. tomato, eggplant, cucumber and other fruit vegetables.
-Pulp is removed
-seed washed several times using water before they are dried

Dry method
This method is used for dry seed in the pods . Capsule, tillers, or cobs.
Threshing
Winnowing
Sieving
7. Processing (Cont
• Drying
Seed drying is done to lower the moisture in the seed for
preventing fungal infection and improving viability. Drying should
be done at lower temperatures
Types of drying:
i. Natural/sun drying
- Under the sun

ii. Artificial/ mechanical drying

- Dryers (electric or other sources of energy)
- Drying can be within or outside the godown

Testing of moisture content

- Mechanical using fingers or teeth
- moisture meter
8. Inspection and seed certification
Inspection by the regulatory authority (TOSCI)- according to Seed
Act 2003, Seed Regulations 2007 and their Amendments
Field inspection*
- Isolation distance
- Diseases
- Weeds
- Off-types
Seed inspection
- Off-types
- Diseases
- Moisture content
- Germination %
* Number of inspections depends on species
 8. Inspection and seed certification (cont.)

Steps Involved in Seed Certification

i. Application for seed production
ii. Registration of sowing report
iii. Field inspection
iv. Seed processing
v. Seed sample and seed analysis
vi. Tagging and sealing (appropriate tags according to seed grade)
9. Packaging and labeling

• Appropriate packaging materials/containers (

• Labeling – labels giving information about the seed
(Seed class, Species, variety, seed lot, germination %
and other relevant information according to Seed
Regulations 2007)
• Tags- Each seed package should have a tag according
to the seed class (Pre-Basic, Basic, Certified 1,
Certified 2)
10. Distribution
Certified seed should be distributed to agricultural
input shops (Agro-input shops) authorized to sell seeds

Frequent inspections should be conducted in agro-

input shops to check if all regulations regarding seed
quality and seed business are followed
Open discussion

• What necessitates seed

processing &
certification?
Weeds: Mimicry
• Weed: a plant which interferes with human activity or welfare.
• It is also defined as plant growing in a place where it is not desired at
a particular point in time
• Crop mimicry: the phenomenon whereby weeds develop
morphological and or biochemical close resemblance to some phases
in the life history of a crop as to be mistaken for the crop and thus
evade eradication.
Types of crop mimicry
Vegetative mimicry: A similarity in appearance at seedling and
vegetative stages. e.g. wild rice and cultivated rice
Seed mimicry: The similarities between weed seeds and crop seeds.
e.g. seeds of upland rice and itch grass
Biochemical mimicry: Weed develops resistance to a herbicide for
selective control in a given crop.
Allelopathy
• Produce exudates by living and decaying plant species which
interfere with the germination, growth or development of another
plant species or microorganism sharing the same habitat.
• Examples
• Imperata cylindrica is allelopathic on tomato, cucumber, maize, rice,
cowpea and pepper.

• Cyperus esculentus is allelopathic on rice and maize, Cyperus

rotundus is allelopathic on barley.
Other weed behaviors
• Parasitism: some weeds can live in a parasitic relationship with crops.

• Prolific seed production:

Produce numerous, long-lived, and easily transportable seeds, as well
as utilizing adaptations for spread
Weed management tactics
i. Cultural and physical methods
ii. Biological methods
iii. Chemical methods
iv. Integrated weed management techniques
Controlled Seed Multiplication
• Controlled Seed Multiplication (CSM) is a seed production technique
that involves strict control over all aspects of seed production, from
field selection to harvesting and storage.
• This technique is used to ensure that seeds produced are of high
quality and have the desired traits, such as disease resistance, high
yield, and uniformity.
Important steps under CSM
• Field Selection: Careful selection of fields based on soil quality, water
availability, and disease history.
• Isolation: Keeping seed production fields separate to prevent cross-
pollination and contamination.
• Roughing: Removing plants that do not meet desired traits or are affected
by disease or pests.
• Pollination: Strictly controlled to ensure resulting seeds have desired traits
• Harvesting: Done when seeds are fully mature and have reached desired
moisture content; seeds are cleaned, processed, and stored.
• Quality Control: Testing seeds for germination, purity, and viability;
removing seeds that do not meet quality standards.
• Documentation: Documenting all steps involved in CSM, including field
selection, isolation, roughing, pollination, harvesting, and quality control.
PRESENTATIONS

• Next week

• A panel of three members will

be assigned to assess each
groups performance
Ripening, Senescence and
maturity indices

Reading 1 and 2
Maturity

• It is the stage of fully development of tissue of a crop only after which

it will ripen normally.
• During maturation, a number of changes occur to the crop including
senescence of plants, change of fruit texture, color and sugar
contents, seed maturation etc.
• This, usually is referred to as physiological maturity.
• On the other hand, horticultural maturity is not used for seed
production.
Ripening
• Is a genetically programmed stage of
development overlapping with senescence.
• The fruit is said to be ripe when it attains
its full flavor and aroma and other
characteristics of the best fruit of that
particular cultivar.
• Based on ripening, fruits are categorized to
climacteric and non – climacteric fruits
• For the purpose of seed production, fruits
are usually harvested when they are fully
mature
Changes During
Fruit Ripening
• Cell Wall Changes – Softening
• Starch increase
• Decrease in organic acids
• Color change
• Production of flavoring compounds
• Reduction of ascorbic acids
• Free amino acids and proteins decrease
• High ethylene production
• Rise in respiration
Open discussion
What is senescence and its implications
as far as seed technology is concerned
Seed • When is seed said to be mature?
• The endosperm, begins to accumulate
maturation starches and proteins that will be used
by the growing seedling after
germination
• The embryo undergoes cell division and
differentiation, forming structures such
as the cotyledons (seed leaves) and the
embryonic shoot and root.
• For some crops; pulses, grain, and
forage seeds looses moisture during
maturation.
Pre and Post harvest factors
affecting seed quality

Reading 3 and 4
Pre –
harvest Field management practices
factors
Climatic conditions

Stage of seed development

Harvesting techniques
Post – • Seed processing and
harvest storage
• Seed drying
• Dehusking
• Threshing
• Shelling
• Winnowing
• Seed treatments
• Seed packaging
• Storage conditions
TEST 1
15th May 2024
Processing plant
design and layout
Reading provided
Seed dormancy
Reading provided
Seed threshing
• Seed threshing is the process of separating the seeds
from the harvested plant material. Threshing is
typically performed after the plants have been
harvested and dried.
• The primary goal of threshing is to remove the seeds
from the rest of the plant, including the stems, husks,
or pods, so that the seeds can be further processed or
stored.
Seed drying

• Seeds are dried to reduce their moisture content.

• Proper drying is crucial to prevent seed deterioration
during storage.
• Drying can be done by using ambient air, heated air,
or specialized drying equipment, depending on the
seed type.
NB: Seeds vary on their level of desiccation tolerance
Seed cleaning
• Seeds are cleaned to
remove impurities such
as dirt, dust, plant debris,
stones, and other foreign
materials.
• Usually done using
mechanical methods like
sieving, air aspiration,
and gravity separation
Seed sorting and grading

• Seeds are sorted based on size, shape, and other

quality attributes.
• This helps eliminate damaged or abnormal seeds and
ensures uniformity in the seed lot.
• Sorting can be done manually or using mechanical
sorting machines
Seed treatments
• Seeds are treated with fungicides,
insecticides, or other treatments to protect
them from pests, diseases, or pathogens.
• Seed treatments can be applied as
coatings, pelleting, or seed dressing.
Seed packaging and labeling
Packaging
• Seeds are typically packaged in containers or bags that provide
protection during storage and transportation.
• The packaging materials should be durable, moisture-proof, and
resistant to pests and diseases.
• Common packaging options include tin containers, paper bags, plastic
pouches, or laminated foil packets.
• The packaging should be appropriately sized to accommodate the
seed quantity and prevent damage during handling.
Labelling
• Seed packets or containers are labeled with essential information to provide clear
identification and instructions.
• The labeling typically includes the following details:
• Crop and variety name
• Lot number
• Seed purity
• Germination capacity
• Seed treatment
• Sowing instructions
• Expiry date
• Manufacturer or distributor information
• “Do Not Consume” warning if chemically treated
Seed storage
• This is the process of preserving seeds under suitable conditions to maintain their
viability and quality for future use.
• Proper seed storage helps prolong seed longevity, ensuring that the seeds remain viable
and germinate well when sown. Here are some important aspects of seed storage;
• Temperature
• Relative humidity
• Moisture content
• Packaging
• Pest control
• Darkness
• Monitoring and testing
Marketing of seeds
Key aspects of seed marketing include: Key actors involved in seed marketing:
1.Market research 1.Seed companies
2.Product development and differentiation 2.Farmers and growers
3.Branding and positioning 3.Distributors and retailers
4.Distribution channels 4.Agricultural cooperatives
5.Promotion and advertising 5.Government agencies
6.Sales and customer support 6.Research institutions and breeders
7.Regulatory compliance 7.International organizations and trade
associations
 Regulation of seed industry
• In Tanzania, Seed industry is regulated under Seed Act (2003) and
Seed Regulation (2007).
• Different organs have been portrayed to supervise the seed
industry under ministry of Agriculture including TOSCI, TPHPA,
TARI, ASA, TASTA etc.
• National Seed Committee is mandated to oversee the seed sector
with authority to formulate sub-committees
Seed policy, seed legislation and regulatory authorities
Each country has policy and legislation that governs
variety release and seed production
Reasons:
Is to:
(i) Ensure the varieties developed are of good
standard
(ii) Ensure production of good quality seed
(iii) Control seed trade (within, import , export)
(iv) Make sure of availability of seed to farmers
(v) Facilitate plant breeders’ rights
Seed policy………….
National Agricultural Policy 2013
➢Where seed policy is in it, there is no separate
document on seed policy

➢Seed issues are under Agricultural inputs (section

4.4). The policy is too general on agricultural inputs.
There is a need to expand the seed issues or have a
separate seed policy

➢The national agricultural policy is currently being

revised
Seed policy………….
Seed Legislation
• Seed Act of 2003 and it amendments of 2016
• Seed Regulations of 2007 and amendments of
2020
• Plant Breeders Rights of 2012
Seed policy, seed legislation and regulatory authorities
Issues in Seed legislation
• Governance (Formation of National Seed Committee and sub-committees,
regulatory authorities e.g. TOSCI)
• Seed trade(Importation, exportation, sales, seed dealers)
• Variety release and certification
• Seed classes
• Seed production
• Offense and penalties
 Seed policy………….
Why Plant Breeders’ Rights
• Promote plant breeding activities
• Stimulate, facilitate and improve agricultural research.
• Benefits for plant breeders through loyalties -will
motivate them to breed for more improved varieties
 Seed policy………….

Issues in Plant Breeders’ Rights

• Governance (Formation or Registrar office, Advisory
Committee)
• Application for Plant breeders Rights
• Regulations on Plant Breeders Rights
• Plant Breeders Rights Fund
Seed policy………….
Variety release procedures
• For a crop variety to be used commercially in this
country and other countries it must be released
officially by the Ministry responsible for agriculture
• Each country has its own regulations and procedures
for variety release
• There are also harmonized systems in the region e.g.
the SADC and East Africa harmonized seed systems
 Seed policy, seed legislation and regulatory
authorities
Variety release procedures
Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) is responsible
for handling variety release procedures in the country
• Distinctness Uniformity and Stability tests (DUS)
• National Performance trials (NPT)
There are two committees under TOSCI dealing with variety release
• NPT-Technical Committee
• National Variety Release Committee

Guidelines for variety release are available

TOSCI laboratory is ISTA accredited, anything tested and approved

by it can be accepted internationally
Seed Value chain
NATIONAL SEED COMMITTEE

TECHNOLOGY SEED PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT TRANSFER
Basic and Certified
Nucleus & Breeders /Pre seed Demonstrations,
basic seed Field days, Seed fair
• Public seed • Extension
• Research Institutes companies • NGOs
• Universities • Private seed • Farmers’
• Seed Companies companies Associations
• Seed growers • Seed Companies
 Seed policy………….
Seed Classes and Standards
According to Seed Regulations there are seed classes as
follows:
i. Pre- basic seed
ii. Basic seed
iii. Certified 1
iv. Certified 2
v. Standard seed
We also have Quality Declared Seed, the seed that is
produced by farmers at community level
 Seed policy………….
Seed classes (cont.)
Labeling Seed package according to standard:
“ Pre- basic Seeds”, white with diagonal violet colour shall be used,
with the word “Pre-basic” conspicuously applied across one side of
the tag;
“Basic seed), white colour shall be used, with the word “Basic”
conspicuously applied across one side of the tag;

“Certified 1” seed, Blue colour shall be used, with the word

”Certified 1” or “C1”

“Certified 2” seed, Red colour shall be used, with the word “Certified
2 or “C”

“Standard seed,” the tag shall be Yellow with the word “ Standard”
conspicuously applied across one side of the tag; (see TOSCI
samples)
TEST 2
5th June 2024