National Seeds Corporation

National Seeds Corporation

Foundation Seed: Foundation seed is obtained from breeder seed by direct increase. Foundation seed is genetically pure and is the source of registered and/or certified seed. Production of foundation seed is the responsibility of National Seeds Corporation (NSC). Foundation seed is produced on Government farms, at experiment stations, by Agriculture Universities or by competent seed growers under strict supervision of experts from NSC. This class of seed should be produced in the area of adaptation of the concerned variety.

Requirements for Foundation Seed:

The foundation seed, like certified seed, has to fulfill a set of rigid quality requirements; these standards are summarized in the table. The standards for pure seed (minimum), inert matter (maximum), moisture content (minimum) and germination (minimum) are comparable for foundation seeds with those for certified seeds of various field and vegetable crops. However, the maximum permissible limits for the quantities of other crop seed, seeds of other varieties, total weed seed and seeds of objectionable weeds are much lower in the case of foundation seeds than those for certified seeds. For example, in the case of jowar the maximum permissible limits for other crops seed and total weed seed are 5 seeds/kg in the case of foundation seed, while they are 0.1% in the case of certified seed. Similarly, in the case of gram the maximum permissible limit for seeds of other varieties is 0.1 and 0.5% for foundation and certified seeds, respectively. In the case of rapeseed and mustard, the maximum permissible quantity of objectionable weed seed is 0.05 and 0.1% for foundation and certified seeds, respectively.

Foundation seed crops is subjected to field inspections in the same manner as those for certified seed. However, the standards for isolation distance and those for field inspections are much more stringent in the case of foundation seed than those for certified seed. The State Seed Certification Agency (SSCA) carries out the field inspections and seed tests for foundation seed and, if the standards are met with, it issues the appropriate tags for the same.

Table: Germination and purity standards (in percent) for foundation seeds for some crops.

S N	Crop	Pure seed (min)	Moisture (max).	Germination (min.)
1	Maize	98	12	80,90***
2	Jowar	98	12	80
3	Bajra	98*	12	75
4	Rice	98*	13	80
5	Wheat	98*	12	85
6	Barley	98	12	85
7	Cotton	98	10	65,60
8	Gram	98	9	85
9	Arhar	98	10	75
10	Urd and mung	98	9	75
11	Rapeseed and mustard	97	8	85
12	Til	97	9	80
13	Groundnut	96	9	70
14	Sunflower	98	9	60
15	Soyabean	97	12	70
16	Peas	98	9	75
17	Cowpeas	98	9	75
18	Rajma	98	9	75
19	Tomato	98	8	70
20	Cauliflower	98	7	65
21	Bhindi	99	10	65
22	Watermelon and other cucurbits	99	7	60
23	Onion	98	8	70
24	Carrot	95	8	60
25	Chillies	98	8	60
26	Radish	98	6	70
27	Brinjal	98	8	76

***For single cross hybrids and other varieties, resp.

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