ANNEX II : Quality Declared Seed and Field Standards (FAO)
I - Cereals
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Standards Crops
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Wheat Rice Hybrid OPP Hybrid OPP Hybrid OPP
Maize Maize Sorghum Sorghum Millet Millet
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Field Standards
Rotation (min. years) a a a a a a a a
Isolation (min. meters) b b 200c 200c 100d 100d 200 100
Varietal purity (min. %) 98 98 98e 98 98e 98 98e 98
Other species (max. %) 2 2 - - - - - -
Noxious weeds (max. %) + + - - + + + +
Seed-borne diseases (max. %) + + + + + + + +
Seed Standards
Varietal purity (max. %) 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 98
Analytical purity (min. %) 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 98
Weed/other crop seeds (max. %) + + - - - - - -
Seed-borne diseases (max. %) + + + + + + + +
Germination (min. %) 80 75 80 80 70 70 70 70
Moisture content (max. %) + + + + + + + +
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a The land for seed production shall be free from volunteer plants [and in case of sorghum from Johnson grass
(Sorghum halepense)].
b The seed field shall be isolated from other similar species or other species with similar seed size by a distance
adequate to prevent mechanical mixture or a physical barrier (ditch, hedge, fence, etc).
c Isolation in hybrid and open pollinated maize shall be achieved by 30 days difference in flowering time.
d For sorghum the isolation distance shall be 400 m from Johnson grass or forage sorghum with high tillering
and grassy panicle.
e At flowering (emasculation), no more than 1% of the female plants shall bear inflorescences (male inflorescences
incase of maize) which have shed or are shedding pollen.
NB: + Standards should be specified by each country according to local needs; - There are no standards suggested
for these factors.
II - Legumes
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Standards Crops
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Beans Faba Chickpea Cowpea Dry pea Lentil Mung Soya Ground
bean bean bean nut
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Field Standards
Rotation (min. years) a a a a a a a a a
Isolation (min. meters) 20 100 5 20 5 5 5 b 5
Varietal purity (min. %) 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 98
Other species (max. %) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Noxious weeds (max. %) + + + + + + + + +
Seed-borne diseases (max. %) + + + + + + + + +
Seed Standards
Varietal purity (min. %) 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 98
Analytical purity (min. %) 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 98
Weed/other crop seeds (max. %) + + + + + + + + +
Seed-borne diseases (max. %) + + + + + + + + +
Germination (min. %) 60 60 60 65 60 60 70 70c 60
Moisture content (max. %) + + + + + + + + +
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a The land for seed production shall be free from volunteer plants
b The seed field shall be isolated from other similar species or other species with similar seed size by a distance
adequate to prevent mechanical mixture or a physical barrier (ditch, hedge, fence, etc).
c Germination shall be 60% in humid topics
NB: + Standards should be specified by each country according to local needs.