ASTER

(Callistephus spp. (Linn.) Nees syn

(Aster spp. Linn.)

I. Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification Standards

    The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following specific standards constitute the standards for certification of Aster. 

I. Land requirements

    Land to be used for seed production of Aster shall not  be eligible for certification if planted on land

    on which the same kind of crop (including Aster- singles) was grown in the previous year unless the

    crop (s) as grown in the previous year was / were of the same variety and of an equipment or higher 

    class of certified seed and was/ were certified.

III. Field Inspection

A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the first  at pre-flowering stage, the second during flowering

and the third before (harvesting) pappus or "fuzz'' begins to show.

IV. Field Standards

A. General requirements

1. Isolation

        Seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:

        Contaminants                                                                                   Minimum distance (meters)

                                                                                                                Foundation        Certified

            1                                                                                                         2                     3

Fields of other varieties                                                                                 600                 300

Fields of the same variety not conforming to 

varietal purity requirements for certification                                                    600                 300  

B. Specific requirements

        Factor                                                                                              Maximum permitted (%)*

                                                                                                                Foundation            Certified

            1                                                                                                        2                           3

      Offtypes                                                                                               0.050                    0.10     

    * Standard for offtypes shall be met at after flowering.

V. Seed standards

        Factor                                                                                              Standards for each class

                                                                                                                Foundation            Certified

Pure seed (minimum)                                                                                98.0%                    98.0%

Inert matter (maximum)                                                                              2.0%                      2.0%

Other crop seeds (maximum)                                                                     10/kg                     20/kg

Weed seeds (maximum)                                                                             5/kg                       10/kg

Germination (minimum)                                                                             60%                       60%

Moisture (maximum)                                                                                 9.0%                      9.0%

For vapour-proof containers (maximum)                                                    6.0%                     6.0%