Glossary
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
| N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
| A |
Cytoplasmic
male sterile seed parent used in making commercial hybrids.
Those
seedlings, which do not show the capacity for, continued development into
normal plants when grown in good quality soil, and under favorable conditions
of water supply, temperature and light.
Something added to seed other than the kind and/or variety specified.
The sac like structure in which pollen is borne. Anthers normally have two lobes or cavities, which open by longitudinal slits or be terminal pores and release pollen
The process of dehiscence of anthers, the period of pollen distribution.
A
slender bristle shaped elongated appendages or extension to a glume, achene
anther etc., such as beards of wheat or rye.
Refers to a plant species in which male and bisexual flowers are produced on the same plant e.g. musk melon and ridge gourd.
Reproduction from an unfertilized egg or from somatic cells associated with the egg.
It
is the basic seed processing machine. Initial
cleaning of all seeds is done by an air screen cleaner.
A
seed processing machine, in which seed separations are made by use of air, on
the basis of differences in terminal velocity of seed.
It has a fan, at the discharge point, which creates a vacuum or
negative pressure within the machine. Air
rushing to full in the vacuum, creates a stream of air which is used to
separate seeds.
Ear-shaped appendages, usually on leaves.
| B |
The
fertile counter part parent of the A line, the maintainer line.
The recommended number of rows of the male parental line to be grown on all the sides of the seeds field, growing two different parents.
The cross of a hybrid to one of the parental types.
A
consistant and false departure of a statistic from its proper value.
Formation
of an elongated stem or seed stalk. In
the case of biennial plants, this generally occurs on the second season of
growth.
A population of individual, with identical genetic constitution. A biotype may be homozygous or heterogygous.
Bulb
An elongated, fleshy, thick, underground part of a stem surrounded by a mass of leafy scales. Scales of a bulb are actually thickened and shortened leaves. Roots develop from the base of bulb. The lily is an example.
Bud
spout
A branch, flower or fruit or fruit that differs genetically from the remainder of the plant.
Berry
A simple fleshy fruit.
Bulk
Assembly of similar materials from a collection into one or more bulks.
Bulk sample
When the seed is in bulk or in large containers the primary samples drawn from random positions and depths forms a bulk samples.
Bin
An enclosed structure used for storage of seeds.
Breeder’s
seed
Is directly controlled by the originating or sponsoring plant breeding institution, firm or individual, and is the source for the production of seed of the certified classes. It has the maximum genetic purity.
Bucket
elevator
This
equipment is used to lift the seed to the top of bins/machines for cleaning,
sorting or sacking.
| C |
Container is a box, bottle, casket, tin, barrel, case, receptacle, sack, bag, wrapper or other things in which any article or thing is placed or packed.
The union of an egg with a sperm from a plant of different clone.
A
group of plants, originating by vegetative propagation by a single plant.
Character.
An
identifiable hereditary property such as a specific component of colour of
structural details, a colour pattern or resistance to diseases.
Pollination
and fertilization before the flower has opened.
A
Companion crop is one grown with a crop and together they complete their life
cycle in equal period.
Breeder seed obtained by mechanically combining seeds from two or more strains. The mixture is increased through successive steps in a certified seed programme and distributed as a synthetic variety.
A type of male sterility, conditional by the cytoplasm rather than by nuclear genes and transmitted only through the female parent.
Main contents of a cell in which the nucleus and other bodies are located.
Chemical
hybridising agent (CHA)
Chemicals
which cause pollen abortion and render the treated plants male sterile while
not affecting ovule fertility.
Small structure in the nucleus of a cell that carry the genes. They appear as thread or rod shaped structures during metaphase. Each species has a characteristic number of chromosomes.
Refers to the first generation F1 of the hybrid planted for any purpose.
Central
seed Committee was constituted under sub-section (1) of the section 3 of the
Seeds Act, 1966. Its function is to advise the Central Government and the
State Governments on matters arising out of the administration of the Seeds
Act, 1966, and to carry out the other functions assigned to it by or under the
Seeds Act 1966.
Seed
Certification Agency established under section 8 or recognised under Section
18 of the Seeds Act, 1966. Its
major function is to certify seeds of any notified kind or varieties.
A
sample of seeds drawn by a certification agency or by a duly authorised
representative of a Certification Agency.
The progeny of breeder’s select or foundation seed so handled as to maintain satisfactory genetic purity and identity. Production must be acceptable to a certification agency. Also refers to seed that fulfils all requirements for certification provided by the Seeds Act and Rules and to the container of which the certification tag is attached.
Means
a tag or label (of a specified design) of the certification agency.
It constitutes a certificate granted by the Certification Agency.
A
row or plot of standard variety included in nursery or plot tests for
comparison.
This involved removing awns or hulls, bearding up clusters, scalping off large trash and other operations, which improve the condition and flow ability of the seed.
The factors which affect the genetic and physical quality of seed such as offtypes, foreign pollen, other crop plants, weed plants, plants affected by designated diseases, weed seeds etc. are referred to as contaminants.
Drying
carried out with a continuous flow of grain and air, in contrast to batch
operation.
The endosperm of the seed, one in monocotyledons two or more in dicotylendons.
A bulky, short, vertical under ground stem which stores food.
The
persistent base of a tufted perennial herbaceous plant as found in grasses and
asparagus.
A mass of flower primordial meristems as found in cauliflower (heading broccoli).
A
centrifugal inflorescence on which the secondary or lateral branches continue
to grow and extend beyond main axis.
| D |
To remove that tassel or pollen producing organ at the top of maize plant before pollen is released.
Dioecious
Having
staminate and pistillate flowers on different plants of the same species for
example spinach, hemp, date palm, papaya, pointed gourd, little gourd
asparagus etc.
Organism or cell with two sets of chromosome.
The first generation hybrid resulting from the controlled crosses of two approved single cross.
The collapse of seedlings ascribed to the attacks of fungus organisms such as Botrytis vulgaris and Pythium Species.
Seeds, which at the end of test period are neither hard nor fresh and have not produced Seedlings, are classified as dead seeds.
Refers to the diseases specified for certification seeds and in whose regard certification standards must be met.
An internal condition of the chemistry, or stages of development, of viable seed that prevent its germination although good growing temperature and moisture are provided. A state of dormancy is a resting state that must be broken by time or special conditions before a seed will germinate at temperatures and moisture levels suitable for growth.
Drier
A unit, which provides the conditions for removing moisture, generally by forced ventilation with or without the addition of heat.
| E |
A large, dense or hairy spike or spike like inflorescence as the ear of maize. Also used for the spike like panicle of grasses such as wheat, barley, etc.
A female gamete.
Removal of stamens before they burst and shed their pollen.
The equipment used for moving seeds.
Embryo
The
rudimentary plant within the seed.
Endosperm
The tissue of seeds developing from fertilization of the polar nuclei of the ovule by a second male nucleus that nourishes the embryo.
Equilibrium
moisture content (EMC)
The moisture content of the product when it is in equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere is called the equal moisture content or hygroscopic equilibrium.
Epigeal
Plants in which the cotyledons appear above the surface of soil.
Epicotyl
The growing point of the embryo, which gives rise to the shoot, or the above ground part of the plant.
Ergot
1. A disease of grasses and Cereals caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea.
2. The Sclerotium of this fungus, which replaces the seeds of the host, and contains alkaloids which cause ergotism in animals and man.
| F |
That which is responsible for the independent inheritance of a Mendelian difference.
F I
Generation
that arises from a given crossing, filial generation.
The ability to produce viable offspring.
The
fusion of a male gamete (Sperm) with a female gamete (egg) and of their
nucleus without which their later development is usually impossible.
The progeny of breeder’s select, or foundation seed handled to maintain specific genetic purity and identity. The production must be acceptable to a certifying agency. It is primary source of seed of a genetically identified variety from which all further increase are made.
Seeds
of weeds and crops other than the kind being tested.
Non chaffy smooth seeds which will travel easily through sampling or mixing devices.
Fumigation
Fumigation
of seed lots by Celphos, E.D.B. etc., to kill storage insect pests. Storage structures must be leak proof for effective
fumigation.
Field Inspection
An
official inspection of seed fields conducted by the official of a
Certification Agency or his authorised agent.
Fungi
The Thallophyta lacking photosynthetic pigments. They are saprophytic or parasitic. The plant body is made up of simple filaments (in the true fungi) hyphae, and sexual (and usually sexual) reproduction is by spores. There is no fission. They accumulate glycogen rather than starch.
Full sib
Term used in population improvement. A full-sib family comprises progeny from a cross between two selected plants within the population.
| G |
Genotype
The
hereditary make up of an individual plant or animal, which with the
environment controls the individual characteristics, such as type of flower,
or bony structure, or shape of leaf or color of hair.
The
hereditary material.
The
intake of water by a seed, spore etc., leading to an increase in metabolism
and elongation finally resulting in the formation of new tissue.
Trueness
to type, varietal purity, plants/ seeds conforming to characteristics of the
variety as described by the breeder.
The
pairs of bracts at the base of a spikelet in grasses.
Grow-out-Test
Performed to determine the genuineness of seed as to species or variety.
It
is a seed processing machine by with seed separations are made on the basis of
differences in specific gravity.
Gall
Swelling
or excrescence of tissue of plants resulting from the attacks of certain
parasites or seed structures in which the contents have been replaced by
nematodes.
Gene pool
Useful
genes or gene complexes in a divergent population.
One
complete life cycle. The
generation begins with the formation of the zygote and ends when the resulting
plant dies.
Glabrous
Hairless.
Genetic
sterility
A
type of make sterility conditioned by nuclear genes.
In contrast to cytoplasmic sterility, it may be transmitted by either
the male or female parent.
Growing season
Period(s)
of the year during which crops grow and mature.
Gynomonoecious
Refers to a plant species in which female and bisexual flowers are produced on the same plant e.g. cucumber.
| H |
Plants
resulting from a cross between parents that are genetically unlike.
The
plant and animal on which a parasite lives.
Head
1. A group of conidia and sterigmata crowded into a dense mass, which is rounded in outline.
2. A dense inflorescence, of Small crowded, usually sessile flowers, usually surrounded by an involucre.
Seeds
that have a seed coat impervious to water or oxygen required for germination
for example seeds of Leguminanceae, Malvaceae etc.,
The
scar of the seed; its place of attachment.
Hybrid vigour (Heterosis)
The
increase in vigour beyond that of the parents of the hybrid.
The
injury caused to seeds due to heat; drying at higher temperatures may cause
heat injury to seeds and may result in lowering of seed germination.
Homozygous
Having
identical genes at corresponding loci on homologous chromosomes.
Having
unlike alleles at corresponding loci of homologous chromosomes.
An organism may be heterozygous for one or several genes.
| I |
The
raising of progeny by mating of two or more closely related gametes or
zygotes.
An
inbred line is a relatively true breeding strain resulting from at least five
successive generations of controlled self fertilization, or of back crossing
to a recurrent parent with selection or its equivalent.
To
multiply a quantity of seed by planting it rearing the plants that grow from
it and harvesting the seeds they produce.
The seeds resulting from this process are called an increase.
Inflorescence
The
flowering axis or other panicle.
Specialised
flowering structure of a plant such as an umbel, raceme, spike etc.
Immature seed
Not fully developed, not having parts developed.
Inert matter
Seed like structures from crop and weed plants that are one half the original size or less, badly injured and undeveloped seed like structures of weeds glumes, stems and other parts, sand, dirt and other related substances.
Inhibitor
A chemical substance that acts to prevent a process from occurring; many chemicals both natural and artificial can act to prevent seed germination.
Isolation
Separation of seed fields from fields of other varieties of the same crop, same variety fields not conforming to varietal purity requirements; other related species and fields affected by designated diseases to prevent genetic and disease contamination.
| J K |
One
or more related species or sub species of crop plants each individually or
collectively known by one common name such as cabbage, maize, paddy and wheat.
| L |
Lot
Any
quantity of seed up to a prescribed maximum which can be represented by one
sample to analysis.
Individuals
seed lot shall be assigned a specific number in order to facilitate maintaining
its identity, tracing back to its origin, handling in stores, transit etc.,
accounting and inventory maintenance and referring (or) communicating about a
certain quantity of seed.
Ligule
1. A flattened membrane arising from the base of the leaves of some lycopods.
2. A membrane at the junction of the leaf sheath and leaf base of many grasses.
| M |
Amount
of water present in seeds.
Describes
the complete or partial failure of a male plant to produce mature reproductive
pollen cells.
Having
staminate and pistillate flowers on the same plant for example corn,
cucurbits, etc.
An
organism which has acquired a heritable variation as a result of mutation.
The
fertile counterpart parent of the A line.
This is also known as B line.
Mixed cropping
Two or more crops are grown in mixed stand either as ‘birra’ mixture or in separate rows in different proportion. When any of the crop in mixed stand gets vitiated due to one reason or other, the other crop may act as an insurance against complete loss of other.
Multi line variety
Consist of two or more near isogenic lines or normally self fertilising plants which are similar in most characteristics but differ in a limited number of describable physiological, morphological or other essential or distinctive characteristics. A multi line is derived by growing the component lines separately composting the lines to constitute the breeder class of seed.
| N |
The
two parents for producing hybrid seed are said to nick, when they produce high
yields of seed of a highly productive and desirable hybrid.
A
group of progenies of individual plants taken at random from a variety for the
purpose of purifying that variety of mixtures and off types.
In
relation to any seeds this means any kind or variety thereof notified under
Section 5 of seeds Act.1966.
Seeds of noxious weed species restricted by law from being present in any quantity in agricultural seeds.
The seedlings, which show the capacity for continued development into normal plants when grown in good quality soil and under favourable conditions of water supply, temperature and light.
| O |
(A
Cross to an individual not closely related).
A cross, usually natural to be a plant of a different genotype; mating of hybrid with their parent; an off-type plant resulting from pollen of a different sort contaminating a seed field.
Off-types
Plant
or seed deviating significantly from the characteristics of a variety as
described by the breeder in any observable respect.
Weed plant whose seed is difficult to separate once mixed with crop seed and which is poisonous or injurious or has a smothering effect on the main crop. It is difficult to eradicate once established, has a high multiplication ratio thus making its spread quick and serves as an alternate host for crop diseases and pests.
Other Crop Seed (OCS)
Seeds
of plants, which are grown as crops, other than the main crop.
Seed
produced as a result of natural pollination
as opposed
hybrid seed produced as a result of controlled pollination.
The body within the ovary of the flower that becomes the seed after fertilization and development.
| P Q |
The
observed character of an individual without reference to its genetic nature. Individuals of the same phenotype appear alike but may not
breed alike.
The recommended ratio in which the male and female parental lines are planted to make a crossing block in hybrid seed production.
In hybrid seed production involving male sterility, the plants of B line present in A line are termed as pollen shedders.
The
pure seed refers to the seeds (including broken seeds more than half the
original size) of the species stated by the sender, or found to predominate in
the purity test. It includes all
botanical varieties and cultivars of that species even if immature,
undersized, shrivelled, diseased or germinated provided they can be definitely
identified as of that species.
An
individual (or) an institution, private, quasi Government (or) Government,
producing seeds by observing seed certification rules.
The
crop grown in the season immediately preceding the one in which the seed crop
is grown.
The
season immediately preceding the one in which the seed crops is grown.
Any
organism capable of causing disease in a particular host, or range of hosts.
It obtains its nutrients wholly or in part from another living
organism.
A
flower bearing pistil(s) but no stamen.
The
microspores of gymnosperms and angiosperms.
Offsprings,
plants grown from the seeds produced by parent plant.
1. The development of the male gametes before the female.
2. The androecium or the anther(s) of the flower begin to discharge their pollen.
A
hairy covering, usually of short, soft hairs.
A
strain in which all individuals have descended by self-fertilization from a
single homozygous individual. A pure line is genetically pure.
P.P.M.
Part
per million a measurement; A quantity of substance contained in million parts
of a mixture, or solution in a carrier such as air or water.
A
person or organization actively engaged in the breeding and maintenance of
varieties of plants.
A
seed processing machine in which seed separations are made by use of air on
the basis of differences in terminal velocity.
It has a fan on the intake end, and a pressure within the machine,
greater than normal atmospheric pressure, is built up.
The air blast makes the seed separation.
The parent that furnishes the pollen which fertilizes the ovules of the other parent in the production of seed.
Before
emergence, often refers to the treatment of the soil with weed control
chemicals after planting and before the crop plants appear above ground.
The
transfer of pollen from the anthers to the stigmas of the flowers.
It
refers to all the steps involved in the preparation of harvested seed for
marketing; viz., handling, selling, pre conditioning, drying, cleaning, size
grading, upgrading, treating and packaging.
In a narrow sense however, it refers only to preconditioning, cleaning,
size grading and upgrading of seeds.
The
purity condition of seeds of all botanical varieties of each species under
analysis, from inert matter etc.
The
tiny upper bract with which the lemma encloses the flower in grasses.
Pure live seeds
(PLS)
Percentage
of pure germinating seed determined by multiplying by the pure seed percentage
by its own germination percentage and dividing the product by one hundred.
Poisonous
to plants.
A
dry fruit formed from a single carpel, having a single locule containing one
(rarely) to many seeds, and usually opening at maturity by splitting along
both ventral and dorsal sutures.
An
individual having 3 or more times the haploid number of chromosomes.
Character
that is qualitatively different so that separation is relatively easy. Usually
placed in categories.
Character that shows a continuous range in variability making separation into distinct classes difficult. Usually described numerically.
| R |
R line
(Restorer Line)
An
inbred line that when crossed to the A line (male sterile strain) cause the
resulting hybrid to be male fertile and produces pollen.
Two
crosses between two plants or strains in which the male parent of one cross is
the female parent of the second cross, for
example A x B and B x A.
A
variation from the standard type of a variety or strain.
Removal
of undesirable individual to purify the stock.
Arrived
at by chance without discrimination.
The
amount of water present in the air at a given temperature in proportion to its
maximum water holding capacity at that temperature.
The
space provided in the field especially in paddy, for removal of undesirable
individual plants.
Row crop
The
seed field in which the plants are planted in a predetermined regular rows.
Silks
which are fresh, green/yellow/pink (Typical to code designation /variety) and
not dried when more than one cob/ear on a plant have receptive silk it is
counted as one only.
Inspection
of seed field by the seed certification authority on the request of the seed
producer after removing the objectionable defects which has been specified in
earlier inspection.
If
the certification agency is satisfied either on reference made to it in this
behalf or otherwise if it feels that the rules are contravened it will revoke
the certificate given earlier.
1.The embryonic root of seed plants.
2.Very small root.
3.A rhizoid of a mass.
Harvested
seed that has not been cleaned and graded.
Cutting
a plant to obtain regrowth.
Rhizome
A
horizontal under ground stem frequently a storage organ.
Root slip
The plants which arises from the portion of root when it is bedded for propagation.
| S |
Botanically
a mature ovule with its normal coverings.
A Seed consist of seed coat, embryo and in certain plants an endosperm.
Functionally, included all propagating material.
A
finite series of observations taken from a population.
Progeny
of the same parents derived from different gametes.
Crossing
of sibs, two or more individuals of the same parentage (brother - sister
mating).
The
stigma and style of the female flowers, through which pollen tube, grows to
reach the embryosac.
The
first generation hybrid resulting from the controlled crossing of two approved
inbred lines.
A
male gamete.
A
unit of the inflorescence in the grasses, composed of the glumes, the rachilla
and the florets.
The
pollen bearing organ in the flower, composed of an anther and filament.
A
flower bearing stamen(s) but no pistil.
Small
sugarbeet stored over winter and planted for the production of seed,
stecklings are grown from unthinned seed.
Inability
to produce viable offspring.
The
portion of the pistil which receives the pollen.
A
type within a variety that constantly differs in genetic factors from other
strains of the same variety, may become a variety.
An
off shoot that develops from an adventitious bud located on the roots or lower
stem of a plant.
A
term used particularly with cross pollinated specifies to refer to a variety
produced by the combination of selected lines or plants and subsequent normal
pollination.
An
act provides for regulating the quality of certain seeds for sale and for
matters connected therewith.
Disease,
which is carried, either within the seed i.e., internally seed borne or on the
seed i.e. externally seed borne or both.
The
transfer of pollen from an anther to stigma of the same flower or another
flower on the same plant or within the clone.
Refers
to the tassel in female parent rows shedding pollen or that have shed pollen
in hybrid maize plots. During
field inspection, a tassel whose main spike or any side branch or both have
shed pollen, or are shedding pollen, is more than 5 cm of branch length is
counted as a shedding tassel.
The
sample submitted to a Seed Testing laboratory. It comprises the Composite
Sample reduced as necessary.
Refers
to the number of Primary Samples taken from the Seed lot.
A
Seed processing machine designed to remove the bulk of trash from seed so as
to facilitate elevating and processing operations.
It is basically a vibrating or rotating screen or sieve.
Appointed
under Section 13 of Seeds Act 1966, the person supervising or carrying out the
Seed Analysis work.
Health
of Seed refers primarily to the presence or absence of disease causing
organism such as fungi, bacteria and viruses, and animal pests, such as
eelworms and insects; physiological condition as trace elements deficiency may
also be involved.
The
embryo, or young plant, from the time it emerges from the seed until it is
entirely dependent on food manufactured by itself.
It consists of an epicotyl one or two cotyledon hypocotyl and roots. The single cotyledon is usually held within the Seed Coat in
monocots.
A
unit in botanical classification sub division of a genus. A group of closely
related individuals descendant from the same stock.
The
machine used for slurry seed treatment.
The
strain from which seed is harvested in the hybrid seed field.
Also, commonly used to designate the female parent in any cross
fertilization.
A Sample submitted to the Central Seed Testing Laboratory, or a State Seed Testing Laboratory for testing, the results of which to be used as information for selling or labelling purposes.
| T |
The
flower cluster at the tip of a corn plant comprising pollen bearing flowers.
The staminate inflorescence of maize.
A
cell with four sets of identical or similar chromosomes.
Three way cross
A three way cross is a first generation hybrid between a single cross and an inbred line.
A
branch arising from the base of a monocot plant, especially in the grass
family.
A
cross between a selection line, clone etc., and a common pollen parent which
may be a variety, inbred line, single cross etc.
The common pollen parent is called the top cross or tester parent in
maize, a top cross is commonly an inbred variety cross that is the first
generation resulting from the controlled crossing of an approved inbred line
and an approved open pollinated variety.
An
enlarged portion of a rhizome (under ground stem) that stores food.
Trait
A
character
Testa
The
Seed Coat. It is derived from the
integuments and is several layers thick.
It is protective in function.
Tolerance
1. The ability of a plant to with
Stand
adverse environmental Conditions.
2. The ability of a plant to withstand the development of a
parasite within it, without showing serious symptoms of disease.
Triploid
Organisms or cell with three sets of chromosomes.
| U |
Uniformity
(Seed lot)
Refers to the uniformity of a Seed Lot, absence of apparently significant variation in a seed lot.
Inflorescence in which the stalks of the flowers are spring from the top of the main stock, like the ribs of an umbrella e.g. in umbellifereae.
| V |
Variety
The term variety denotes an assemblage of cultivated individuals which are distinguished by any characters (Morphological, physiological, chemical or others) significant for the purpose of agriculture, forestry or horticultural and which when reproduced (Sexually or asexually) or reconstituted, retain their distinguishing features.
Vapour proof
container
Container, which does not permit, entrance or exit of moisture.
Validation
The process of extension of validity of a seed lot.
Vegetative
A descriptive term refering to stem and leaf development in contrast to flower and seed development.
Viability
Alive. ability to live, grow and develop. A viable seed is one, which is capable of germinating under the proper circumstances. Such a viable seed may or may not be readily or immediately germinable. Dormant viable seeds may require lengthy specific treatments before they become immediately germinable.
Vigour
Vigour is the sum total of all seed attributes which favour rapid and uniform stand establishment in the field.
Viviparous
Germinating or sprouting from seed or bud while still attached to the parent plant. (e.g.) Chowchow.
| W X Y Z |
Weed seed
Seed, bulblet, tuber of plants recognized as weed by laws, official regulations or by general usage.
Wild types
Naturally occurring non domesticated crop relatives.
Zenia
The direct and immediate visible effects of the pollen on the endosperm and related tissues in the formation of seed, due to the phenomenon of double fertilisation in the seed plants.