PETUNIA HYBRIDS
(Petunia spp.)
I. Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification Standards
A. The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and together with the following specific standards
constitute the standards for certification of Petunia hybrid seeds.
B. The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specification to the hybrids of Petunia.
1.Classes and sources of seed
a) Only the class "Certified" shall be recognized
b) A hybrid to be certified must be produced from certified Foundation seed or seed stocks approved
by the Certification Agency.
1. Eligibility requirements for certification
a) A hybrid is one to be planted for any use except seed production. It may be anyone of the following
(i) Single cross
The first generation resulting from the open pollination under controlled crossing of the two
approved self- incompatible but cross-compatible inbred lines. It may be of three types depending
upon the procedure of seed production.
- seeds of only female parent are harvested and certified
- seeds of both parents are harvested separately and certified and
- seeds of both the parents are harvested together, mixed and certified.
(ii) Double cross
The first generation resulting from the controlled crossing of the two approved self- incompatible
but cross-compatible single crosses.
(iii) Three way cross
The first generation resulting from controlled crossing of an approved inbred line and
certified single cross being self-incompatible individually but cross compatible to each other.
II. Land requirements
a) Land to be used for seed production of the Petunia shall be free of volunteer plants.
III. Field Inspection
A minimum of two inspections shall be made as follows:
1. the first inspection shall be made at pre- flowering stage check isolation, outcrosses,
and other relevant factors;
2. the second inspection shall be made during flowering to check isolation, offtypes and other relevant
factors;
3. the third inspection shall be made before harvesting to check offtypes, designated diseases and
other relevant factors.
IV. Field Standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation
Seed fields of Petunia hybrids shall be shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in column 1 of the
Table below by the distances specified in column 2&3of the said Table:
Contaminants Minimum distance (meters)
Foundation Certified
1 2 3
Fields of other varieties including same single species including
commercial hybrid of same cultivar 600 400
Fields of the same hybrid not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification 600 400
Between blocks of the parental lines in case seed parent
and pollinator are planted in separate blocks - 005
B. Specific requirements
Factor Maximum permitted (%)*
Foundation Certified
Offtypes in each 0.050 0.10
**Plants affected by designated diseases 0.10 0.20
* Standards for offtypes shall be met at after flowering and plants infected with designated diseases at final inspection.
** Designated diseases shall be:
Leaf blotch (Cercospora petuniae (saito)Mutter&
Leaf spot (Ascochyta petuniae)
Phyllostica leaf spot (Phyllostica petuniae Speg)
Leaf bright (Alternaria alternate (Fr.)Kiesster)
Crown rot (Phytopthera parasitica Dast)
Tabacco Mosaic virus (TMV)
Cucumber mosaic virus(CMV)
Factor Standard for each class
Foundation Certified
1 2 3
Pure seed (minimum) 98.0% 98.0%
Inter matter (maximum) 2.0% 2.0%
Other crop seeds (maximum) 10/Kg 20/Kg
Weed seeds (maximum) 5/Kg 10/Kg
Germination (minimum) 75% 75%
Moisture (maximum) 8.0% 8.0%
For vapour-proof containers (maximum) 6.0% 6.0%