CAPSICUM (SWEET PEPPER): Capsicum annuum ( L.) var. grossum Bailey) AND CHILLI 

(HOT PEPPER): (Capsicum frutescens L.)

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 capsicum and chilli seed. 

I. Land requirements

Land to be used for seed production of capsicum and chilli  shall be free of volunteer plants. 

III. Field Inspection

A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the first before flowering, the second during flowering and fruiting stage, and the third at mature fruit stage and prior to harvesting.

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                                                                                 400                 200

Fields of the same variety not conforming to 

varietal purity requirements for certification                                                    400                 200 

Fields of capsicum from chilli and vice versa                                                  400                 200

B. Specific requirements

        Factor                                                                                              Maximum permitted (%)*

                                                                                                                Foundation            Certified

      Offtypes                                                                                               0.10                    0.20     

** Plants affected by seed borne disease                                                    0.10                    0.50

    * Maximum permitted at and after flowering and the final inspection in the case of seed borne disease.

** Seed borne disease shall be: leaf blight (Alternaria solani Sorauer.); Anthracnose (Ripe rot, Dic back): (Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.) Butler & Bisby)

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)                                                                    5 / kg                    10 / kg

Weed seeds (maximum)                                                                           5 / kg                    10 / kg

Germination (minimum)                                                                            60%                       60%

Moisture (maximum)                                                                                8.0%                      8.0%

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