MAIZE (Zea mays L.) COMPOSITES, SYNTHETICS 

AND OPEN POLLINATED VARIETIES

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 the seeds of composites, synthetics and open pollinated varieties of maize.

B. The general standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to the composites, synthetics and open pollinated varieties of maize.

1. Eligibility requirements for certification

A composite or a synthetic or an open pollinated variety to be eligible for certification must be from a source such that its identity may be assured by the Certification Agency.

2. Seed house or bin inspection

The composites, synthetics and open pollinated varieties of maize shall be ear-inspected after maturity by the Certification agency.

II. Land requirements

Land to be used for seed production of maize composites, synthetics and open pollinated varieties shall be free of volunteer plants.

III. Field Inspection

A minimum of two inspections shall be made in such a way that one is conducted  before flowering and the other during flowering.

IV. Field Standards

A. General requirements

1. Isolation

(a) The seed field 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 same variety not conforming to

varietal purity requirements for certification and teosinte                        400                      200

B. Specific requirements

        Factor                                                                                              Maximum permitted (%)*

                                                                                                     Foundation                    Certified

Offtype plants that have shed or shedding

pollen at any one inspection during flowering 

when 5.0 % or more of the plants in the

seed field have apparently receptive silks                                            1.0                                1.0

V. Seed standards

A. Seed ears inspected after harvest shall not contain in excess of 1.0 % offtype ears including ears with off-coloured kernels.

        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

Other distinguishable varieties based on

kernel colour and texture (maximum)                                                 10/kg                          20/kg

Weed seeds (maximum)                                                                    None                          None

Germination (minimum)                                                                      90%                            90%

Moisture (maximum)                                                                         12.0%                         12.0%

For vapour-proof containers (maximum)                                             8.0%                           8.0%

B. Shelling

Shelling of the seed ears is to be done after obtaining approval from the Certification agency.