MAIZE (Zea mays L.) FOUNDATION SINGLE CROSSES

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 maize foundation single crosses.

B. The general standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to the foundation single crosses of maize.

1. Eligibility requirements for certification

A foundation single cross to be eligible for certification must be produced from two approved inbred lines, the source of which shall assure their identity and approved by the Certification Agency.

2. Classes and sources of seed

A foundation single cross shall consist of the first generation hybrid resulting from the controlled crossing of two approved inbred lines. Such foundation single cross shall be used in the production of double, three way, top or double top crosses.

3. Seed house or bin inspection

The foundation single cross shall be ear-inspected after maturity by the Certification agency.

II. Land requirements

Land to be used for seed production of maize single crosses shall be free of volunteer plants.

III. Field Inspection

A minimum of four inspections shall be made in such a way that one is done before flowering and the remaining three during flowering.

IV. Field Standards

A. General requirements

1. Isolation

(a) Seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in column 2 of the said Table:

        Contaminants                                                                                   Minimum distance (meters)

            1                                                                                                                 2                   

Fields of any maize with same kernel

colour and texture                                                                                                  400

Fields of any maize with different kernel

colour and texture and teosinte                                                                               600

Fields of same single cross (code designation) not

conforming to varietal purity requirements for certification                                        400

Fields of other single crosses having common male parent

and conforming to varietal purity requirements for certification                                 5

Fields of other single crosses having common male parent and 

not conforming to varietal purity requirements for certification                                 400

(b) Differential blooming dates are permitted for modifying isolation distances, provided 5.0 % or more of the plants in the seed parent do not have receptive silks when more than 0.20 % of plants in the adjacent field(s) within the prescribed isolation distance are shedding pollen. 

B. Specific requirements

        Factor                                                                                              Maximum permitted (%)*

Offtype plants that have shed or shedding

pollen in male parent at any one inspection during

flowering when 5.0 % or more of the plants in the

seed field have apparently receptive silks                                                            0.20

Tassels of the plant that have shed or shedding pollen in the 

seed parent at any one inspection during flowering when 5.0 % 

or more of the plants in the seed field have apparently receptive silks                  0.50

Total of pollen shedding tassels including tassels that have shed pollens

for all three inspections conducted during flowering on different dates                  1.0

Offtype plants in seed parent at final inspection                                                   0.20

* Sucker tassels, portions of tassels, and tassels on main plants shall be counted as shedding pollen only when two inches or more of the centre spike, the side branches, or a combination of the two have the anthers exserted from the glumes and are shedding pollen.

V. Seed standards

A. Seed ears inspected after harvest shall not contain in excess of 0.20 % offtype ears including ears with off-coloured kernels.

        Factor                                                                                                    Standard

Pure seed (minimum)                                                                                         98.0%

Inert matter (maximum)                                                                                        2.0%

Other crop seeds (maximum)                                                                               5/kg

Other distinguishable varieties based on

kernel colour and texture (maximum)                                                                    5/kg

Weed seeds (maximum)                                                                                       None

Germination (minimum)                                                                                        80%

Moisture (maximum)                                                                                           12.0%

For vapour-proof containers (maximum)                                                               8.0%

B. Shelling

Shelling of the seed ears will be made only after obtaining approval from the Certification agency.