NIGER (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.)

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 niger seed.

II. Land requirements

Land to be used for seed production of niger seed 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 the third at maturity and prior to harvesting.

IV. Field Standards

A. General requirements

1. Isolation

Groundnut 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 the

varietal purity requirements for certification                                                     400                  200

B. Specific requirements

        Factor                                                                                              Maximum permitted (%)*

                                                                                                                Foundation            Certified

      Offtypes                                                                                                0.05                    0.10

*Maximum permitted at any inspection at and after flowering.

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)                                                                    10/kg                       20/kg

Other distinguishable varieties (maximum)                                                  10/kg                       20/kg

Weed seeds (maximum)                                                                            10/kg                       20/kg

Germination (minimum)                                                                              80%                         80%

Moisture (maximum)                                                                                  9.0%                       9.0%

For vapour-proof containers (maximum)                                                    5.0%                        5.0%