OKRA (BHINDI) : (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

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 okra seed. 

I. Land requirements

    Land to be used for seed production of capsicum and okra 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  and 

wild Okra (A.ficulneus (L.) Wt.& Arn.A.Manihot (L.)

Medic. and A.moschatus (L.) Medic.)                                                          400                 200 

B. Specific requirements

        Factor                                                                                              Maximum permitted (%)*

                                                                                                                Foundation            Certified

      Offtypes                                                                                               0.10                    0.20     

**  Objectionable weed plants                                                                    None                  None

    * Maximum permitted at and after flowering.

** Objectionable weeds shall be: wild Okra : (A.ficulneus (L.) Wt.& Arn.A.Manihot (L.)

Medic. and A.moschatus (L.) Medic.)  

V. Seed standards

        Factor                                                                                              Standards for each class

                                                                                                                Foundation            Certified

Pure seed (minimum)                                                                                99.0%                  99.0%

Inert matter (maximum)                                                                               1.0%                    1.0%

Other crop seeds (maximum)                                                                    None                    5 / kg  

Total weed seeds (maximum)                                                                    None                    None    

*Objectionable weed seeds (maximum)                                                     None                    None  

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

Germination including hard seeds (minimum)                                               65%                    65%

Moisture (maximum)                                                                                  8.0%                   8.0%

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

* Objectionable weeds are the same as given at IV.B.above.