6. The seed shall have sufficient varietal identity and varietal purity.
7. The seed must be of a satisfactory state of health insofar as seed-borne diseases and organisms affecting the seed are concerned.
8.—(a) The seed shall conform to the standards or other conditions as regards germination, analytical purity and the content of seeds of other plant species as specified in the following table.
Minimum analytical purity(*) (% by weight) | Maximum weight of seed of other plants species (% by weight) | Minimum germination (% by number of clusters or pellets) | Maximum moisture content(*) (% by weight) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(*) Excluding where appropriate, granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives. The minimum weight of the sample to be submitted for moisture content testing shall be the minimum weight of a sample specified in Schedule 5 paragraph 3 and this sample shall be submitted for testing in addition to the submitted sample and in an airtight moisture proof container. | ||||||
| (i) | Sugar beet: | |||||
| – | monogerm seed | 97 | 0.3 | 80 | 15 | |
| – | precision seed | 97 | 0.3 | 75 | 15 | |
| – | natural seed of varieties with more than 85% diploids | 97 | 0.3 | 73 | 15 | |
| – | natural seed of varieties with 15% or more triploids and/or tetraploids | 97 | 0.3 | 68 | 15 | |
| (ii) | Fodder beet: | |||||
| – | monogerm seed, precision seed and natural seed of varieties with more than 85% diploids | 97 | 0.3 | 73 | 15 | |
| – | natural seed of varieties with 15% or more triploids and/or tetraploids | 97 | 0.3 | 68 | ||
(b)special conditions for Monogerm seed and for Precision Seed—
(i)additional germination requirements
Minimum percentage of germinated clusters with a single seedling | Maximum percentage of germinated clusters with 3 or more seedling | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (aa) | monogerm seed | 90 | 5 | ||
| (bb) | precision seeds of— | ||||
| Sugar beet | 70 | 5 | |||
| Fodder beet | |||||
| – | with more than 85% diploids | 58 | 5 | ||
| – | with 15% or more triploids and/or tetraploids | 63 | 5 | ||
(ii)– Inert Matter
Maximum percentage by weight of inert matter | |
|---|---|
| Pre-Basic and Basic seed | 1.0 |
| Certified seed | 0.5 |
| In the case of pelleted seed the sample shall be drawn from processed seed which has undergone partial decortication (rubbing or grinding) but has not yet been pelleted. | |
9. Beet seed may not be introduced into areas recognised as ‘rhizomania-free zones’ unless the percentage by weight of inert matter does not exceed 0.5.