Seed Production and
Certification-84
 

 

 

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The foundation and seed certification programs permit the rapid increase of new varieties and discontinuance of older ones. Rice growers, through their membership on the Board of Directors of the California Crop Improvement Association and the California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation, participate in decisions on the release and certification of new varieties. Foundation seed production and seed certification are self-supporting activities.

Foundation seed

Breeders seed, which is produced by the rice breeders, is used for the production of foundation seed. Foundation seed produces registered seed which, in turn, produces certified seed. The Rice Experiment Station is responsible for growing the foundation seed and annually produces 500 to 2,000 hundred-weight each of approximately 10 varieties. This seed is sold to seed growers who produce the registered and certified classes of seed. Seed growers obtain their foundation seed by applying through their local UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor's office. The Foundation Seed and Plant Materials Services at UC Davis makes the final selection of growers to receive foundation seed.

The genetic purity of foundation seed is carefully protected by removing any off-type plants and by growing only on land that has been fallowed the previous year or has produced seed of the same variety. Over-flight by aircraft is restricted, and all equipment used for planting, hauling, drying, cleaning, and storing is thoroughly cleaned. The cleaned seed is tested for purity and germination by the California Crop Improvement Association.

 Seed certification

The California Crop Improvement Association is the official seed certifying agency for California. It provides a system for increasing the small amounts of seed from the plant breeder through the foundation, registered, and certified generations to provide the large amounts of seed needed to plant the commercial rice crop in California. Records and inspections maintain the genetic purity and identity of the variety during increase.

An estimated 90 percent of California's rice is planted with certified seed, compared with an estimated 50 percent use of certified seed for wheat and barley. Red rice, a serious problem in the South and worldwide, does not exist in California. Seed certification standards have a zero tolerance for red rice and have kept the state free of this pest.

AWARDS TO CALIFORNIA RICE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION WORKERS

The 20th Rice Technical Working Group meeting in Lafayette, Louisiana in June 1984, presented the Distinguished Rice Research and Education Award to the California Varietal Improvement Team. The team members honored were Dr. Howard L. Carnahan, Dr. Carl W. Johnson and Dr. S.T. Tseng, rice breeders with the California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation; Dr. J. Neil Rutger, USDA research geneticist; Dr. James E. Hill, John F. Williams, Carl M. Wick and Steven C. Scardaci, UC Cooperative Extension; and Dr. D. Marlin Brandon, former UC Cooperative Extension rice agronomist who is now at Louisiana State University.

The award was based on the success of the California rice breeding and extension program that developed the new high yielding short-statured varieties and promoted their use and management.

Morton D. Morse was recognized for his long-term service to the rice industry that includes administration of the Biggs Rice Experiment Station, recruitment of a competent professional staff, expansion of the station, and direction of the foundation seed program.

 

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