Seed Certification Standards in California

WATERMELON

Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus

GENERAL STANDARDS -- The standards on this sheet are in part condensed and apply to open-pollinated (OP) watermelons. For hybrid watermelon refer to hybrid watermelon standards. For greater detail and additional provisions, see the General Standards.

PLANTING STOCK -- In most varieties Breeder seed must be planted to produce Foundation seed. Foundation seed must be planted to produce Registered seed. Registered seed must be planted to produce Certified seed. In varieties where there is no Registered class, Foundation seed must be planted to produce Certified seed. Foundation seed of wilt resistant varieties planted for certification shall be tested for its wilt resistance.

APPLICATION -- Application forms are available at the county Farm Advisor's office or from CCIA. Applications should be filled out and submitted to the Farm Advisor's office or directly to the CCIA office as soon as possible and no later than three (3) weeks after planting.

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FIELD ELIGIBILITY -- The land must not have grown the same crop during the previous year unless the watermelons were of the same variety planted for certification and met the field inspection requirements.

ISOLATION -- To be eligible for certification a seed field must be isolated from fields of any other variety or strain, including citron plants, or all fields within the isolation distance must be the same variety and must be for certified seed production. Isolation may be established by isolation cages or by the following distances:

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MANAGEMENT -- Fields designated for seed production shall have no fruits removed for marketing purposes.

FIELD INSPECTION -- Each field intended for certification must be inspected twice prior to harvest. The first inspection should be made from the 3rd leaf stage to flower and early set. The second and mature melon inspection should be made when the fruit has reached a good marketable condition. In some cases, earlier and later inspections may be made.

Off-Types -- Every field should be rogued to remove any plants of another crop or variety, including volunteers. Varieties cannot always be differentiated at field inspection. When differences can be distinguished, the maximum mixture of plants or fruits permitted is as follows:

	Foundation	Registered	Certified
Other Varieties	None	None	1:1,000
White Hard Fruits	1:1,000	1:500	1:500
Citron or Hard Rind	None	None	None

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Weeds --Fields must be free of any prohibited noxious weeds. Restricted noxious weeds, and common weeds difficult to separate must be controlled.

Diseases -- Fields must be free of bacterial fruit blotch, BFB (Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli).

Fields may be refused certification due to unsatisfactory appearance caused by weeds, poor growth, poor stand, disease, insect damage, and any other condition which prevents accurate inspection or creates doubt as to identity of the variety.

A field inspection report will be sent to the applicant. If the field is approved, a certification number will be assigned. This number must be on all containers of seed before they leave the field. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure his field has been inspected before it is harvested.

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HARVESTING -- Harvesting is subject to the supervision of the County Agricultural Commissioner who must be contacted prior to harvest. Any seed moved out of the county for conditioning must be accompanied by an Intercounty Permit or Interstate Transfer issued by the commissioner.

CONDITIONING AND SAMPLING -- Conditioning of seed for certification may be done only in facilities approved for this purpose by the California Crop Improvement Association. It is the responsibility of the applicant to determine if the plant is eligible before delivering seed for conditioning. Conditioning, sampling, reconditioning, and blending must be supervised by the County Agricultural Commissioner. Conditioning equipment must be free from contaminating seed to the satisfaction of the supervising inspector.

SEED INSPECTION -- All seed must be sampled and tested after conditioning and the seed lot must meet or exceed seed certification standards for that crop. A seed lab using the Association of Official Seed Analyst “Rules for Testing” must test the sample. A Registered Seed Technologist must sign each lab analysis. In addition to AOSA rules, specific seed testing may be required to meet CCIA seed certification standards.

The sample size for a lot of Watermelon is two (2) pounds for Foundation and Registered and one (1) pound for Certified. In some instances, varietal identity cannot be determined by visual seed inspections. Seed must be well screened and graded, bright in color, of good appearance and meet the following standards.

A sample of each lot must be tested for BFB by an accredited Pathology Testing Laboratory or Facility. Prior to the issuance of a seed inspection report the results of a 30,000 - seedling growout (or 10% by seed count on lots smaller than 300,000 seeds) for BFB must be provided to the CCIA. The applicant is also responsible for maintaining a 35,000 PLS archive sample (or 10% by seed count) for the duration of the marketing of the seed lot.

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"N.S." -- No standards.

* Other varieties shall be none allowed per two (2) pounds in the Foundation class, shall not exceed one (1) seed per two (2) pounds in the Registered class and two (2) seeds per pound in the Certified class.

** Other crop shall be none allowed per two (2) pounds in the Foundation class, shall not exceed one (1) seed per pound in the Registered class and two (2) seeds per pound in the Certified class.

*** Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli

FINAL CERTIFICATION AND TAGGING -- If the seed sample meets all standards a seed inspection report is issued. Before certification is complete, however, each container must have an official tag or label attached. Certified seed may be sold to a grower in bulk without tagging if a properly filled out Bulk Sale Certificate accompanies the shipment. The tags and Bulk Sale Certificates are issued by the California Crop Improvement Association to the County Agricultural Commissioner who supervises their attachment.

watermel Sept 2003

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