Seed Testing of Maize and Wheat A Laboratory Guide - Search ...

Foreword
CIMMYT aims to help the poor by
increasing the productivity of
resources committed to maize and
wheat in developing countries,
while protecting the environment,
through agricultural research and in
concert with national research
systems.
Germplasm improvement continues
to be CIMMYT's main line of work,
responding to a predicted increase
in demand for advanced germplasm
products and for source populations
containing special traits. For this
reason, CIMMYT also serves as a
world storage and trust facility for
the genetic resources of maize and
wheat.
CIMMYT's germplasm improvement
programs rely heavily on the free
international exchange of maize
and wheat seed. All concerned
institutions, cooperators, and
regulating authorities must have
confidence in the safety of both
imported and exported seed to
facilitate such exchange.
Accordingly, CIMMYT is fully
committed to maintaining
fundamental health standards in its
worldwide operations to protect the
agriculture of cooperators and host
countries.
The Seed Health Unit at CIMMYT
carries out phytosanitary
examination of maize and wheat
seeds (the Center's two mandated
crops), prior to their export, and
examination of any imported seeds.
These examinations are carried out
in close collaboration with the plant
quarantine authorities of the
Government of Mexico.
The unrestricted movement and
exchange of germplasm is vital to
progress in crop improvement
programmes, but this movement
must not jeopardize crops by
spreading pests or diseases.
International exchange of diseasefree
germ plasm is possible if
safeguards are imposed during
seed production and seed
distribution. Quarantine stations
receive seeds for certification from
various sources including seed
industries, growers, research
stations, individual scientists,
traders, etc. The risk of spreading
seed-borne pathogens varies
widely with seed source. Seed from
scientists and well-equipped seed
industries is usually monitored
during its active growing season by
a qualified pathologist, to reduce
these risks.
The authors, during the course of
their work in the Seed Health Unit
at CIMMYT, have intercepted a
nllmhar 1"\4 t:" .............. L.o. ____ ,rganisms,
and recorded their characteristics
for easy identification. This manual
describes each organism recorded
with a series of photographs and
gives a quick clue to facilitate rapid
identification of the organism. In
addition, details on distribution,
significance, quarantine, detection
techniques and references are
given.
It is hoped that this manual will
provide useful information to
agricultural scientists and seed
quarantine agencies testing maize
and wheat seeds for import and
export, and will help to minimize
the risk of spreading diseases that
could reduce crop yields and limit
the amount of food produced by
farmers.
Timothy Reeves
Director General,
CIMMYT
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