Sorghum - Open-Pollinated
(Includes Grain, Forage and Syrup Sorghum, Sudangrass and Broomcorn)
Land Requirements
Certified seed must be produced on land which did not produce any other variety of sorghum or an uncertified crop of the same variety the previous year.
Field Inspection
Two field inspections shall be made on sorghums intended for foundation seed or registered seed production, one at blooming time and the other at maturity. One inspection is required on sorghum intended for certification after the crop has attained a mature color. Certified seed fields shall be inspected before harvest but after the seed begins to assume mature color.
Field Standards
General Requirements
Unit of Certification
The unit of certification shall be a field, but a portion of a field may be approved provided the discarded portion can be harvested separately and is eliminated from certification.
Isolation
Minimum isolation distances from other common sorghums shall be 1,320 and 990 feet for the Foundation and Certified classes respectively.
Minimum isolation distance for sorghum or broomcorn from sudangrass shall be 990 feet.
Sudan shall be isolated 990 feet from any other sudangrass.
Specific Requirements
| Factor | Maximum permitted for each class: Foundation | Maximum permitted for each class: Certified |
|---|---|---|
| Other varieties (definite) | None | 1:20,000 heads |
| Other varieties (doubtful) | None | 1:4,000 heads |
| Inseparable noxious weeds ¹ | None | None |
| Kernel smut ² | None | 1:2,500 heads |
| Head smut ² | None | 1:10,000 heads |
1Noxious weeds producing seed that are so similar to sorghum seed in size and specific
gravity that they cannot be cleaned from the seed by the regular methods of cleaning.
2If head or kernel smut is discovered in production field, the seed produced must be
treated with material as recommended by the Experiment Station before such seed is
finally approved to be sold as certified seed.
Referee Sample
A representative 2-pound sample of the seed as it is to be sold shall be submitted to the Association for laboratory analysis.
Seed Standards
General Seed Standards
| Factor | Standards for each class: Foundation | Standards for each class: Certified |
|---|---|---|
| Pure seed (minimum) | 98.0% | 98.0% |
| Inert matter (maximum) | 2.0% | 2.0% |
| Weed seed (maximum) | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Prohibited weeds (maximum)¹ | None | None |
| Other kinds including other varieties (maximum)2 |
0.03% | 0.07% |
| Other varieties (maximum) | None | 2 seeds per lb. |
| Germination (minimum) | 80.0% | 80.0% |
1See Section XLI P, also, hedge bindweed (Convolvulus sepium), dock (Rumex spp), and
morningglory (Ipomoea spp.).
2Other kinds shall not exceed 2 per lb. for Foundation; 10 per lb. for Certified