SEED PURITY

Central Seed Testing Laboratory, FSC&RD consists of three component

laboratories;
1. Seed Purity Lab.
2. Seed Germination Lab.
3. Seed Health.
Seed Purity Laboratory
The laboratory performs the important function of seed certification
scheme i.e Seed Testing in accordance with International Rules of seed testing
and procedures issued by International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). The
laboratory follows the national seed certification standards for accepting or
rejecting the seed samples representing seed lots. Seed testing is performed for
registered and released varieties of different agricultural crops and agricultural
species mentioned in ISTA rules.
Seed Purity lab is a member lab of International Seed Testing Association
since 2009 and regularly participates in Proficiency test program of ISTA.
Laboratory is also under process for accreditation status from ISTA. All the
documentation work and other requirements of ISTA have been fulfilled.
Laboratory is also candidate for national accreditation from Pakistan National
Accreditation (PNAC). Pre-assessment has been carried out and final
assessment is awaited.
Objective.
The object of the purity analysis is to determine:
1. The percentage composition by weight of the sample being tested and by
inference the composition of the seed lot
2. The identity of the various species of seeds and inert particles constituting
the sample.
Functions
1. Seed Purity Laboratory performs the post check analysis of seed testing
of 27 FSC&RD field seed testing laboratories working in different agro-
ecological zones of country.
2. Seed testing for samples received from public sector like NARC, BARI
Chakwal, PSC Fateh Jang and FAO that are being treated as
direct/external clients.Seed testing for samples of Seed Act Enforcement
whenever required.
Scope & Tests
The laboratory comply with ISO 17025: 2005 international standard
and ISTA standards in all
laboratory practices and maintain a quality management system (for quality
, administrative and technical operations) required to ensure practices at a high
standard. The scope of tests for which the quality management system applies
are described are given below.
1. Seed Purity.
2. Pure Seed.
3. Other Variety Seed.
4. Other Crop Seed.(Other Seed)
 5. Inert Matter.
6. Weed Seed.
7. Seed Moisture.
8. 1000- Grain Weight.
Purity Analysis-Step by Step
1. Submitted Seed Samples of seasonal crops are received in Seed Receipt
Room by Quality Manager.
2. Received seed samples are coded by Quality Manager and CSTL receive
the coded seed samples for purity analysis.
3. Submitted sample is weighed by electronic balance.
4. Working sample is drawn from submitted sample by precision divider
repeatedly for halving again and again until standard working sample is
obtained.
5. Working sample is passed through sieves (according to crop seed size)
for separation of trash, soil and other small particles.
6. Working sample is passed through blower to separate light weight
material such as chaff and empty florets from the heavier seeds.
Separated components like inert matter (seeds smaller than half of original size,
chaff, soil, empty florets etc) are placed in separate small cup.
Working sample is analyzed/observed under magnifier for separating:
1. Other Variety seeds.
2. Other Crop seeds.
3. Seeds smaller than half of original size.
4. Weed seeds.
5. Insect Attacked
6. Remaining inert matter.
All separated components are placed in separate small cups.
All separated components are weighed separately and percentage proportion of
each component to working sample is calculated.
Staff
Amjad Hussain Shah, Seed Certification Officer/Technical Manager Ph. 051-
9261695
1. Miss Shakeela Talpur, Seed Analyst, Dy.TM
2. Miss Sania Izhar, Seed Analyst
3. M. Siddique, Lab. Asst.
4. Miss Shahnaz Bajwa, Lab. Asst.
ISTA PT Performance over the years
ISTA PT Record

Round
& Year Species Test

Purity Moist. OSD

09-3 A ? ?
O.sat Paddy
 F. A ? ?
10-1 arundinacea
F.aru (Grass)

10-2 M. lupulina BMP ? ?

M.lup (Fodder)

10-3 ? B ?
V.faba Beans

14-1 ? A ?
P.sat Peas

14-2 A ? ?
T.aes Wheat

14-3 B ? ?
P.pra Grass

15-1 ? BMP ?
G.max Soybean

15-1 Fagus ? BMP ?

F.syl sylvatica

15-2 A ? ?
T.pra Fodder

15-3 A ? C
O.sat Paddy

15-3 C ? ?
Seed
Mixture

Mini PT Satisfactory A ?
P. sat Peas

Mini PT Wheat Satisfactory A

T. aes C

16-1 A ? A
H.ann Sun Flower

16-2 B. Grass B.
bra brizantha A BMP A
A-Ratings = 12, B-Rating = 2, C & satisfactory = 5, BMP (Below performance) =
4