SEED BREEDING

SEED BREEDING, a branch of plant growing, concerned with mass reproduction of varietal seeds with preservation of their purity, biological and yielding qualities. S.b. is closely related to plant selection and seed studies. The S.b. received development in Bashkortostan with the opening of Chishmy Agricultural Experimental Station (ref. Chishminsky Horticultural Selection Centre). Initially, the seed breeding reproduction of local varieties was performed, later of the first selection varieties of the grain crops (Chishmy winter rye, Bashkir spring wheat 4, Chihmy pea 39, Chishmy corn 1) and perennial grasses: wheatgrass (Chishmy broad‑spiked 6), medick (Chishmy 131), etc. The regional S.b. system includes S.b of cereals, oilseed, fodder crops, grasses, potatoes, vegetables, nursery of fruit and berry crops. On the seed breeding plantations, special technologies are used, which ensure the production of high‑quality seeds, species and varietal weeding, field approbation of varietal seed crops and registration of crops used for own needs are performed. Since 1999 the System of Seed and Plantation Material Certification has been implemented in order to protect government and consumer interests from unscrupulous producers and suppliers of seeds, to improve the supervisions control and unify seed certification process with rules and requirement of international organizations.