Sorghum and Sudangrass

Open Pollinated Varieties

Special Requirements and Standards

Application Due Date

Field inspection applications are due in the ACIA office before the crop begins to head out.

Mode of Pollination

These standards are applicable only to open-pollinated varieties of sorghum and sudangrass.

General Field Standards

Land History

Land planted for certified seed production of sorghum or sudangrass shall not have grown sorghum, sudangrass or broomcorn during the previous year unless a previous crop planted with certified seed of the same kind and variety for which certification is requested.

Field Inspection

Sorghum fields producing all classes of certified seed shall be inspected twice: the first inspection during the bloom stage and the second inspection as the seed assumes mature color.

Sudangrass fields producing all classes of certified seed shall be inspected at least once, generally during the full bloom stage.

Unit of Certification

A portion of a field may be accepted for certification if the non-eligible portion does not affect the genetic purity of the certified portion.


Isolation

Isolation of sorghum and sudangrass fields is important because natural crossing may occur among and between all varieties and with Johnsongrass.

Sorghum fields producing the certified classes shall be isolated from any other variety of sorghum, from fields of the same variety that do not meet field standards for the class being inspected and from Johnsongrass as follows:

Foundation and Registered class production fields - 990 feet
Certified class production fields - 660 feet

However, fields producing all certified classes shall be at least 1,320 feet distant from any sudangrass.

Sudangrass fields producing the certified classes shall be isolated from any other variety of sudangrass, from fields of the same variety that do not meet field standards for the class being inspected and from Johnsongrass as follows:

Foundation and Registered fields - 990 feet
Certified fields - 660 feet


However, fields producing all certified classes shall be at least 990 feet distant from any sorghum.

Specific Field Standards

Field Factor - Maximum Frequency of Heads or Plants Allowed

Foundation

Registered

Certified
Other varietes and off-types (definite)

1:50,000

1:35,000

1:20,000
Other varietes and off-types (doubtful)
1:20,000
1:10,000
1:1,000
Head smut
1 head in 10,000
kernel smut
1 head in 2,500


Seed Standards for Sorghum and Sudangrass Varieties

Seed Factor Standard - Percentage (%)

Foundation

Registered

Certified
Pure Seed (Minimum)
98.00
98.00
98.00
Inert Matter (Maximum)*
2.00
2.00
2.00
Noxious Weeds
None
None
None
Other weed seeds (Maximum)
0.01
0.05
0.05
Other varieties (Maximum)
0.01
0.01
0.01
Other crop kinds(Maximum)
2 per lb/0.01
6 per lb./0.03
10 per lb./0.05
Germination (Minimum)
80
80
80

* Inert matter shall not include more than 0.5% of material other than seed fragments of the variety.

CROPS