Sorghum Hybrid Certification Standards
Certification standards for sorghum hybrids and inbred lines.
Program Information
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Certified Crop | Sorghum Hybrids, including Inbred Lines |
| Certification Classes | Foundation inbred parent lines and hybrids; Certified commercial hybrids |
| Application Deadline | 45 days after planting or 30 days before head emergence |
| Required Inspections | At least three official inspections |
Seedstock Eligibility
- Certified commercial hybrids shall be produced from seedstocks approved as eligible by ACIA.
Land Requirements
- Land planted for certified seed production shall not have grown sorghum, sudangrass, or broomcorn during the previous year.
Field Inspections
- First inspection: seed parent during early bloom.
- Second inspection: seed parent during full bloom.
- Third inspection: before harvest, after seed begins to assume mature color.
Isolation Requirements
| Isolation Factor | Requirement |
|---|---|
| From sudangrass, grass sorghum, and broomcorn with same chromosome number | 1,320 feet |
| Foundation seed parent fields from other sorghum pollen source | 990 feet |
| Commercial hybrid seed fields from contaminating source not genetically different in height or different chromosome number | 660 feet |
| Commercial hybrid seed fields from contaminating source genetically different in height and same chromosome number | 990 feet |
Field Standards
Pollen Shedding by Seed Parent
| Seed Parent | Maximum Fertile Female Heads |
|---|---|
| Foundation parent | 1:3,000 |
| Commercial hybrid parent | 1:2,000 |
Specific Field Inspection Standards
| Factor | Foundation at Bloom | Foundation at Maturity | Commercial Hybrid Field |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definite other varieties/off-types | 1:50,000 | None | 1:20,000 |
| Questionable other varieties/off-types | 1:20,000 | 1:20,000 | 1:2,000 |
| Head smut | None | None | 1 head per acre |
| Kernel smut | None | None | 1:2,500 |
| Flowering Johnsongrass in field or isolation area | Cause for rejection | Cause for rejection | Cause for rejection |
Seed Standards
- Certified seed must meet official ACIA seed standards for Foundation and Certified hybrid sorghum.
Required Forms
Use the crop application first. Submit tag orders, blending reports, or supporting forms only when they apply.