OSPGAOntario Seed Potato
Growers Association

Seed Classification

Pathogen tested cultivars maintained at the SPUD Unit

STANDARDS & REQUIREMENTS FOR GROWING CROP

Canada operates under a single federally run seed certification agency applicable to all provinces. Seed classes within the classification system are based on both generation and disease level and the generation depends entirely on the number of years planted in the field. There is zero tolerance for Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, Potato Spindle Tuber Virus and the tobacco veinal necrosis strain of Potato Virus Y (PVYN ), as shown in Table 1. Testing for viral and bacterial disease is done by CFIA accredited laboratories. All seed lots designated for export have been PCN tested.

Seed Class Inspections Total Virus (%) Total Blackleg & Wilts (%)* Total Varietal Mix (%)*
Pre-Elite (PE) 2 0 0 0
Elite I (EI) 2 0 0.1 0
Elite II (E2) 2 0.1 0.2 0
Elite III (E3) 2 0.2 0.3 0.05
Elite IV (E4) 2 0.3 0.5 0.1
Foundation (F) 2 0.5 1.0 0.2
Certified (C) 2 2.0 2.0 0.5

FAILURE TO MEET THE TOLERANCE AT ANY LEVEL OF INSPECTION RESULTS IN THE DEMOTION OR REJECTION OF THE CLASS PLANTED.

* Maximum Tolerance on Final Inspection

1 PE seed must be grown on land in a three year crop rotation.

2 All seed classes must have zero tolerance for Potato Spindle Tuber Virus and Bacterial Ring Rot.

Agency 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
Canada PE EI E2 E3 E4 F C ---
Alaska G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 G7 G8
California G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 --- --- ---
Colorado G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 --- ---
Idaho FY1 FY2 FY3 FY4 FY5 FY6 FY7 ---
Maine2 FY1 FY2 FY3 FY4 FY5 --- --- ---
Michigan2 FY1 FY2 FY3 FY4 FY5 FY6 --- ---
Minnesota G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 C ---
Montana N G2 G3 G4 G5 --- --- ---
Nebraska/Wyoming N G2 G3 G4 G5 --- --- ---
Nevada N G2 G3 G4 G5 --- --- ---
New York2 (U)G1 (U)G2 (U)G3 (U)G4 (U)G5 (U)G6 --- ---
North Dakota N G2 G3 G4 G5 C --- ---
Oregon N G2 G3 G4 G5 --- --- ---
Utah N(G1) G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 --- ---
Washington N G2 G3 G4 G5 --- --- ---
Wisconsin2 FY1 FY2 FY3 FY4 FY5 FY6 C ---

Generation Terminology Used for Field Planting Year

1 If lots originate at Cornell-Uihlein Farm, the first three generations (G1-G3) are also designated by a (U) to denote source.

2 FY = Foundation Year (Wisconsin), FY = Field Year (Idaho, Maine, Michigan)

G = Generation

E = Elite

FY = Field Year

N = Nuclear

PE = Pre-Elite

F = Foundation

C = Certified