Subchapter D. CORN—COMMERCIAL HYBRIDS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Sec.
115.71. Definitions.
115.72. Acreage.
FIELD STANDARDS
115.81. Land requirements.
115.82. Isolation requirements.
115.83. Plant ratio.
115.84. Male sterile ear parents.
115.85. Pollen restoring lines.
115.86. Redivision of fields.
115.87. Replanting fields.
115.88. Detasseling.
115.89. Inspection and mixture requirements.
SEED STANDARDS
115.91. Labeling.
115.92. Processing of uncertified hybrids.
115.93. Ear inspection.
115.94. Seed standards.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
§ 115.71. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Commercial hybrid field corn—Corn planted for the production of corn for food or feed purposes, or for other commercial or farm use except for seed. It may consist of any one of the following:(i) Double-Cross—The first generation of a cross between two single crosses.
(ii) Three-way or Line Cross—The first generation of a cross between a single cross and an inbred line.
(iii) Single-Cross—A first generation cross between two inbred lines to be used for commercial production and not for the production of double, three-way and line crosses.
(iv) Top Cross—The first generation hybrid of a cross between an inbred line and an open-pollinated variety or the first generation hybrid between a single cross and an open-pollinated variety.
(v) Inbred line—A relatively true-breeding strain resulting from at least five successive generations of controlled self-fertilization or of backcrossing to a recurrent parent with selection, or its equivalent, for specific characteristics.
(vi) Open-pollination—Pollination that occurs naturally as opposed to controlled pollination, such as by detasseling, cytoplasmic male sterility, self-incompatibility or similar processes.
Pollen-shedding tassels—Tassels on main plants, portions of tassels or sucker tassels when 2 inches or more of the exposed central stem, side branches or a combination of the two have the anthers extended from the glumes.
Receptive silk—Any fresh turgid silk.
Authority The provisions of this § 115.71 amended under 3 Pa.C.S. § § 7111 and 7117.
Source The provisions of this § 115.71 amended September 26, 1975, effective September 27, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 2522; amended May 22, 2009, effective June 22, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 2577. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (276740).
§ 115.72. Acreage.
Producers of commercial hybrids having less than 5 acres of the crop to be inspected may not be accepted for certification, except that less than 5 acres may be considered for inspection in special cases.
Source The provisions of this § 115.72 amended September 26, 1975, effective September 27, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 2522. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (1796).
FIELD STANDARDS
§ 115.81. Land requirements.
Commercial hybrid fields may not be planted on land that grew corn the preceding season.
§ 115.82. Isolation requirements.
(a) Fields in which commercial hybrid field corn are being produced shall be so located that the female, or seed parent is not less than 660 feet from other corn of a different kernel color or type (field, sweet, pop, flint, white or red) in all directions, including the diagonal.
(b) Small areas (not larger than 1% of the area of the seed producing field) of corn, closer than 660 feet to the seed producing field will not be considered contaminating, if the pollen is controlled. Failure to properly control pollen shedding of the small areas shall be cause for rejection.
(c) Large areas (greater than 1% of the area of the seed producing field) of corn, closer than 660 feet to the seed producing field will be cut to the ground before the seed parent has 3% receptive silks. Where the contaminating corn is of the same type, then this distance may be modified by the size of the crossing field, and by the planting of border rows of pollen or male parent.
(d) The following table indicates the minimum number of border rows required for fields of various sizes, when located at different distances from other corn:
Minimum Minimum Numbers of Male Border Distance Rows Required From
Contaminant0-20 Acres ›20 Acres 660 0 0 570 4 2 490 6 2 410 8 4 330 10 6 270 12 8 210 14 10 150 16 12 90 18 14 ‹90 24* 16** *minimum of 60' including border rows.
**minimum of 40' including border rows.
(e) The requirements for outside male rows shall apply to all sides of the crossing-field exposed to contamination from other corn, except that a requirement for only two male rows may be disregarded where it would necessitate planting across the row-ends of the crossing-field.
(f) Border rows of male shall be adjacent to and not separated from the female rows.
(g) Sufficient seed of male should be obtained to plant the maximum number of outside male rows that would be required by any possible rearrangement of plantings by neighbors, or by the grower himself in planting nearby fields of corn. The plot should be insured against any changes.
Authority The provisions of this § 115.82 amended under 3 Pa.C.S. § § 7111 and 7117.
Source The provisions of this § 115.82 amended September 26, 1975, effective September 27, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 2522; amended May 22, 2009, effective June 22, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 2577. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (276741) to (276742).
§ 115.83. Plant ratio.
Commercial hybrid seed fields shall be planted in a ratio not to exceed four seed parent rows to one pollen parent row.
§ 115.84. Male sterile ear parents.
Male sterile ear parents may be used to produce certified hybrid corn seed by one of the following two methods:
(1) Seed of the normal fertile ear parent shall be mixed with seed of the male sterile ear parent of the same pedigree either by blending in the field in harvest time or by size at processing time. The ratio of male sterile ear parent seed may not exceed two to one.
(2) The male parent shall involve a certified pollen restoring line or lines so that not less than one-third of the plants grown from the hybrid corn seed produce pollen which appears to be normal in quantity and viability.
Cross References This section cited in 7 Pa. Code § 115.88 (relating to detasseling).
§ 115.85. Pollen restoring lines.
(a) When pollen restoring lines are used in the production of hybrid corn seed, all pollen parent rows including border rows should be of the pollen-restoring type.
(b) Each lot of commercial hybrid seed involving pollen restoring lines shall be subjected to a test to assure that adequate viable pollen will be present in the grower’s field.
§ 115.86. Redivision of fields.
Where a field under inspection does not entirely meet the isolation requirements, parts of the fields may be cut in order to qualify the balance of the field for certification if the parts of fields are cut to the ground before the first detasseling inspection is made.
§ 115.87. Replanting fields.
Replanting of a commercial hybrid seed field that failed to produce a good stand shall be cause for rejection.
§ 115.88. Detasseling.
(a) The following requirements apply when 3% or more of the ear parent plants have apparently receptive silks at the start of silking period and 1% or less have apparently receptive silks at the end of silking period and no evidence of pollen shedding in male rows:
(1) Commercial hybrid shall be rejected for certification if more than 1% of the ear parent stalks have shed pollen at any one inspection or if the total of any three inspections on different dates exceeds 2%.
(2) Sucker tassels, portions of tassels or tassels on main plants shall be counted as shedding pollen when 2 inches or more of the central stem, the side branches, or a combination of the two have the anthers extended from the glumes.
(3) Tassels of all pollen bearing female plants shall be removed before final inspection, except for female lines carrying the male sterile factor in pure form.
(4) A plant shedding pollen in male sterile rows shall be completely destroyed at pollinating time to eliminate the possibility of its seed production. The ratio of pollen sterile female plants may not be more than 50% of the female rows. A fertile pollen appearing on sterile female rows shall be counted as in § 115.84(1) (relating to male sterile ear parents).
(b) The grower shall be given the opportunity to select one of the following two options when the male steriles break down:
(1) Detassle the seed parent in the field in question.
(2) Test to determine pollen viability.
(i) Cooperate in a test to determine pollen viability. If this option is selected, the grower shall be required to place glassine bags on at least 20 ear shoots located for easy access.
(ii) The bags shall be placed on ear shoots before any shedding of pollen appears. The grower and the state inspector working together shall make the hand pollinations applying an official seal.
(iii) Pollen sources may not be bulked. The inspector shall report final results.
(iv) If tests indicate any viable pollen was present, the entire field acreage shall be rejected.
§ 115.89. Inspection and mixture requirements.
(a) Before the pollination period the plot or fields in which the hybrid is being produced shall be inspected at least once for purity as to plant type and isolation. Off-type plants shall be destroyed before they shed pollen. A field that, after pollen shedding begins, contains more than .2% of off-type plants, or more than 2% of plants of doubtful type may not be eligible for certification.
(b) During the pollination period, the plot or field shall be inspected by the certifying agency as many times as deemed necessary. Inspection shall be made without giving previous notice to the grower.
Source The provisions of this § 115.89 amended September 26, 1975, effective September 27, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 2522. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (1800).
SEED STANDARDS
§ 115.91. Labeling.
(a) Each lot shall show the hybrid number, the name of the seedsman and the words ‘‘For Certification’’ printed in letters not smaller than 3/8 inch on a tag attached to the drying bin.
(b) After the hybrid corn has been shelled, each bin, lot or bag shall carry a tag carrying the information indicated in subsection (a). Tags shall remain on each bin, lot or bag until the corn is graded and ready for distribution.
(c) Shelled or graded seed may be marked by a lot number or code if the identity of each lot is established to the satisfaction of the inspector before the certification tags are attached; the same lot number or code shall be printed on the certification tags.
§ 115.92. Processing of uncertified hybrids.
Uncertified hybrids may be processed in the same processing plant with certified hybrids, provided that such uncertified hybrids shall bear the statement: ‘‘Not For Certification,’’ printed in letters not smaller than 3/8 inch on a tag attached to the drying bin, bags or containers in which the seed is being processed. The tags shall remain on the uncertified hybrids until seed is tagged for shipment or removed from the processing plant.
§ 115.93. Ear inspection.
Ear inspection may be made after the seed is harvested, dried, culled and ear picked (ready for shelling). If found to contain more than .1% off-type ears or any kernels pollinated by other color corn, the lot of seed shall not be considered satisfactory for certification and shall be reworked and reinspected before shelling.
§ 115.94. Seed standards.
Seeds shall be dried to 14% moisture or less. They may contain not more than .1% off-color or off-type kernels, or not more than 2% kernels of doubtful type. The following specifications apply:
Factor Standard Pure seed 99% (min.) Other crop seed, including other varieties 0.5% (max.) Inert matter 1.0% (max.) Weed seed none Germination 90% (min.)
Source The provisions of this § 115.94 amended September 26, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 2522. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (1801).
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