Seed Collection
Initial Selection
The journey begins with the careful selection of parent plants. These plants are chosen based on desirable traits such as disease resistance, high yield, and robustness. Our expert horticulturists and agronomists conduct extensive field evaluations to identify the best candidates.
Pollination
Once the parent plants are selected, controlled pollination is performed. This involves transferring pollen from the male parent to the female parent under controlled conditions to ensure purity and prevent contamination. This step is crucial in maintaining the genetic integrity of the future seeds.
Harvesting
After successful pollination, seeds are harvested from the mature plants. This process is done with great care to ensure that the seeds are collected at the optimal time for maximum viability and quality. The harvested seeds are then cleaned and processed to remove any impurities.
Vegetable Breeding
The Process of Selection
Vegetable breeding has occurred for thousands of years, and today, breeders are more knowledgeable and considered in how they conduct this process. One of the major sources of vegetable breeding is the process of 'selection.' This involves selecting plants with desired characteristics and eliminating those with less desirable traits.
Indirect Selection
This can occur very simply by choosing to collect the seeds from the plant that provides the most fruit or vegetable product to grow in subsequent seasons. This type of selection is often called indirect selection.
Direct Selection
Another method commonly used is 'interbreeding,' which involves cross-breeding close or distant relatives of the same plant species to produce desired characteristics. If the breeder is looking to enhance a particular trait, they will select two individual plants (e.g., one with great colour and another with great vigour). By cross-breeding these, the plant can possess both traits. To ensure the plant maintains both traits, careful and planned cross-breeding back with the original plant occurs to carry the desired traits through to the final version of the plant. This type of selection is called direct selection.
What Are Breeders Selecting For?
Commercial vegetable breeders select plants for a range of qualities, including:
- Higher yields
- Desired colour
- Vigour (appropriate growth rate for the season)
- Increased tolerance to extreme weather conditions (frost, drought, extreme temperatures)
- Disease resistance
- Insect resistance
- Taste of produce
- Extended shelf life of the product
Hybrid Cross-Breeding
Creating Hybrids
Hybrid cross-breeding is a sophisticated process where two genetically distinct plants are crossed to produce a new variety with improved characteristics. This involves several generations of cross-breeding and back-crossing to stabilize the desired traits.
Testing and Evaluation
The hybrid seeds undergo rigorous testing and evaluation over several growing seasons. These tests are conducted in various environments to assess performance under different conditions. Key aspects such as germination rates, vigour, yield, disease resistance, and overall plant health are meticulously recorded and analyzed.
Multi-Year Trials
Hybrid development is a time-intensive process that can take anywhere from 5 to 10 years. During this period, the seeds are subjected to multiple trials and evaluations. Each hybrid variety is tested and fine-tuned over six growing seasons to ensure they can adapt and perform under different environmental conditions. This includes laboratory testing for genetic stability and field trials to ensure consistent performance. Only the hybrids that meet our stringent standards are advanced to the next stage.
Understanding F1 Hybrids
What Are F1 Hybrids?
The term "F1 hybrid" refers to the first generation hybrid seed/plant that results from the successful cross-pollination of one genetically uniform plant variety with another specific genetically uniform variety. Producing healthy F1 hybrids requires the use of parent plants that descend from pure lines, which consistently self-pollinate to produce one or more desired traits. Creating pure lines for an F1 hybrid can take as much as 7 or 8 years! After horticulturists establish two pure lines and cross-pollinate them, the female plants will bear F1 hybrid seeds/plants.
Advantages of F1 Hybrids
The reason horticulturists go to all this trouble is to produce hybrid seeds/plants that offer numerous benefits for gardeners. Generally speaking, these plants exhibit “hybrid vigor.” They may have higher seedling survival rates, develop earlier flowers, produce higher yields, exhibit resistance to disease and insects, and display a more uniform appearance.
Disadvantages of F1 Hybrids
The primary disadvantage of hybrids is that they do not breed true to type. Hybrid plants may be sterile, or if they produce seeds, the seeds will not produce the same plant the following year because they contain an unpredictable mixture of characteristics from the grandparent plants instead of being similar to the parent. They usually lack hybrid vigor due to a lesser degree of genetic diversity. Therefore, hybrid seeds (or plants) must be purchased year after year.
Another factor contributing to the higher cost of F1 hybrids is that the breeder of the F1 hybrid variety is the exclusive source of that variety because only that breeder knows the two “purified” parent plants used to produce the seed. Furthermore, the pollination is often done by hand, which drives up the cost of the seed. Often the breeders trademark or patent their F1 hybrids, requiring retailers to pay a royalty to sell the plant under the registered trademark name. This further increases the cost of the F1 seeds.
Quality Control and Certification
Genetic Purity
To ensure that a seed is ‘true to type’ and each one will provide the same variety, we validate genetic purity. This process involves removing rogue seeds, including off-types, fast bolting, and any inbred seeds. By maintaining genetic purity, we ensure that the seeds will consistently produce the desired plant characteristics.
Germination
We conduct rigorous germination tests to ensure plants are healthy, productive, and germinate at the same time, optimizing yields. Seeds with low vigour and low germination rates are removed. We comply with both Rijk Zwaan internal specifications and European Seed Association (ESA) standards to guarantee the highest quality.
Seed Purity
Seed purity is critical for ensuring that only the desired seeds make it to planting. We remove any broken seeds, pills or pellets (inert non-reactive/non-toxic clay), and any weed or mixed seeds from batches. Pills or pellets ensure seeds are uniform in size, robust, machine-friendly for processing, and dense so that lighter seeds such as celery don’t blow away. These can also include crop protection agents like fungicides or insecticides.
Seed Health
Ensuring seed health involves statistical probability-based sampling, where we test for any seeds containing fungus, bacteria, viruses, or insects. Diseases can be found on seed coats or within the fruit flesh, but also within the embryo of seeds. Testing involves opening the seed, breaking down the embryo, and analyzing the contents. Although this process inevitably destroys the tested seeds, it is crucial for ensuring the health and safety of the remaining batch.
Final Processing and Certification
After all tests, seeds are packaged to maintain their quality and viability. Our packaging process ensures that the seeds are protected from moisture, pests, and other environmental factors. The packaged seeds are then certified by relevant agricultural authorities, guaranteeing they meet required standards for purity, quality, and performance.
Organic Seed Coating
The Process of Organic Seed Coating at Bejo Seeds
Bejo Seeds employs a meticulous and innovative process to ensure the highest quality of organic seed coatings. The process begins with the careful selection of coating materials, which are all naturally derived and compliant with organic certification standards.
Material Selection
Bejo Seeds uses a variety of organic materials for seed coating, including natural binders, biopolymers, and bio-stimulants. These materials are chosen for their ability to enhance seed performance and their environmental sustainability.
Application Process
The seeds are first cleaned and prepared to ensure that the coating adheres properly. The coating mixture is then applied using advanced equipment that ensures even coverage. Bejo Seeds utilizes precision technology to control the thickness and uniformity of the coating, optimizing the benefits for each specific seed variety.
Quality Control
Quality control is a critical aspect of Bejo Seeds' organic seed coating process. Each batch of coated seeds undergoes rigorous testing to ensure that the coating is effective and that the seeds meet the company’s high standards for germination and purity.
Comparing F1 Hybrids and Certified Organic Seeds
F1 Hybrids
F1 hybrids are created through the cross-pollination of two genetically uniform plant varieties to produce seeds that exhibit hybrid vigor. These seeds offer numerous benefits such as higher yields, improved disease resistance, and uniformity in appearance. However, they do not breed true to type, meaning that subsequent generations will not display the same characteristics. F1 hybrid seeds must be purchased anew each year, and their higher cost can be attributed to the complex breeding process and patenting by the breeders.
Certified Organic Seeds
Certified organic seeds, such as those offered by Bejo Seeds, are produced following strict organic farming principles. These seeds are coated with naturally derived materials to enhance germination and protect against pests without the use of synthetic chemicals. Organic seeds are a sustainable choice, promoting environmental health and reducing chemical dependency. Unlike hybrids, organic seeds can be saved and replanted year after year, maintaining their true-to-type characteristics.
For more detailed information on the conditions and declarations of Bejo Seeds, please visit Bejo Seeds Conditions and Declarations.
Packaging and Distribution
Final Processing
After certification, the seeds are carefully packaged to maintain their quality and viability. Our packaging process ensures that the seeds are protected from moisture, pests, and other environmental factors that could affect their performance.
Distribution
The packaged seeds are then distributed to our network of retailers, including QPS, where they are made available to growers. We take pride in ensuring that our seeds reach you in the best possible condition, ready to provide exceptional results in your garden or farm.
Extending Benefits to Backyard Growers
At Quality Plants & Seedlings (QPS), we are proud to be a reseller of Bejo Seeds, providing backyard growers access to technology previously available only to commercial farmers. By offering organically coated seeds, QPS empowers home gardeners to achieve the same levels of efficiency, protection, and sustainability as large-scale agricultural operations. This democratization of advanced agricultural technology means that everyone, from hobbyists to small-scale farmers, can benefit from the innovations driving modern farming.
Conclusion
Organic seed coating represents a significant advancement in sustainable agriculture, offering numerous benefits from improved germination to enhanced pest and disease protection. Bejo Seeds stands at the forefront of this innovation, combining cutting-edge technology with a commitment to environmental stewardship. By choosing organically coated seeds, farmers can contribute to a healthier planet while enjoying the benefits of higher crop yields and more robust plants. For commercial farmers, the advantages of organic seed coatings translate to increased efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and reduced environmental impact, making it a smart choice for modern agricultural practices.
Quality Plants & Seedlings (QPS) are proud resellers, allowing backyard growers to access the same technology that was once exclusive to commercial farmers. This inclusion not only enhances the gardening experience for hobbyists and small-scale farmers but also supports the broader goal of sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture. With the extensive Bejo Organic Range, growers of all scales can benefit from high-quality, disease-resistant, and high-yielding seeds, ensuring successful and sustainable farming practices.
