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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 2. Agriculture
Agency 10. State Certified Seed Board
Chapter 10. Rules and Regulations Providing for the Certification of Seeds and Other Materials Used for Plant Propagation Purposes
12/26/2024

2VAC10-10-180. Tobacco certification standards.

A. General standards. The general standards as adopted in this chapter are basic and apply to tobacco.

1. Eligibility.

a. Only those varieties approved by the certifying agency shall be eligible for certification.

b. Two classes of seed will be recognized. They are as follows:

(1) Foundation seed. Foundation seed shall be from selected plants protected from cross-pollination by bagging.

(2) Certified seed. Certified seed can be only one germination removed from foundation seed. The crop year for which the foundation seed are used shall be shown on the package. Example (for use by growers of Certified seed in 1976 only).

2. Handling of crop prior to inspection.

a. Plants of other varieties including off-type plants shall be topped.

b. Plants affected with mosaic disease shall be topped.

c. Plants affected with ring-spot disease and the adjacent plants shall be topped as soon as found.

B. Land requirements. A new plant bed shall be used each year unless the bed is sterilized with a soil sterilant prior to seeding.

C. Field standards.

1. Field inspection. The seed crop shall be inspected by a representative of the Virginia Crop Improvement Association during the blooming period.

2. Isolation.

a. Self-pollinated varieties. When two or more varieties of the same type are grown side by side in the same field, four border rows of each variety, between the two varieties, shall be allowed to bloom and set seed, but shall not be harvested for seed. Otherwise, there shall be 150 feet between varieties of the same type. Isolation between varieties of different types shall be at least 1,320 feet except when protected from cross-pollination by bagging or when all plants in the neighboring field are topped before blooming.

b. Hybrids. When producing hybrid tobacco seed of the same type when male fertile and male sterile varieties are grown side by side in the same field, four border rows of the male sterile varieties adjacent to the male fertile varieties shall be allowed to bloom and set seed but shall not be harvested for seed except when the male fertile plants are to be used as the pollen parent on the adjacent male sterile plants. Otherwise, male sterile plants shall be at least 150 feet from male fertile plants. Isolation between male seterile plants and male fertile plants of different types shall be at least 1,320 feet, except when protected from cross-pollination by bagging or when all plants in the neighboring fields are topped before blooming.

3. Specific. No seed bearing plants of off-types or other varieties or plants affected with mosaic or ring-spot disease are permitted.

D. Seed standards.

 

Standards for Each Class

Factor

Foundation

Certified

Pure Seed

98.0%

99.0%

Inert Matter

2.0%

1.0%

Objectional or Noxious Weeds

None

None

Weed Seed or Other Crop

.01%

.01%

Germination

N.S.*

80.0%

*N.S. - No Standard.

Statutory Authority

§§ 3.2-4024 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR172-01-01 § 9, eff. April 1980.

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