Pursuant to the provisions of the Implementing Rules & Regulations of R.A. 7308, otherwise known as the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992, Chapter III Article II Section 3, and upon approval of the National Seed Industry Council, the following guidelines on potato seed certification are to be adopted to ensure the high quality of potato seeds.

1. Objective
          The objective of the potato seed certification is to assure that high quality planting materials of superior varieties, of known genetic identity and varietal purity including freedom from known systemic pests and diseases are produced.

2. Eligibility for Certification
          Only varieties that are duly approved and registered by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) are eligible for certification.

3. Application for Certification
          Only accredited seed potato growers are eligible to apply for certification. Certification forms are available at the nearest Seed Quality Control Services Office.

4. Definition of Terms

4.1 Seed Certifying Agency - The National Seed Quality Control Services (NSQCS) under the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture is sanctioned as the Seed Certifying Agency in the country under R.A 7308 known as the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992.

4.2 Seed - refers to the vegetatively propagated tuber used for reproduction of the potato rather than the true seed that is specially produced from the potato flowers.

4.3 Field Lot - refers to a field intended for seed production, multiplication and certification

4.4 Seed Lot - refers to a specific quantity of potatoes harvested from a certified field lot

4.5 Seed Grower - an accredited seed potato producer, may be an individual, a cooperative or a corporation, who has satisfied all the requirements set under Administrative Order No. 36, Series of 2000.

4.6 Seed Grower - an accredited seed potato producer, may be an individual, a cooperative or a corporation, who has satisfied all the requirements set under Administrative Order No. 36, Series of 2000.

4.7 Seed Inspector - A qualified person authorized by the Seed Certifying Agency as being capable of conducting field inspection and other certification services to accredited seed potato grower.

4.8 Basic seed (Go) - Seed potatoes harvested from greenhouse production directly controlled by originating/sponsoring institution or individual.

4.9 Foundation Seed (F1) - progency of Go harvested from seed multiplication field so handled to maintain genetic purity and disease free plant.

4.10 Certified Seed (C1) - progeny of F1 harvested from seed production area so handled to maintain genetic purity and identity and certified by NSQCS.

4.11 CII - progeny of Certified 1 or earlier generation.

4.12 CIII - progeny of Certified II or earlier generation.

4.13 Roguing - means the removal and destruction of all diseased or undesirable plants of tubers/potatoes produced thereon.

5. Field requirements

5.1 The minimum area for seed production should be at least 0.5 hectare.

5.2 Field for seed production must be in accordance with A.O. No. 36 Series of 2000, Section 5, which is as follows:

The sustability of the area is determined by:

5.2.1 The field should be free from potato cyst nematode (PCN) or root knot nematode (RKN) and with a maximum of 10 colony forming unit (10 cfu) per seed lot of bacterial wilt organism. Certificate of soil analysis for potato cyst nematode and bacterial wilt organism from authorized disease Indexing Laboratories should be attached together with the application for accreditation.

5.2.2 The field for seed production must have been rotated, preferably with corn or other cereal crops or other non-solanaceous vegetables for at least two (2) cropping seasons.

5.2.3 The field should be accessible to seed storage facilities.

5.2.4 The agro-climatic conditions for growing the crop should be appropriate. Elevation should be at least 900 meters above sea level in Mindanao and 1800 meters in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

5.3 A seed grower shall plant only one potato variety for seed purposes on the same field at any one time.

5.4 A seed grower shall produce certified seed potatoes only if he adopts the rules and regulations for seed production are adapted and the grower is a member of the Seed Potato Growers' Association or as an individual grower who operates in accordance with the instructions and under supervision of the authorized representative of Seed Certifying Agency.

5.5 Should a part of a field does not meet the standards for field inspection, the other parts of the field may be considered for certification provided that such part conform with the prescribed requirements.

6. Seed Potato Requirements

6.1 Seed potatoes of the same variety and class for multiplication should be planted in the same field.

6.2 Seed potato classes and quality standards are based on the results of field inspections and laboratory analysis.

6.3 All seed potatoes imported by private or government entities for seed multiplication in the Philippines must be accompanied by proper quarantine documents and are subject to post-entry quarantine

7. Crop Inspection

7.1 Seed potato crops in the fields require proper marking (labels) that are easy to be recognized by seed inspectors. The label must contain the following information:

a.) Grower: ___________________________
b.) Variety : ___________________________
c.) Origin (Place): ______________________
d.) Seed Class Planted : _________________
e.) Date of Planning : ___________________
f.) Area (ha.) : ________________________

7.2 Isolation Requirement:

Seed production fields should meet the following isolation requirements:

a. Basic-to-foundation - 2 meters between fields
b. Foundation-Certified Seed (C1) - 20 meters between fields
c. Certified Seed (CII) - Certified Seed (CIII) - 50 meters between fields

7.3 Officially designated seed inspectors should inspect the field at least three times during the crop season.

The Field Inspection Schedule is as follows:

1st - Within 20 - 30 days after planting
Rouguing has to be carried out by the farmer continuously as early as disease symptoms appear and continues until vines close on the rows in order to maintain the quality of the seed stocks. All diseased plants and off-types should be removed and destroyed.

2nd - Within 40 -50 days after planting
All diseased plants and off-types should be removed and destroyed.

3rd - Within 60 75 days after planting
Random fork testing of stunted plants should be undertaken to determine for the presence of Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) and/or root knot nematode (RKN) should be undertaken.

7.4 Additional field inspections shall be done to follow-up roguing requirements and disease occurrence. The seed inspector should prepare the preliminary field inspection reports and submit to the concerned NSQCS.

7.5 Tuber samples for laboratory analysis including disease indexing shall be collected and submitted by the seed inspector only when the seed crop passed field standards.

7.6 Sampling procedures:

Sample Size

Go - not less than tubers per seed lot
F1 - not less than 100 tubers per seed lot
C1 - CIII - not less than 200 pieces of seed tubers per seed lot (Based on 95% level of significance)

Sampling Procedures

Go - The Go seed tubers should be collected at random from each seed rack/bed, comprising to the required sample size of 1% of the population or not less than 50 tubers per seed lot.

F1 - All tubers from the field planting should be collected at random in a

C1 to CIII - All tubers from the field planting should be collected at random in a field following a quadrant sampling scheme. In each quadrant of the seed lot, a minimum of 50 tubers per quadrant shall be collected passing through a Z-pattern, comprising to meet the required sample size of 200 pieces seed tubers.

Table 1. Field standards for potato seed certification

Table 2. Seed tuber standards for potato seed certification.

FACTORS	CII			CIII
	1st	2nd	3rd	1st	2nd	3rd
1. Varietal mixtures	0.75	0.5	0	1.0	0.5	0.25
2. Grap due to missing hills due to roguing.	10	10	10	10	10	10
3. Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN)	0	0	0	0	0	0
4. Root Knot Nematode (RKN)	0	0	0	0	0	0
5. Bacterial wilt	0	0	0	0	0	0
6. Black leg	0	0	0	0	0	0
7. Rhizoctonia with rolling leaves	10	8	5	15	10	8
8. Severe virus diseases	1.5	1.0	0.5	4	3	2

8. Post-harvest control and seed standards

8.1.1 Tuber samples from each field lot shall be taken one week before harvest (when the haulms are dried) by the Seed Inspector and shall be submitted to the laboratory immediately for bacteria and virus testing. Each sample shall be accompanied by a sample label, laboratory analysis report for bacteria and virus, and final inspection report.

8.2 Seed size of certified seed potatoes should be 25-55 mm.

8.3.1 Seed Certification : Post-harvest Standards.

Table 2. Seed tuber standards for potato seed certification

FACTOR	Requirement in %
	G0	F1	C1	CII	CIII
1. Varietal Mixtures	100%	99.99%	99.95%	99.95%	99%
2. Virus Diseases
a. Severe viruses	0	0	5	8	12
PLRV
PVY
Mixed infections
b. Mild virus	0	5	10	20	30
PVX
PVS
PVM
3. BW-Bacterial Wilt	0	0	0	0	1
4. Nematodes: Cyst and or Root Knot	0	0	0	0	0
5. Soft rot (Erwinia carotovora)	0	0	0	0	0
6. Bacterial ring rot (Clavibacter michiganese)	0	0	0	0	0

8.4 The standard for post-harvest disease tolerance after storage and before selling for all classes of certified seeds are as follows:

FACTOR	Percent by count (per 100 tubers)
1. Dry rot/wet rot	1
2. External damages (cuts, bruises, insect damage, malformed tubers etc.0	5
3. Scab (no more than 20% of tuber surface is attached)	5
4.Black scurf ( Rhizoctonia solani) (no more than 20% of the tuber surface)	5

8.5 Seed Certification Fees

Seed growers, farmer's associations and seed firms have to pay fees for services provided by the Seed Certifying Agency and its accredited Seed potato indexing Laboratories.

8.5.1 Field Inspection Fee

The field inspection fees are based on a per unit area, including 3 inspections during the cropping season. However, in case of additional inspections, corresponding fees will be charged.

a. For 3 main field inspections

0.5 - 1.0 ha          : P100.00
1.0 - 1.5 ha.         : 150.00
1.5 - 2.0 ha.         : 200.00

b. Every additional field inspection : P50.00

8.5.2 Certification Fee

a. Laboratory analysis - Bacterial Wilt - P200/sample
b. Laboratory analysis for virus - P 300/sample
c. Tags - 2.00

9. Tagging

All seed stocks that passed the certification shall be officially tagged.

9.1.1 The certification tag is to be attached to the bag or crate as guarantee for the genetic identity, health condition and varietal purity of the seeds.

Basic (G0)         -        White
Foundation (F1) -        Red
Certifield II (CII)  -        Blue
Certified III(CIII) -        Yellow
   

9.1.2 Certification tags shall conform with the standards set forth by the National Seed Industry Council including color identification as adopted in the country for all crops. The tags should indicate:

Crop/Variety :_________________________________
Seed Grower Name : ___________________________
Laboratory Number : ___________________________
Lot Number : __________________________________
Germination : _________________________________
Date Tested : ________________________________
Date Harvested : _______________________________
Seed Inspector Name : _________________________

10. Examination and Verification by the Seed Certifying Agency

10.1 The staff of the Seed Certifying Agency has to carry out several field inspections during the cropping season to assure a reliable field inspection work.

10.2 Representative from the Seed Certifying Agency should also check at unscheduled times seed stocks that had been tagged before selling or distribution.

For your strict compliance.

Recommending Approval :

BLO UMPAR ADIONG
Executive Director and
Vice-Chairman, National Seed Industry Council