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February 10, 2005 Administrative Order No. 07 Series of 2005
Subject :  Minimum Plant Materials Certification Standards for Citrus (Citrus sp.)
Pursuant to the provisions of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7308, otherwise known as the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992, Article II, Section 3C and Administrative Order #44, General Guidelines for Certification of Fruits and Plantation Crops, the following minimum standards are to be adopted to ensure production and distribution of high quality planting materials. I. General Requirements A. Registration Parent Source Trees (PST) must have passed the pomological evaluation in addition to indexing and should be found free from virus infection. Foundation Grove and scion grove shall be maintained inside the screen houses. B. Production of Certified Citrus Plant Materials Accredited nursery operators who have insect-proof screen house are eligible to produce certified citrus planting materials in accordance with the prescribed procedures for certification The production of certified citrus plant materials shall be done by the accredited nursery operators C. Plant Nursery Inspection Service/Field Inspection Nursery inspection a. The nursery inspector takes note of the conditions of the rootstock seedlings for propagation b. Gets actual inventory of seedlings eligible for propagation to serve as the basis for the number of bud eyes that will be made available at cost. Release of bud sticks a. The number of scions to be released to registered nursery operator corresponds to the actual number of eligible seedlings for propagation per inventory at the time plus an allowance of 10-15% as replacement of unsuccessful takes in propagation. b. The scions to be released must be properly labeled (coded) for proper identification of the parent source trees. c. The scions should be properly packed in the most specific manner so as to guarantee their viability and freshness. Supervision of actual propagation a. Nursery inspector designated to the project shall undertake and supervise actual propagation works. b. Nursery inspectors shall see to it that the propagated seedlings carry the identification number corresponding to the scions released to the operator. Post propagation inspection a. Within 2 months after actual budding, the number of successful grafts should be recorded by the nursery inspector. b. While taking the inventory, the nursery inspector evaluates the condition of the propagated plants. c. Tagging of individual seedlings has to be done by the operator under the direct supervision of the nursery inspector (after 6 months) II. Specific Requirements for Source of Scions To attain high quality plant materials of citrus that are true to type and of genetic purity, morphological and pomological evaluation should be undertaker in determining approval for certification (For Pummelo only)   A. Fruit Standards 1. Whole Standards Whole fruit Size: medium (600-800g) Shape: pyriform Peel Color: yellowish green Thickness: intermediate (15-20 mm) Texture: tough and leathery Vesicles Color : pink Texture : soft and fine Flavor:   sub-acid (>9 degree Brix) Juiciness : moderate Edible portion : high (>45 %) Seed Size : small (>0.5g) Number : none to few (0-10) Other outstanding fruit characters: easily peeled, non-adherence of rags to vesicles, no after-taste ("asked"), small central cavity, long shelf-life B. Plant/Tree Standards Growth habit: spreading Vigor: strong and sturdy Branching: profuse Bearing habit: regular, annual Yield : high (>250 fruits per year for 10 year-old budded trees) C. Seed and Seedling Standards (For Pummelo only)  1. Seeds for Rootstock   a. Rootstock variety Calamandarin seed as rootstock is preferred; pummelo seed can be used for pummelo scion b. Varietal purity About 5% or less of mixture of other citrus seed varieties in the seed sample c. Presence of impurities and foreign matters About 5% or less impurities d. Blackening of the seed coat due to mold infection About 5% or less of the seed with blackening of the seed coat e. Percent germination Not below 85% germination of the seeds 2. Rootstock Seedlings for Transplanting in Nursery Rows/Plastic Bags: a. Growth and vigor of the seedling Moderately vigorous in growth b Condition of the root system Slightly bent base of the tap root (about 15degree) and moderate amount of root hairs c. Height of the seedling 30-50 cms in height d. Age of the seedling 4-12 months e. Condition of the foliage 3/4 of total foliage in tack and firmly attached to the stem/branch f. Insect pest physical presence and injury 5-10% of 1/4 of the total foliage. g. Presence of disease sign/symptoms Mild infection (about 5%) of fungal as well as bacterial disease except virus and virus-like disease 3. Budded Plants   a. Growth and vigor of the plant Moderately vigorous in growth b. Condition of the root system Moderately established in the container and no large root should protrude c. Condition of the trunk and branches The scion stem/trunk originating from bud-union should not be grater than two. Its curvature should not exceed 20 degree vertical. It should also be free or rot. d. Condition of the foliage 3/4 of total foliage intact and firmly attached to the stem/branch e. Size of the plant 30 cm - 1 m. height and not lesser than 0.5 cm in diameter measured 3 cm above the bud-union f. Height of scion-stock or bud-union 20-40 months old from the time of budding h. Insect pest physical presence and injury 5-10% or 1/4 of the total foliage i. Presence of disease sign/symptoms Mild infection (5%) III. Labeling All planting materials which meet the standards for plant material certification shall be officially tagged, identifying the variety. Each label must be properly attached to each plant with the following necessary code/information:   For Parent Tree: NSIC Registered Code NSQCS Code  NSIC-Pm-001-97 NSQCS-PT Code#   For Foundation Tree:  NSIC-Pm-001-97 NSQCS-FT Code#   For Scion Grove :  NSIC-Pm-001-97 NSQCS-SG Code#   For Nursery Seedling  NSIC-Pm-001-97 NSQCS- CODE# Seedling # Non-compliance with the above requirements shall be a ground for the denial of plant material certification.   This memorandum order shall take effect immediately upon its approval     ARTHUR C. YAP                Secretary, Department of Agriculture    Chairman, National Seed Industry Council   Recommending Approval:   CLARITO M. BARRON, CESO IV Executive Director and Vice Chairman, National Seed Industry Council February 10, 2005