Seed production and processing

By alphabetical order:

  • chaff
    balle (French), cizaña (Spanish)
    Dry, scaly protective casing of the seeds of cereal grains or similar fine, dry, scaly plant material (such as scaly parts of flowers or finely chopped straw).
  • mechanical isolation
    isolation physique (French), aislamiento físico (Spanish)
    Type of isolation involving the use of physical barriers to prevent any contamination from foreign pollen.
  • roguing
    Refers to the process of removing underperforming or off-types plants from a population in order to improve or maintain a variety.
  • seed-to-root-to-seed (method)
    Method where a biennial crop’s root/bulb is harvested, stored in an ex situ controlled environment to overwinter, then replanted the following year to produce seeds (cold climates). Referred as stecklings.
  • seed-to-seed (method)
    Method where a biennial crop is allowed to overwinter and produce seeds in situ (mild climates).
  • screening
    tamisage (French), tamizado (Spanish)
    Refers to the process of using metal trays or seed screens with holes to separate the seeds from non-seed material based on size.
  • spatial isolation
    isolation spatiale (French), aislamiento espacial (Spanish)
    Type of isolation involving the planting of individuals at different distances that are large enough to prevent cross-pollination and ensure seed purity.
  • stockseed
    Seed that is used to produce a high-quality, commercial seed crop.
  • threshing
    battage (French), trilla (Spanish)
    Refers to the process of loosening or releasing the seeds from the rest of the plant material that is attached to them.
  • time isolation
    isolation temporelle (French), aislamiento temporal (Spanish)
    Type of isolation involving timing plants, either with different maturity rates or staggered planting, to bloom at different times.
  • winnowing
    vannage (French), aventamiento (Spanish)
    Refers to the process of using an air current to separate the seeds from non-seed material based on weight.