Delivering quality seed to specification - the USA and NZ novel endophyte experience

Abstract

Seed Certification and Seed Testing Schemes provide the rules and guidelines to maintain both varietal genetic purity and physical purity during field production and seed processing. However the Seed Certification agencies are not involved in ensuring that the quality of the endophytic component of seed is maintained. The delivery of quality endophytic seed to end users therefore requires that the commercial seed entity that is producing and marketing a novel endophyte product develops and maintains strict production and quality assurance guidelines to ensure that the benefits of novel endophyte technology are realised. The paper uses the New Zealand (NZ) experience with AR1 endophyte in ryegrass and the USA experience with MaxQ® Jesup tall fescue to highlight the quality control steps required to deliver a quality product to end users. Keywords: novel endophyte, tall fescue, ryegrass, Neotyphodium, MaxQ, AR1, seed production