Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 7 - AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS
Part XIII - Seeds
Chapter 7 - Certification of Specific Crops/Varieties
Subchapter A - Grasses and Clovers
Section XIII-715 - California Bulrush (Schoenoplectus californicus) Clonally Propagated Plant Certification Standards (Formerly Section 171)

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code XIII-715

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. LDAF shall issue numbered certified bulk sales certificates or tags when requested to do so by a grower who has met the requirements and standards set forth in this Section. The numbered certified certificates or tags shall accompany each shipment of certified vegetatively propagated stock.

B. DNA Fingerprinting Requirements

1. DNA fingerprinting samples shall be taken by LDAF and submitted to an LDAF approved laboratory for testing in accordance with the following guidelines:
a. Foundation Class
i. Fingerprinting is required within one year of transplant and every other year thereafter.

ii. Ponds - one sample/1000 sq. ft., with a minimum of five samples per pond.

iii. Containers - 10 percent, with a minimum of five samples.

b. Registered Class
i. Fingerprinting is required within one year of transplant and every three years thereafter.

ii. Ponds - one sample/1000 sq. ft., with a minimum of five samples per pond.

iii. Containers - 5 percent, with a minimum of five samples.

c. Certified Class - certified class is not required to be DNA fingerprinted.

2. LDAF shall have the right to re-inspect, re-sample and re-test production ponds or containers/tanks that are out-of-tolerance for DNA fingerprinting prior to final certification. Resampling of plots or containers/tanks that are out-of-tolerance for DNA fingerprinting shall be at the request of the producer.

3. Additional DNA fingerprinting samples shall be required of a certified grower when the integrity of the genetic purity of a production plot or container/tank has been jeopardized by any means prior to final certification.

C. Production Requirements. To be eligible for the production of all certified classes, production ponds and containers/tanks shall be left undisturbed for a minimum of four weeks prior to planting, and found to be free of California bulrush and noxious and objectionable weeds.

1. Pond Requirements
a. Ponds shall be contained by levees.

b. Only one variety shall be grown per pond.

c. Ponds of different varieties must be separated by the minimum isolation distance at all points.

d. Ponds must have individual water supplies and water drainage capabilities for each produced variety.

e. All seed heads shall be routinely removed from plants after flowering begins to ensure viable seed are not produced.

2. Container/Tank Requirements
a. Soil used for container/tank production shall:
i. come from an area that has not produced california bulrush for a minimum of one year; and

ii. be free of visible california bulrush rhizomes and stems prior to transplanting.

b. Only one variety shall be grown per container/tank.

c. Different varieties shall be grown in separate tanks and shall have individual water supplies and drainage capabilities.

d. All seed heads shall be routinely removed from plants after flowering begins to ensure viable seed are not produced.

D. Grower Inspections

1. Ponds and containers shall be inspected by grower to ensure that all requirements of this Section are being met.

E. LDAF Inspections. Production ponds and containers/tanks shall be made accessible for inspection by the grower.

1. Ponds and containers/tanks shall be inspected by LDAF within four weeks prior to transplanting to ensure ponds and containers/tanks are free of volunteer california bulrush plants and noxious and objectionable weeds. All ponds and containers/tanks shall be non-flooded at time of pre-plant inspection.

2. Ponds and containers/tanks shall be inspected by LDAF a minimum of once a year, after transplanting, to ensure that all requirements of this Section are being met.

3. Additional inspections may be performed at the discretion of LDAF at any time without prior notice.

F. Field Standards Production Ponds/Containers/Tanks

Factor

Foundation

Registered

Certified

Maximum Unit Life(1)

4 years

6 years

Unlimited

Land Requirements

1 year

1 year

1 year

Isolation:

Pond Production

20 ft.

20 ft.

20 ft.

Tank Production

One variety per tank

One variety per tank

One variety per tank

Container Production

Different varieties must be separated and clearly identified

Different varieties must be separated and clearly identified

Different varieties must be separated and clearly identified

Plant Variants:

Fingerprints

1%

2%

Not Applicable

Visual Inspections

3 plants per 5,400 ft2

5 plants per 5,400 ft2

10 plants per 5,400ft2

Harmful Diseases(2)

None

None

None

Noxious or Objectionable Weeds(3)

None

None

[LESS THAN EQUAL TO] 5 plants per 5,400 ft2

Other Crops(4)

None

None

[LESS THAN EQUAL TO] 5 plants per 5,400 ft2

(1) Production unit life from date of transplant. No maximum age for a certified class production unit so long as the unit continues to meet all requirements of this Section.

(2) Diseases determined in accordance with the Louisiana Ag Experimental Station and LDAF to seriously affect the quality of seed or vegetatively propagated stock.

(3) Including, but not limited to following weed species: Cyperus spp. (Sedge), Eleocharis spp. (Spikerush), Phragmites australis (Roseau cane), Typha spp. (Cattail).

(4) Including, but not limited to the following crop species: Spartina alterniflora (Smooth cordgrass), Spartina patens (Marshhay cordgrass), Spartina cynosuroides (Big cordgrass), Spartina spartinae (Gulf cordgrass), Distichlis spicata (Saltgrass), Paspalum vaginatum (Seashore paspalum).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 3:1433.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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