Pennsylvania Code
Title 7 - AGRICULTURE
Part V - Bureau of Plant Industry
Chapter 115 - STANDARDS FOR SEED CERTIFICATION
Subchapter S - TREES
FIELD REQUIREMENTS
Section 115.444 - Harvesting
Universal Citation: 7 PA Code ยง 115.444
Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a) The following requirements apply to harvesting seed material:
(1) Certified or selected tree seed or fruit
shall be collected directly from producing trees.
(2) Each container of seed or fruit shall be
labeled with the name of the variety at all times.
(3) There shall be adequate safeguards
against mixed identities at all times throughout processing and
storage.
(4) Storage conditions
shall maintain viability of the seed, according to requirements of the
species.
(5) The analysis tag shall
state the weight of seed in the container in addition to information required
by 3 Pa.C.S. Chapter 71 (relating to the Seed Act).
(b) The following minimum acceptable purity and germination standards apply to seed material:
| Species | Seed Standards | ||||
| common name | scientific name | pure seed min. % | inert material max. % | germi-nation min. % | seed lot wt. (lbs.) |
| Balsam fir | Abies balsamea | 80 | 20 | 30 | 90 |
| Fraser fir | Abies fraseri | 80 | 20 | 30 | 90 |
| Black Walnut | Juglans nigra | 96 | 4 | 60 | - |
| European larch | Larix decidua | 90 | 10 | 40 | 70 |
| Japanese larch | Larix leptolepis | 90 | 10 | 40 | 50 |
| Norway spruce | Picea abies | 94 | 6 | 80 | 80 |
| White spruce | Picea glauca | 90 | 10 | 80 | 30 |
| Colorado Blue spruce | Picea pungens | 92 | 8 | 80 | 50 |
| Red spruce | Picea rubens | 92 | 8 | 80 | 40 |
| Shortleaf pine | Pinus echinata | 96 | 4 | 85 | 100 |
| Red pine | Pinus resinosa | 96 | 4 | 85 | 100 |
| Eastern White pine | Pinus strobus | 96 | 4 | 85 | 200 |
| Scotch pine | Pinus sylvestris | 96 | 4 | 85 | 80 |
| Virginia pine | Pinus virginiana | 96 | 4 | 85 | 100 |
| Sycamore | Platanus occidentalis | 80 | 20 | 30 | - |
| Black cherry | Prunus serotina | 96 | 4 | 60 | - |
| Douglas fir | Pseudotsuga menziesii | 85 | 15 | 75 | 125 |
| White oak | Quercus alba | 98 | 2 | 60 | - |
| Red oak | Quercus borealis | 98 | 2 | 60 | - |
| Black locust | Robinia pseudoacacia | 96 | 4 | 50 | - |
| Eastern hemlock | Tsuga canadensis | 90 | 10 | 75 | 30 |
(1) Pure
seed minimum category allows no other species.
(2) Standard testing procedures have not been
established for black walnut, sycamore, white oak or red oak.
(3) The seed lot weight figure is based on an
average lot of seed containing approximately 5 million seeds. It is only a
suggested figure giving the maximum weight for convenient storage and testing
and not a requirement.
(4)
Germination tests shall have been completed within a six-month period prior to
shipment and the seed should be stored in appropriate containers at a
temperature of not more than 38° F.
(c) The following requirements apply to harvesting of seedlings:
(1) Containers or
packages used for transporting the trees shall be labeled with the name of the
variety and the seed lot number at all times.
(2) There shall be adequate safeguards
against mixed identities at all times throughout the lifting, transporting,
storing, grading and packing processes.
(3) Optimum conditions shall be maintained so
that the plants will be healthy and vigorous at the time of sale. Seriously
diseased plants will not be approved.
(4) Labeling tags shall contain the name and
address of the producer; the species and subspecies, if applicable; the variety
name; date packed; and lot number and quantity.
(5) After processing, seedlings shall be free
of diseases, insects and any type of damage that would adversely affect
survival and growth to a significant extent. Plants should meet suggested
height and caliper requirements in subsection (e) of this section. The producer
shall specify in his advertising the range in plant size, by height and
caliper.
(d) The following requirements apply to harvesting vegetative materials:
(1) There shall be adequate safeguards
against mixed identities at all times throughout the propagule collection,
culturing, planting, transplanting, lifting, transporting, storing, grading and
packing processes. The certified clonal materials shall be kept completely
separate from similar materials.
(2) Optimum conditions shall be maintained so
that the plants will be healthy and vigorous at the time of sale. Seriously
diseased plants will not be approved.
(3) Labeling tags shall contain the name and
address of the producer; species and subspecies, if applicable; clone name;
date packed; and lot number and quantity.
(4) Clone grade standards shall be: After
processing, vegetatively reproduced plants or plant parts shall be free of
diseases, insects and any type of damage that would adversely affect survival
and growth to a significant extent. Plants should meet suggested height and
caliper requirements as specified in subsection (e). The producer shall specify
in his advertising the range in plant size, by height and caliper.
(e) The following seedling and clone grade standards are recommended:
(1)
Trees should be alive and healthy, but in a dormant condition.
(2) Evergreen conifers should have live
foliage covering two-thirds of their height.
(3) Roots should be full and fibrous and a
minimum of 6 inches in length.
(4)
The top-to-root ratio should not exceed four-to-one in green weight.
(5) The minimum stem diameter should be the
following:
| Plant | Height in Inches | Stem Diameter in Inches |
| Coniferous seedling stock (80% of plants) | 4-6 | .10 |
| 6-9 | .15 | |
| 9-15 | .20 | |
| Coniferous transplant stock (90% of plants) | 6-9 | .20 |
| 9-15 | .25 | |
| Hardwood seedling stock (80% of plants) | 6-10 | .15 |
| 10-18 | .20 | |
| Hybrid popular cuttings (95% of plants) | 10 (min.) | .25 (small end) |
The provisions of this § 115.444 amended under 3 Pa.C.S. § § 7111 and 7117.
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