Texas Administrative Code › Title 4 - AGRICULTURE › Part 1 - TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE › Chapter 10 - SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS › Subchapter J - SEED POTATO STANDARDS › Section 10.44 - Field and Storage Inspections; Fees

Current through Reg. 49, No.
				  28; July 12, 2024
(a)
				  Each field entered for certification shall receive at least two inspections. At
				  the discretion of the department additional inspections may be conducted on any
				  field. Each inspection shall consist of a visual examination of the growing
				  plants in each field. At least 100 plants per acre shall be counted on the
				  first and second inspections to determine disease percentages. When individual
				  seed lots consist of less than 10 acres, at least 1000 plants or 100% of the
				  lot shall be counted. Additional inspections shall consist of a visual survey
				  of plants that normally does not include a plant count unless a disease
				  condition or other problem is discovered that requires a numerical estimate of
				  affected plants. All disease diagnoses or problem identifications shall consist
				  of visual examination of the plants in question, except in the case of latent
				  viral infections, where a serological test such as ELISA may be used to
				  supplement the visual inspection. In the case of bacterial ring rot caused by
Clavibacter michiganensis
subsp.
Sepedonicus,
the visual diagnosis shall be supplemented with the gram stain procedure as
				  described by Glick, Ark, and Racicot in the
American Potato
				  Journal,
Vol.21:311-14, 1944 and an appropriate laboratory serological
				  test as outlined in the "Protocol for Indexing and Confirmation of Diagnosis of
				  Bacterial Ring Rot of Potato" (accepted 12/99 by the NPC U.S. Seed Potato
				  Certification Subcommittee). Inspections of at least 4600 plants or 100% of the
				  lot shall be conducted during the time that bacterial ring rot symptoms, if
				  expressed, should be visible. When seed lots are rejected prior to final field
				  inspection for reasons other than bacterial ring rot, such lots may be
				  re-inspected.
(b) Each storage
				  building shall be inspected following completion of harvest and prior to
				  removal of the certified seed potatoes to determine the suitability of the
				  structure and bins to provide reasonable security against contamination and/or
				  cultivar mixing. The applicant shall be responsible for proper disinfection of
				  the storage building, bins and equipment utilized. Also, the applicant shall
				  identify the location of each seed lot by means of a label attached to the
				  storage bin. The label information shall include the applicant's name, seed lot
				  number, cultivar, and number of hundredweight stored. In the event two or more
				  seed lots are combined, the status of the entire lot shall be downgraded to the
				  lowest generation and class concerned, and if a varietal mix has occurred, all
				  seed lots which have been mixed shall be denied certification unless the
				  varieties are capable of being visually separated and sorted to the
				  satisfaction of the department.
(c)
				  Any lot of seed potatoes proven infected with bacterial ring rot will be
				  rejected for certification regardless of the time or place of inspection. An
				  applicant who has any lot of potatoes rejected because of bacterial ring rot
				  will have an asterisk (*) printed in front of his seed lot number(s) on
				  certified labels and bulk certificates. Any seed lot with an asterisk (*) in
				  its designation shall not be eligible for re-certification. However, any seed
				  lot identified by an asterisk (*) may be replanted for certification the
				  following year on the original applicant's farm.
(d) In the event a farming operation has more
				  than one field planted from the same seed lot source and bacterial ring rot is
				  discovered in at least one of the fields, the remaining fields (planted with
				  the same seed source) will be automatically rejected unless the observed
				  pattern of infected plants provides clear evidence that the cause of
				  contamination was equipment used exclusively in connection with seed cutting,
				  handling and/or planting the seed lot in question.
(e) Field inspection may be refused and seed
				  lots rejected for certification if the field cannot be properly inspected due
				  to:
(1) excess weeds;
(2) hail or frost damage;
(3) damage caused by insects or
				  disease;
(4) chemical injury;
				  or
(5) any other condition that
				  prevents visual identification of diseases or other factors affecting seed
				  quality and performance. Any lot rejected due to hail or frost may be retained
				  by the original applicant for re-certification on his farm for the following
				  year, provided post harvest test requirements are met.