Chapter 2. PEANUT SEED SUPPLYAND QUALITY

A uniform stand of healthy, vigorous plants is essential if growers are to achieve the yields and quality needed for profitable peanut production. It is important for growers to plant high quality seed of varieties adapted to their farm situations, management styles, and intended market uses.

In years when weather stress occurs during the production season, some farmers become concerned about seed supplies and the quality of seed for the coming season. Rainfall during the 2001 growing season was exceptionally good in June, July, and August, but dry conditions prevailed in many areas throughout September and October. This made digging and curing more of a challenge in these areas.

The North Carolina Crop Improvement Association reported that a total of 19,942 acres of peanut seeds passed certification field inspections in 2001. Table 2-1 lists the acreage of certified peanut seeds by variety (excluding experimental lines).
 

Table 2-1. Certified Seed Production in 2001 (includes certified, registered, and foundation seed)
Variety	Acres Passing Inspection
Gregory NC 7  NC 9  NC 10C  NC-V 11  NC 12C  Perry  VA 98R  VA-C 92R	2,376 416 78 16 5,571 4,964 3,657 2,372 492

Growers who decide to save seed should be aware that they may be in violation of the North Carolina State Seed Law, the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA), and Title V of the Federal Seed Act if they sell that saved seed.

According to regulations, growers may save enough seed of a PVPA-protected variety to plant back on their own holdings (land owned, leased, or rented). If planting intentions change and if a variety is PVPA-1970 protected, the farmer may sell that saved seed, but only that amount saved to plant their holdings. If the variety is protected under the amended 1995 PVPA, a farmer may not sell any seed without the permission of the variety owner.

North Carolina Seed Regulations require variety labeling on all peanut seed sold in the state, regardless of whether the seed is certified or farmer stock. No peanut seed can be sold variety not stated, even if the variety is not known or the seed is a mixture of varieties.

Some growers are members of a co-op, and questions have been raised about co-op distribution of seed to growers. A farmer may bring saved seed into the co-op to be shelled, cleaned, treated, and bagged. But, the entire quantity of saved seed must be returned to the farmer who produced it. The seed may not be comingled with seed from any other grower, and the seed may not be sold, traded, nor given to any other grower. These actions are a violation of PVPA and the Federal Seed Act. The amount of peanuts shelled, cleaned, treated, and bagged must not exceed the amount the grower may legally save.

Co-op members may choose to produce their own seed as a group with seed from several growers combined and distributed among the membership. If so, steps must be taken before planting to ensure proper certification and State Seed Law requirements have been met. Certified seed must be grown from Foundation or Registered seed, fields must be inspected, and the seed must meet minimum germination standards. Under these conditions, the co-op has become a seed dealer and must be licensed under the North Carolina State Seed Law. Contact the North Carolina Crop Improvement Association (919-515-2851) for details on how to certify peanut seed and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Seed Section (919-733-3930) for details about becoming a licensed seed dealer.

Table 2-2. List of Varieties and Their Eligibility and Requirements for Sale

Variety	Can you save seed?	Can you sell that saved seed?	Must the saved seed be sold as a class of  certified seed?
NC 6	Yes	Yes	No
NC 7	Yes	Yes	Yes
NC 9	Yes*	Yes**	Yes
NC 10C	Yes*	Yes**	Yes
NC-V11	Yes*	Yes**	Yes
NC 12C	Yes*	Only with permission	Yes
VA-C 92R	Yes*	Yes**	Yes
SunOleic 95R	Yes*	Yes**	Yes
SunOleic 97R	Yes*	Only with permission	Yes
VC-1	Yes*	Yes **	Yes
Andru 93	Yes*	Yes**	Yes
AT 120	Yes*	Yes**	Yes
Georgia Green	Yes*	Only with permission	Yes
VA 93B	Yes	Yes	No
Perry	Yes	Only with permission	Yes
VA 98R	Yes	Only with permission	Yes

* Only enough seed to plant back on your own farm.

** The total amount saved for farmer use and the amount sold cannot exceed the
quantity needed to plant your own holdings.
 
 

Is Big Seed Better?

Many growers feel that the bigger the peanut seed, the better. Others feel that smaller seed germinate faster and are, therefore, better. Consider this: For peanut seed germination to begin, seed moisture must be around 40 to 50 percent. A large seed weighing 1 gram must take up about 0.5 ml. of water to begin the germination process. A smaller seed weighing 0.7 grams will only need to take up 0.3 ml. of water. Larger seed will take longer to germinate than a smaller seed, perhaps 24 hours longer if moisture at planting is not limiting. This does not mean large seeds are inferior; they just take longer to hydrate.

Are Seedlings from Large Seed More Vigorous?

The answer is maybe. Seedling strength comes from many places. Size certainly can contribute, but other things can come into play — like maturity. Mature seed are almost always more vigorous than immature seed. Research data from North Carolina State University has shown that if you compare a mature seed to a large immature seed from the same screen size, the mature seed (black pod color) is usually more vigorous and the seedling stronger (see Table 2-3).

Table 2-3. Quality Components (seed weight, germination, and
vigor) of VA-C 92R Peanut Seed Produced in 1994

Pod Color (Maturity)	Seed Weight (mg/seed)		Seed Germination (percent)		Seed Leakage (Vigor) µmhos/cm/g
	Screen Size 20	Screen Size 22	Screen Size 20	Screen Size 22	Screen Size 20	Screen Size 22
Yellow	671	780	77	—	88	—
Orange	731	880	88	90	56	53
Brown	810	891	98	96	39	40
Black	851	973	100	99	27	23

In this study, seed vigor is measured by the amount of leakage from the seed while it is imbibing water. The more the seeds leak, the weaker the seedling will be.

Recommendations for the use of agricultural chemicals are included in this publication as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use agricultural chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to obtain current information about usage regulations and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact your county Cooperative Extension agent.