R68-8-14. Hermetically Sealed Seed Containers

The 36-month provision on the date of test in Section 4-16-5 will apply to hermetically sealed agricultural and vegetable seed when the following conditions have been met:

A. The seed was packaged within nine months after harvest.

B. The container used does not allow water vapor penetration through any wall, including the seals, greater than 0.05 grams of water per 24 hours per 100 square inches of surface at 100 degrees F. with a relative humidity on one side of 90 percent and on the other side 0 percent. Water vapor penetration (WVP) is measured by the standards adopted by the U. S. Bureau of Standards as: WVP=gm H₂O/24 hr./100 sq. in./100 degrees F./90% RHV. 0%RH

C. The seed in the container does not exceed the percentage of moisture, on a wet weight basis, as listed below:

TABLE

     1. AGRICULTURAL SEEDS PERCENT

     Beet, field 7.5

     Beet, sugar 7.5

     Bluegrass, Kentucky 6.0

     Clover, Crimson 8.0

     Fescue, Red 8.0

     Ryegrass perennial 8.0

     All other agricultural seed 6.0

     Mixtures of above 8.0

     2. VEGETABLE SEEDS PERCENT

     Bean, garden 7.0

     Bean, lima 7.0

     Beet 7.5

     Broccoli 5.0

     Brussel sprouts 5.0

     Cabbage 5.0

     Carrots 7.0

     Cauliflower 5.0

     Celeriac 7.0

     Celery 7.0

     Chard, Swiss 7.5

     Chinese cabbage 5.0

     Chives 6.5

     Collards 5.0

     Corn, sweet 8.0

     Cucumber 6.0

     Eggplant 6.0

     Kale 5.0

     Kohlrabi 5.0

     Leek 6.5

     Lettuce 5.5

     Muskmelon 6.0

     Mustard, India 5.0

     Onion 6.5

     Onion, Welsh 6.5

     Parsley 6.0

     Parsnip 6.0

     Pea 7.0

     Pepper 4.5

     Pumpkin 6.0

     Radish 5.0

     Rutabaga 5.0

     Spinach 8.0

     Squash 6.0

     Tomato 5.5

     Turnip 5.0

     Watermelon 6.5

     All other vegetable seed 6.0

D. The container is conspicuously labeled in not less than eight point type to indicate:

1. That the container is hermetically sealed.

2. That the seed has been preconditioned as to moisture content, and

3. The calendar month and year in which the germination test was completed.

E. The percentage of germination of the vegetable seed at the time of packaging was equal to or above the standards specified in Section R68-8-9.