Seed Production Program
Part of the Plant Materials Center's mission is to make an appropriate supply of high quality seed available to growers, seed that is well-suited to Alaska's climate and soils that will produce economic benefits for the growers.
PMC Programs
- PMC Home Page
- Horticulture
- Industrial Hemp
- Invasive Plants
- Plant Pathology
- Potatoes
- Potato Program
- Certified Seed Potato Production
- Disease Risk Monitoring
- Publications and Reports
- Late Blight Management Plan for Alaska, 2005
- AK Seed Potato Certification Handbook, 2017
- 2018 AK Certified Seed Potato Growers
- 2018 Potato Postharvest Processing Evaluation Report
- 2013 Potato Variety Trial Project
- 2015 Field Potato Evaluation
- 2016 Potato Germplasm Winter Growout
- Download .zip video of 2014 Potato Symposium Meeting
- Resources
- Revegetation
- Seed Production
- Soil Conservation
- Publication List
- Native Plant Source Directory
- PMC Staff Directory
- PMC Weather Station
5310 S Bodenburg Spur
Palmer, AK 99645
Phone: 907-745-4469
Fax: 907-746-1568
Mon. - Fri.
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Click Map For Directions
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Foundation Seed Program
The Foundation Seed Program at the Plant Materials Center aims to provide the highest quality low generation seed (foundation class seed) to producers for cultivar seed production. Certification is important to identify that plants have been handled in such a way as to meet high standards of pedigree retention, varietal purity and viability, and that are free of weeds, diseases and physical damage. This process encourages the production of high quality seed of superior varieties for agricultural interests and revegetation needs.
Certified Seed Classes
- Breeder
- Foundation
- Registered
- Certified
White Tag / Breeder Seed:
The seed or vegetative propagating material directly controlled by the originating or sponsoring plant breeder, institution or firm which supplies the source for the initial and recurring increase of foundation seed.
White Tag / Foundation Seed:
The seed that is the progeny of breeder seed. Production is carefully supervised so as to maintain specific genetic and physical purity.
Purple Tag / Registered Seed:
Registered seed is the progeny of foundation seed and must be handled carefully to maintain satisfactory genetic and physical purity.
Blue Tag / Certified Seed:
Certified seed is the progeny of foundation or registered seed which has the genetic and physical purity needed for certification.
Foundation Seed Production
The Seed Increase Pyramid illustrates the multi-phased seed increase process, whereby 3 pounds of breeder seed can be increased to a commercially usable quantity. Clean seed yields are based on 80 lbs./acre. The planting rate is based on 3 lbs./acre for seed production and 40 lbs./acre for reclamation purposes.
- Breeder Seed: 3 lbs. becomes 80 lbs. Will plant a one acre foundation field.
- Foundation Seed: 80 lbs. becomes 2,160 lbs. To be planted as registered or certified production.
- Registered Seed: 2,160 lbs. Will plant 720 acres of Certified Seed.
- Certified Seed: 57,600 lbs. Will plant 1,440 acres of erosion control or revegetation projects.
Annual Seed Sale
The Plant Materials Center occasionally offers Foundation class or equivalent seed product for sale to Alaskan Agricultural Producers. Notice is given approximately one month prior to the sale, and the allocation period now will last throughout the growing season.
To order seed, email robert.carter@alaska.gov or phone 907-745-4469.