Entwicklung des Befalles mit Weizensteinbrand (Tilletia caries) bei Saatgut in der Biosaatgutanerkennung in Österreich und Qualitätsvergleich zu Nachbausaatgut

Common Bunt (Tilletia caries) is a mainly seed borne disease and causes high losses in organic wheat and spelt production. Due to the basic role of seed health in disease prevention, seed quality aspects have to be focussed strictly in organic farming. In the scope of these studies, Tilletia results of 1291 wheat seed lots and 298 spelt wheat lots obtained from officially organic seed production from 2000 to 2012 have been analysed. The data indicated significantly the increasing spread of Tilletia caries in seed production in the last years, nevertheless in 2012 a high rate of more than 90% of the tested lots still corresponds to the requirements for untreated seed according to the Austrian Seed Regulations (threshold level 10 spores/kernel). As the infection level of the used propagation seeds was stable high over the whole period (≤1 spore/kernel), mainly phytosanitary issues (e.g. soil contaminations) seems to be responsible for that development. Additionally the contamination level of farm saved seed has been analysed. Farm saved seed is contaminated significantly and several times higher than organic certified seed and can be considered therefore as a main agent for uncontrolled and sustainable disease spread

Qualitative und quantitative Analyse der Biosaatgutproduktion bei Getreide in Österrreich

In the scope of a research project, official data from the certification of organic seed in Austria from 1999 to 2007 were analysed to determine the most important factors effecting seed quality and leading to rejection of certification. Data from 4684 seed multiplication fields and 3262 seed lots were analysed. Weed seeds and wild oats (Avena fatua) have little effect on the quality of finished seed due to highly effective seed processing plants and risk-based seed testing. In cereal seeds the most frequent reason for rejection of certification in the category Other Seeds by Number is Other Cereal Seeds. An important criterion resulting in frequent non-certification of organic seed is the level of infection from seed-borne and seed-transmitted diseases. Although the field inspection data show only a very small number of multiplication fields with evidence of relevant seed-borne diseases, those diseases were nevertheless identified at a higher rate in the finished seed lots. Especially loose smut (Ustilago nuda) and leaf stripe (Drechslera graminea) on spring barley as well as bunt (Tilletia caries) have been increasing in Austria during the period studied. The main reasons for this development were nearby fields that harboured these diseases due to use of poor quality farm saved seed

Untersuchung der Qualität von Saatgut sowie der Wurzel- und Sprossentwicklung von Getreidekeimlingen

Primary roots and shoots of 13 day old cereal seedlings and quality of seed were investigated in the frame of the certification process of organic seed produced in Austria. The germination of seed and the development of seedlings were significantly affected by Microdochium nivale on wheat, triticale and rye and by Septoria nodorum on wheat. The number of primary roots was found to be significantly different in wheat varieties and genotypes but was not influenced by year and region. The number of primary roots was also positively correlated with the kernel weight of some wheat varieties

The organic seed regulations framework in Europe -current status and recommendations for future development

Abstract Organic agriculture regulations, in particular European regulation EC 889/2008, prescribe the use of organically produced seed. For many cultivated plants, however, organic seed is often not available. This is mainly because investment in organic plant breeding and seed production has been low in the past. To bridge the gap between organic seed supply and demand, national and European regulations define certain circumstances under which organic producers are permitted to use non-organically produced seed. While the organic sector currently depends on these concessions, they also threaten to impede a further increase in the demand for organic seed, thereby potentially restraining present and future investment in organic seed production and plant breeding. We review the current status of the organic seed regulations framework by analysing key issues such as the role of the national derogation regimes, the role of expert groups, databases and seed prices. Key points are that (a) the situation of the organic seed sector has improved over the last few years; however, (b) reporting on organic seed to the EU by different countries needs to be harmonised; (c) the success of the organic seed sector depends critically on the implementation and improvement of national expert groups; and (d) to protect genetic diversity, the use of local varieties and landraces should not be impeded by organic seed regulations