Incoming Seeds (from NARES and IARCs). Different cooperators around the world contribute their elite breeding materials for inclusion into the different nurseries that INGER composes and distributes.
Seed Health and Quality Evaluation. Before the incoming seeds are multiplied, they are first tested for seed health and quality. This evaluation determines which seeds need to be treated prior to planting and seed multiplication.
Cold Storage. After passing through a routine seed health check, seeds are kept in INGER cold storage. After the list of entries for multiplication is composed, seeds are pulled out and prepared in packets for planting in the field.
Planting. Seeds are then planted in the field in plots. Plots are usually arranged systematically, grouped by variety (japonica or indica), and within varietal group ordered by expected days to flowering. Japonicas are usually planted first because they are early maturing.
Crop Health Inspection. Planted seeds are observed for any pest or disease resistance or susceptibility to or tolerance of adverse environmental conditions.
Data Collection. Morpho-agronomic characteristics are recorded for all materials.
Rouging. Rouging is done to eliminate off-types in a crop stand.
Harvesting and Threshing. These are the primary processes carried out for all materials.
Drying and Precleaning. Plants are dried and cleaned of foreign debris such as stones and weed seeds.
Seed Purity and Quality Inspection. Harvested seeds are checked for purity against seeds from the seed file.
Moisture Content Determination and Weighing. The processed seeds are dried to 14% moisture prior to storage to prevent seeds from germinating and the total harvested weight is recorded.
Cold Storage. Seeds are kept in cold storage to preserve seed viability while avoiding premature germination
