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Selection in hot pepper |
BREEDING:
It is the constant endeavour of EASEED research to line up products with improved genetics catering to ever changing demands of its customers. The breeding process to improve genetics involves combining desired characteristics from chosen parents by crossing and subsequent inbreeding following effective selection. Ensuring the stabilization of improved traits for pure breeding in succeeding selfing process, new products are tested in |
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replicated trials in different agro climatic zones for adaptation and expression of improved traits.All these field activities are conducted by qualified and
trained personnel in company owned research facility close to Nairobi city. |
Selfing in Egg plant |
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Pepper Zehavi good quality Fruits |
TRAIT REQUIREMENT:
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High yield |
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Preferred fruit shape, fruit colour |
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Pleasant flavor and aroma |
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Disease and pest resistance |
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Healthy, vigorous growth with early maturity |
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Easy processing |
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Long storage |
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Creating a new variety is a lengthy process stretching 8 to 12 years. Information collected carefully from market by company sales personnel and product development personnel is the basis for future product requirements. This requirement intitates a breeding project with the collection of genetically diverse germplasm in each crop of interest. |
High yielding Brinjal plant |
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French Beans testing Thika- Farm |
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING:
Effective field testing is very important to realize improved
genetics and determine adaptation to a particular segments targeted for commercialization. EASEED Product Development and testing division fulfils this requirement by conducting multi location yield trials with suitable commercial checks in statistically approved field designs and layouts. |
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Performance of new entries in comparison to existing checks is evaluated in replicated trials to determine superiority of the new genetics.
Decisions are made to release the new variety based on more benefits to stake holder in terms of yield and profitability per unit area. |
Maize testing Thika- Farm |
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Seed Quality Control Programme
Seed quality control/Seed assurance programme is a system of operations through which seed passes before it reaches the end user. The program comprises a seed testing laboratory, pre-post control plots, seed production sites (contract growers) field inspections, seed processing, seed treatment and seed conditioning activities seed storage. |
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Seed testing Laboratory:
It assess physical purity of a seed lot interms of purity, moisture content, seed weight and germination percentage assessment of a seed lot are done in the laboratory. The estimations are done as per the standards of International seed Testing Association (ISTA) rules which are also being used by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate service official seed testing lab. |
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Post Control plots:
They are used to check the varietal purity of any seed lot after its seeds have been planted and after the plants of the seeds have grown to show the morphological features of the plant. The structures which look unfamiliar to the known structures indicate that the particular lot is not true to type. |
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Field Inspection:
This helps in assessing a varietal purity of a seed crop which is being raised from a given seed lot. The method and procedure is the same as the one outlined in the Post Control plot but the methods are used to accept or reject the inspected seed crop before the seed crop is delivered to the company’s premises. More than one inspection per a seed crop is done before delivering. |
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Seed processing, storage, treatment and Conditioning:
The four parameters are monitored by the seed quality department to ensure that the end user gets promised standards of seed quality by the company.
The work involved in seed quality control programme is purely scientific and objective. The personnel doing the work are well trained and experienced. The quality of a given seed lot is doubly assessed by the internal seed quality control programme and by the external (governmental) seed quality control programme. This ensures superior service to our valued customers. |
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