GB/T 18247.4-2026Product grade for major ornamental plants - Part 4: Flower seeds (English PDF)

Foreword

This document complies with the provisions of GB/T 1.1-2020 "Standardization Work Guidelines Part 1: Structure and Drafting Rules of Standardization Documents".

Drafting.

This document is Part 4 of GB/T 18247 "Grades of Major Floral Products". GB/T 18247 has already published the following parts.

---Part 1: Cut Flowers;

---Part 2: Potted Plants;

---Part 3: Potted Foliage Plants;

---Part 4: Flower Seeds;

---Part 5: Flower Seedlings;

---Part 6: Flower Bulbs;

---Part 7: Lawn.

This document replaces GB/T 18247.4-2000 "Major Flower Products Grades Part 4: Flower Seeds", and is consistent with GB/T 18247.4-Compared to 2000, aside from structural adjustments and editorial changes, the main technical changes are as follows.

a) Added quality grading indicators and testing methods for the "purity" of herbaceous flower seeds (see Chapter 4, 5.1.1, Table A.1);

b) Requirements for "batching" and "re-inspection rules" have been added (see 6.2 and 6.4);

c) 224 new quality grading categories for herbaceous flower seeds have been added (see Table A.1);

d) Twelve new quality grades for woody flowering plant seeds have been added (see Table A.2);

e) Changed the following. Ageratum conyzoides, snapdragon, phlox, kale, calceolaria, cockscomb, sea jasmine, cineraria, cosmos, and yellow.

Table A.1 (Table 1, 2000 edition);

f) Changed "Age of Patchouli", "Amaranth", "Begonia grandiflora", "Begonia hognatus", "Cephalotaxus fortunei", "Cockscomb", "Chrysanthemum indicum", and "Autumn" "English", "Yellow Autumn Flower", "Carnation", "Strawberry", "Essential Flower", "European Primrose", "Earth Primrose", "Zinnia", "Large-flowered Pansy", "Everlasting Flower" Scientific names of 18 species (see Table A.1, Table 1 in the 2000 edition);

g) The following terms have been changed. Ageratum conyzoides, Alyssum fusiforme, Amaranth, Snapdragon, Columbine, Phlox subulata, Begonia grandiflora, and Begonia hawkii.

Tuberous Begonia, Daisy, Kale, Calceolaria, Marigold, Vinca, Cockscomb, Seaside Chrysanthemum, Cineraria, Cosmos "Yellow Autumn Chrysanthemum", "Cyclamen", "Carnation", "Purple Grass", "Gazelle", "Gerberis", "Ancient Rare", "Sunflower", "Large-flowered Okra", "Wheat Straw" Chrysanthemum, Impatiens, Lisianthus, Violet, Geranium, Petunia, Primrose, Primrose 'Euonymus', Portulaca grandiflora, Ranunculus "Salvia splendens", "Gloxinia", "Marigold", "Verbena", "Pansy", "Everlasting Flower", "Dahlia", "California", "Zinnia" Latin names of 46 species (see Table A.1, Table 1 in the 2000 edition);

h) The following have been modified. Level I, Level II, and Level III of "Cephalotaxus fortunei", "Impatiens balsamina", "Essentialiste", and "Verbena officinalis", and Level II and Level III of "Hippophae rhamnoides" and "Violet" have been modified.

Grade I. "Columbine" and "Salvia splendens" (Grade II); "Cinnamomum cassia", "Carnation", and "Zinnia elegans" (Grade III) – purity and germination rate of 11 flower seeds.

Grading criteria (see Table A.1, Table 1 of the 2000 edition);

i) The following 8 items have been changed. "Ancient Rare", "Sunflower", "Large-flowered Okra", "Strawberry", "Impatiens", "Large-flowered Pansy", "Everlasting Flower", and "Dahlia".

Standards for classifying the quality grade of flower seeds by number of seeds per gram (see Table A.1, Table 1 of the 2000 edition);

j) The quality grading standards for seed moisture content of "Cinnamomum cassia" and "Salvia splendens" have been revised (see Table A.1, Table 1 in the 2000 edition);

k) Two species, "gun-knife medicine" and "phoenix-tailed cockscomb", were deleted (see Table 1 in the 2000 edition).

Please note that some content in this document may involve patents. The issuing organization of this document assumes no responsibility for identifying patents.

This document was proposed by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Introduction

Floral products, as commodities that can significantly improve people's sense of well-being, possess significant economic value. Floral products encompass a wide variety of categories.

The product range is diverse, including cut flowers, potted plants, seedlings, and other product types. Only by specifying the corresponding technical rules for each product type can the desired results be achieved.

The purpose is to scientifically and efficiently grade flower products. Therefore, GB/T 18247 "Grading of Major Flower Products" is proposed based on the type of flower product.

Divided into 7 parts.

---Part 1: Cut Flowers;

---Part 2: Potted Plants;

---Part 3: Potted Foliage Plants;

---Part 4: Flower Seeds;

---Part 5: Flower Seedlings;

---Part 7: Lawn.

Since its implementation, GB/T 18247.4-2000 has promoted the improvement of the quality of flower seed products in my country and established standards for the flower seed industry.

This is of great significance for modernization and rapid development. However, the standard was developed more than 20 years ago, showing obvious time lag and limitations, and is not suitable for adapting to domestic needs.

The relevant standards have undergone new changes to meet the new requirements of the flower industry, hence the revision.

Main flower product grades Part 4: Flower Seeds

1 Scope

This document specifies the quality grading and testing rules for 282 types of flower seeds, and describes seed purity, cleanliness, germination rate, and seed moisture content.

The detection method includes five indicators. number of particles per gram.

This document applies to the requirements for seed quality and the classification of grades in the production and trade of seeds of 282 kinds of flowers and their cultivars.

2 Normative references

The contents of the following documents, through normative references within the text, constitute essential provisions of this document. Dated citations are not included.

For references to documents, only the version corresponding to that date applies to this document; for undated references, the latest version (including all amendments) applies.

This document.

GB/T 2772 Inspection Procedures for Forest Tree Seeds GB/T 3543.3-2025 Crop Seed Inspection Procedures Part 3: Analysis of Sowing Quality and Purity GB/T 3543.4-2025 Crop Seed Inspection Procedures Part 4: Germination Test for Sowing Quality GB/T 3543.5-2025 Crop Seed Inspection Procedures Part 5: Variety Quality and Purity Identification GB/T 3543.6-2025 Crop Seed Inspection Procedures Part 6: Determination of Moisture Content in Sowing Quality the following terms and definitions apply to this document.

varietalpurity

The degree of consistency of the typical characteristics of a species or variety among individuals within a population.

physical purity

The percentage of the weight of the tested seeds relative to the total weight of the sample after removing impurities and other plant seeds from the tested sample.

The percentage of seeds that germinate normally under specific conditions and within a specific time period out of the total number of seeds tested.

Seed moisture content the percentage of the original weight of the seeds in the seed sample that contains moisture.

Seedspergram (number of seeds per gram) the number of seeds per gram of seed sample.