In the high-tech agriculture sector, producing F1 hybrid seeds that meet strict standards of purity and germination rate is always a major challenge for many businesses. At Lam Tai Vegetable Seed Production Co., Ltd (Duc Trong, Lam Dong), we proudly apply a closed self-production farm model (SOP, KPI) combined with an ERP software system since 2009 to strictly control from the original seed germination stage to export.
The article below will explain in detail the F1 hybrid seed germination process for the Solanaceae family, chili peppers (tomato, hot chili, sweet chili...) professionally prepared for export at Lam Tai.
1. Receiving and Processing Original Seeds (Parent Lines)
After signing the foreign trade contract and completing legal procedures, international customers will send original seeds (including both parent lines) to Lam Tai factory. The initial processing procedure is carefully conducted to maximize germination activation:
Coding & Classification: Original seeds are assigned unique identification codes, classified, and stored in specialized warehouses.
Original Seed Soaking Process:
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Thoroughly rinse seeds with clean water.
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Soak seeds in warm water at 40°C for 2 hours to break dormancy.
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Soak in 10% TSP disinfectant solution for 1 hour, then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
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Wrap seeds with a clean moist cloth and place into a specialized germination cabinet.
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Standard germination time: For tomato seeds, 2 days; for chili varieties, 3 - 4 days. When seeds crack and sprout evenly, they are immediately transferred to the nursery for thinning.
2. Preparation of Net House for Planting with 100% Sterilization Standard
To ensure the goal of F1 seeds free from infectious diseases (achieving 0% disease transmission rate), cleaning and sterilizing the net house before each cultivation season is mandatory at Lam Tai.
The empty house preparation process includes the following strict steps:
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Clean the area: Remove all old pots, old plants, hanging wires, waste, and old substrates outside.
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Clean the system: Use high-pressure clean water combined with brushes to scrub drainage channels.
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Treat irrigation system: Flush drip irrigation system with 10% HCl acid solution for 24 hours, then remove and rinse thoroughly under cold water.
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Surface disinfection spraying: Spray 2% Virkon solution (at least twice) on all frame structures and greenhouse membranes.
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Eliminate intermediate pests: Spray specialized pesticides for thrips, red mites, insects, planthoppers, whiteflies (3 times) throughout the net house space and surrounding mesh system.
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Arrange new materials: Place new substrate (already inspected) into trays/pots, hang blue and yellow insect traps along pathways.
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Final preventive spraying: Spray thrips prevention twice immediately before transplanting seedlings and sterilize all tools in the buffer room (Lock).
3. Seedling Germination Stage at Lam Tai Nursery
Healthy seedlings are the foundation for superior F1 seed yield. This stage requires high precision in soil selection and care techniques:
Tray and sowing soil preparation:
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Use 100-hole plastic seedling trays sterilized by soaking in 10% Javen solution for 1 day, rinsed 3 times with clean water and dried.
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Use clean organic BVB soil imported from the Netherlands to fill trays and make sowing holes with specialized tools.
Sowing thinning and seedling care techniques:
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Workers manually thin each germinated seed into holes (one seed per hole).
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After thinning, trays are placed under mist irrigation for 3 - 5 minutes to stabilize moisture.
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Periodically spray plant protection chemicals every 5 days using specialized products such as M8, Acrobat, Dithane (dose about 30-35g per 16-liter sprayer) to prevent fungal diseases.
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Export standard: Continuously screen and remove stunted, deformed, or off-type seedlings. When reaching export age (20 - 25 days for tomato and 30 - 35 days for chili), seedlings are transferred to the production net house for planting.
4. Techniques for Planting and Caring for Parent Plants Outside the Net House
When seedlings reach the appropriate age, the transfer and field planting process is systematically carried out:
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Input inspection: Lot owner inspects seedling trays, verifies exact quantity and variety codes before signing and planting into substrate.
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Nutrition & Plant Protection: Automatic drip irrigation system supplies water and fertilizer according to optimal formulas for each growth stage by strictly controlling EC (electrical conductivity), pH, and water volume. Plant protection chemicals are sprayed periodically every 5 - 7 days.
Strict Infectious Virus Control (TMV):
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Every 5 days, workers check and perform rapid tests to detect TMV virus (usually spread by thrips).
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Safe destruction procedure: When diseased plants are detected, workers wear gloves, use specialized scissors to cut the base and immediately place into trash bags to prevent disease spreading to healthy plants. After each cut, scissors must be soaked in 0.2% Virkon or 0.1% Physan disinfectant solution.
Technical Management:
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Install fixed strings to support plant stems, strictly isolate different varieties to avoid unwanted cross-pollination. Workers prune branches, remove self-pollinated flowers (OP), and naturally opened buds wearing gloves and disinfecting hands with disinfectant solution after each plant to prevent cross-infection. All data is recorded in digital logs.
5. Pollination and F1 Seed Hybridization Process
This is the core stage determining the purity (required to be 98% or higher) of Lam Tai F1 hybrid seeds. The pollination timing is about 20 - 25 days after planting for tomato and 40 days for chili.
Preparation before hybridization:
Staff training: Hybridization workers must be trained proficiently in the process of emasculation, pollen application, and strictly comply with the "8 dos and don'ts":
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Do not allow flowers to self-open.
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Do not emasculate flowers that have already opened.
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Do not emasculate flowers that have released pollen early.
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Do not emasculate twin flowers.
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Do not allow pollen bags to fall and stick on leaves.
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Do not emasculate and retract flowers.
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Must continuously sterilize tweezers.
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Absolutely do not miss any pollen bags.
Flower source sanitation: Thoroughly remove self-pollinated flowers (OP), naturally opened flowers, check if the pollen amount of the parent line is sufficient and greenhouse temperature reaches the ideal level (28°C). This flower sanitation process is cross-checked through 3 levels: Lot owner ➔ Supervisor ➔ Quality Assurance (QA) department for final acceptance.
Specialized tools: Prepare medical gloves, pollen bags, test tubes, tweezers, 75° alcohol (to kill mother pollen during emasculation), 0.1% Physan or 0.5% TSP solution to sterilize tools and prevent virus transmission.
Manual hybridization steps:
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Step 1 (Mother flower emasculation): Select flowers at the correct physiological age (not too young or old). Use sterilized tweezers to remove 1/3 of petals with anthers, then cleanly remove remaining petals and pollen bags. Mark emasculation date with colored thread.
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Step 2 (Pollination): After emasculation for 24 hours, apply pollen from the parent line onto the emasculated mother flower stigma. Use colored wire to mark successfully pollinated flowers.
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Duration: Hybridization lasts 15 - 20 days for sweet/hot chili, and 45 - 50 days for tomato varieties.
6. Fruit Cultivation Stage After Pollination
After the pollination period ends, all self-pollinated flowers (OP) and late-blooming flowers remaining on the plant are completely removed to concentrate nutrients on F1 hybrid fruit development.
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Supplementary nutrition regime: Besides periodic drip irrigation, add potassium and calcium-rich fertilizers to promote uniform fruit growth, reduce fruit cracking or blossom-end rot.
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Pest and disease prevention: Maintain regular plant protection chemical spraying every 7 - 10 days to thoroughly control thrips, fruit borers, and fungal diseases.
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Yield evaluation: Conduct measurements and second yield evaluation (40 days after pollination ends) to provide accurate data updates to customer partners.
With the closed F1 hybrid seed germination and production process meeting international SOP standards, Lam Tai Vegetable Seed Production Co., Ltd proudly delivers F1 seed lots with purity exceeding 98%, high disease resistance, and optimal germination rates. Professionalism in every stage from original seed soaking to fruit care is the key to affirming the sustainable reputation of the Lam Tai brand in the global seed export market.