Section 115.88. Detasseling

(a) The following requirements apply when 3% or more of the ear parent plants have apparently receptive silks at the start of silking period and 1% or less have apparently receptive silks at the end of silking period and no evidence of pollen shedding in male rows:

(1) Commercial hybrid shall be rejected for certification if more than 1% of the ear parent stalks have shed pollen at any one inspection or if the total of any three inspections on different dates exceeds 2%.

(2) Sucker tassels, portions of tassels or tassels on main plants shall be counted as shedding pollen when 2 inches or more of the central stem, the side branches, or a combination of the two have the anthers extended from the glumes.

(3) Tassels of all pollen bearing female plants shall be removed before final inspection, except for female lines carrying the male sterile factor in pure form.

(4) A plant shedding pollen in male sterile rows shall be completely destroyed at pollinating time to eliminate the possibility of its seed production. The ratio of pollen sterile female plants may not be more than 50% of the female rows. A fertile pollen appearing on sterile female rows shall be counted as in § 115.84(1) (relating to male sterile ear parents).

(b) The grower shall be given the opportunity to select one of the following two options when the male steriles break down:

(1) Detassle the seed parent in the field in question.

(2) Test to determine pollen viability.

(i) Cooperate in a test to determine pollen viability. If this option is selected, the grower shall be required to place glassine bags on at least 20 ear shoots located for easy access.

(ii) The bags shall be placed on ear shoots before any shedding of pollen appears. The grower and the state inspector working together shall make the hand pollinations applying an official seal.

(iii) Pollen sources may not be bulked. The inspector shall report final results.

(iv) If tests indicate any viable pollen was present, the entire field acreage shall be rejected.