b'TRAINING AND EDUCATIONPractising insect identification at the ISTA workshop on Insect Detection in Seed Testing using an insect determination guideline specially made for the workshop participantschapters, so the current ISTA Rules do not have on the ISTA Rules. The audience sharedseed scientists do not have enough knowledge. offer any methods for accurately counting even more examples and indicated that thereThis demands for collaboration with expert and identifying insects. is currently a lack of a clear policy statemententomologists. The audience wondered how these from ISTA on what to do with insects in seed.collaborations could be set up on a national or In light of current knowledge, the limitedThis raises questions about the need for ainternational level, in particular through analysis attention accorded to insects in seed in thestandardised method, with the possibility offlows for identification according to needs, or ISTA Rules may be considered insufficient. Thisgoing so far as representation on the seed lotsthe setting up of identification training on the is due to the fact that the presence of insectsfor Orange International Certificates. How andinsect species concerned, hence partnering and in seed also influences the activities of ISTAwhere to deal with these recognised intruders incollaborating with entomology communities.Technical Committees (TCOM) other than onlythe ISTA Rules is also a task on which the ECOM the Purity Committee. Insects are known to notmust decide. Lastly, the question on insects in seed being only damage the seed directly but also to carrya purity or a quality issue was discussed and over pathogens using seeds as a nursery for theirAll participants in the discussion shared theanswered with the conclusion that they should eggs and larvae. Damage of seeds by insects ofsame view on the ever-growing importance ofbe regarded as a quality issue. Insects in seed course may also influence gemination, sinceinsects in seed, as increased country regulationsare considered as a pest; however, since insects some insects lay their eggs inside seeds and asare frequently implemented for insectseeddo not necessarily transfer diseases all the time the larvae hatches the germplasm is consumed ascombinations. The audience emphasised thatbut can also simply damage the seed without their first meal. complying to all these regulations is complex andthe introduction of a pathogen, the detection difficult, since no proper standardised detectionof insects in seed is not a topic to solely fall Next to seed health and germination issues,protocols are yet available. A lack of informationunder the Seed Health Committees duties. The topics relating to other TCOMs are also relevant.concerning the lists of insect species subjectaudience concluded that it would be great to For example, in seed testing the samplingto regulation was also raised. Information onhave an additional chapter on this topic in the method is a key factor. What about sample sizesspecies to be detected is essential for prioritisingISTA Rules covering two themes: insects and for testing for insect presence? At this stage, it isthe development of methods to best meet thethe diseases with which they are associated. It not possible to be representative of the seed loturgent needs of laboratories and the industry.was also proposed that a special working group in the absence of statistical data. Furthermore,There was a shared feeling that ISTA could beor TCOM for insects should be created and given that living insects are mobile, should aan initiator in the creation of such a list, orfinancially supported by ISTA.different sampling method be considered to takeeven a database, where NPPOs can ultimately this parameter into account? The Statistics andupdate their regulation on insects in seed, at anyIn all, the group of around 60 participants in the Bulking and Sampling Committees wouldtime. As an expansion to this list the classes ofthis discussion session agreed upon the fact need to provide information on this aspect.tolerance were also indicated to be a valuablethat insect detection in seed is playing an If this is not the case, the methods that couldpoint of information; the audience agreed thatever-growing role in seed trade. The audience be proposed will only allow the results to bethe primary focus on protocol developmentunderstood the necessity for ISTA to help in reported on a Blue International Certificate.should be on quarantine insects. The audiencethe establishment of standardised detection Moreover, the ISTA Rules state that seeds shouldproactively indicated that with good validationmethods, hence being proactive and supportive be stored for at least 1 year after testing of theof testing protocols, the availability of referenceto both country policy makers and seed seed samples, before the seed samples can bematerial is also essential. A reference collectionproducers in respect to insect detection in seed.destroyed. But what about storage when a certain/ library should be created to provide positive type of insect is found in a seed sample? Do youcontrols of the insects of interest to those want to store them in the same room under thelaboratories starting to carry out testing.same conditions as those seed samples of the crop that are without any insect presence? InWith respect to the possibility of having good, short, these are just a few aspects discussed onvalidated testing protocols, the identification what the impact of insect detection in seed mayof insects remains a specialty of which most 78 SEED TESTING INTERNATIONAL www.seedtest.org'