Sea Oats (Uniola paniculata) Clonally Propagated Plant Certification Standards

A. LDAF shall issue numbered certified bulk sales certificates or tags when requested to do so by a grower who has met the requirements and standards set forth in this Section. The numbered certified certificates shall accompany each shipment of certified vegetatively propagated stock. B. Production Requirements. To be eligible for the production of all certified classes, plots and containers/tanks shall be left undisturbed for a minimum of four weeks prior to planting, and found to be free of sea oats and noxious and objectionable weeds. 1. Plot Requirements a. Only one variety of sea oats shall be grown per plot. b. Plots of different varieties must meet the minimum isolation distance at all points. c. All seed heads shall be routinely removed from plants after flowering begins to ensure viable seed are not produced. 2. Container/Tank Requirements a. Soil used for container/ tank production shall: i. come from an area that has not produced sea oats for a minimum of one year ii. be free of visible sea oats rhizomes and stems prior to transplanting. b. Only one variety of sea oats shall be grown per production tank. c. Different varieties shall be grown in separate tanks units unless individual varieties are separated by solid sided partition that will not allow rhizomes or stem material to spread between or within tank units. d. All seed heads shall be routinely removed from plants after flowering begin to ensure viable seed are not produced. C. Grower Inspections. Plots and containers shall be routinely inspected by grower to ensure that all requirements of this Section are being met. D. LDAF Inspections. Production plots and containers/tanks shall be made accessible for inspection by the grower. 1. Plots and containers/tanks shall be inspected by LDAF within four weeks prior to transplanting to ensure they are free of volunteer sea oat plants and noxious and objectionable weeds. 2. Plots and containers shall be inspected by LDAF inspectors a minimum of once a year, after transplanting, to ensure that all requirements of this Section are being met. 3. Additional inspections may be performed at the discretion of LDAF at any time without prior notice. E. Field StandardsProduction Plots/Containers/Tanks Factor | Foundation | Registered | Certified Maximum Unit Life(1) | 4 years | 6 years | Unlimited Land Requirements | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year Isolation: Plot Production | 30 ft. | 30 ft. | 30 ft. Tank Production | One variety per tank | One variety per tank | One variety per tank Container Production | Different varieties must be separated and clearly identified | Different varieties must be separated and clearly identified | Different varieties must be separated and clearly identified Plant Variants | 3 plants per 5,400 ft2 | 5 plants per 5,400 ft2 | 10 plants per 5,400 ft2 Harmful Diseases(2) | None | None | None Noxious or Objectionable Weeds(3) | None | None | ≤ 5 plants per 5,400 ft2 Other Crops(4) | None | None | ≤ 5 plants per 5,400 ft2 (1) Maximum production unit life from transplant date. No maximum age for a certified production unit so long as the unit continues to meet all requirements of this Section. (2) Diseases determined in accordance with the Louisiana Ag Experiment Station and the LDAF to seriously affect the quality of seed or vegetatively propagated stock. (3) Including but not limited to the following weed species: Cyperus spp. (Sedges), Panicum repens (Torpedograss), Phragmites australis (Roseau cane), Fimbristylis spp. (Fimbristylis), Tamarix spp. (Salt cedar), Cenchrus spp. (Sandbur), Suaeda linearis (Sea-blite), Acacia farnesiana (Sweet acacia). (4) Including but not limited to the following crop species: Spartina patens (Marshhay cordgrass), Spartina Spartinae (Gulf cordgrass), Sporobolus virginicus (Dropseed), Distichlis spicata (Saltgrass), Schizachyrium maritimum (Seacoast bluestem), Paspalum vaginatum (Seashore paspalum), Panicum amarum (Beach panicgrass). AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 3:1433. HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Seed Commission, LR 37:2982 (October 2011), LR 39:1760 (July 2013), repromulgated by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Chemistry and Seed Commission, LR 39:2718 (October 2013), amended LR 40:752 (April 2014).