Optimization of Sieve Size for Enhancing Seed Quality and Germination in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes AAIW6 and AAIW9

Wheat seeds collected from the field often vary in size, physical purity, and viability. To ensure uniformity in seed lots, cleaning and grading using seed processing equipment is essential. However, standard sieve sizes (2.10 mm and 2.30 mm) recommended by the Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards (IMSCS) may not be optimal for all wheat varieties, as seed size differs across cultivars. This study, conducted at All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Seed (Crops), Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, SHUATS, Prayagraj, aimed to identify the most suitable sieve size for grading seeds of released wheat varieties. Results indicated that a 2.75 mm sieve provided superior seed recovery, physical purity, germination percentage, and first count for both AAIW6 and AAIW9 genotype.