Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Transcription

1 Canadian Food Inspection Agency Our Vision: To excel as a science-based regulator, trusted and respected by Canadians and the international community. Virtual Seed Identification Referee Our Mission: Dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and plants, which enhances the health and well-being of Canada s people, environment and economy. Leanne Duncan Seed Biologist CFIA, Seed Science and Technology Section, Saskatoon, SK

2 Background Canadian Accredited Seed Analysts and Laboratories Minimum List of Species for Seed Identification Species in the Weed Seeds Order Crop species and disease bodies listed in Grade Tables I-XX of Schedule I of the Seed Regulations Other weed species Objectives of the referee To conduct a training exercise for seed analysts To assist labs in identifying training needs for maintenance of proficiency in seed identification To provide data for a future revision of the minimum list 2

3 Referee methods Species selection: The minimum list, part III, other weeds 25 photographs Participation Individual analysts, accredited or not Requested that the participants do the identifications independently Resources are allowed, e.g., websites, reference materials Results identify to genus, species to best of their ability 3

4 Results: Participants 50 participants from Canada Accredited purity analysts => 42 Non-accredited purity analyst => 8 Analysts from CFIA accredited labs=> 49 1 participant from the United States 4

5 1. Myosotis arvensis 3. Toxicoscordion venenosum 2. Axyris amaranthoides 4. Deschampsia cespitosa 5

6 5. Eruca vesicaria 6. Anthoxanthum odoratum 7. Centaurea calcitrapa 8. Portulaca oleracea 6

7 9. Alopecurus geniculatus 10. Anagallis arvensis 11. Vicia cracca subsp. cracca 12. Cirsium vulgare 7

8 13. Koeleria macrantha 14. Geum spp. 15. Hypericum perforatum 16. Lactuca tatarica 8

9 17. Plantago virginica 18. Solanum ptychanthum 19. Senecio vulgaris 9

10 20. Rudbeckia hirta 21. Neslia paniculata 22. Verbascum thapsus 10

11 23. Bromus japonicus 24. Atriplex spp. 25. Acanthospermum hispidum 11

12 Identification Percentage of all Participants using Genus and Species 12

13 Identification to genus level by analyst 13. Koeleria macrantha 13

14 Identification to species or spp. by analyst 24. Atriplex spp. 13. Koeleria macrantha 14. Geum spp. 23. Bromus japonicus 14

15 Koeleria macrantha mistaken for: Bouteloua gracilis Poa alpina Koeleria cristata 15

16 Geum spp. mistaken for: Avens sp. Ranunculus urbanum Nassella viridula Geum laciniatum Geum spp. (cf. rivale) Clematis virginiana Geum rivale 16

17 Bromus japonicus mistaken for: Bromus commutata Bromus spp. Bromus arvensis Bromus hordeaceus Bromus tectorum 17

18 Atriplex spp. mistaken for: Malva spp. Atriplex prostrata 18

19 Spelling Errors Most common error (20% of participants) was the spelling of Portulaca oleracea, not P. oleraceae Other spelling errors included: Deschampsia cespitosa Solanum ptchanthum Toxicoscordion venenosum 19

20 Conclusions The seed identification proficiency to genus level for analysts was 90% or better on 24 of the 25 specimens. The seed identification proficiency to species level for analysts was 90% or better on 21 of the 25 specimens. Analysts had difficulty identifying: Bromus japonicus Atriplex spp. Koeleria macrantha Geum spp. Need to review whether these species remain on the Minimum List or increase training for the identification of these species. 20

21 Thank you to all participants. 21

22 2007 Sa Majesté chef du Canada (Agence Canadienne d`inspection des aliments), tout droits réservés. Utilisation sans permission est strictement interdit. 22