Method for obtaining substantially pure hybrid cereal seed and machine for use thereof

1. A method for separating inbred seed from a mixed population of inbred and hybrid seed characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

(a) providing a mixed population of inbred and hybrid seed, which population is generated by:

(i) Inter-planting a population of parent plants within a field wherein said population contains male and female parents; and

(ii) Providing for self-fertilization of said male and cross-fertilization of said female; and

(iii) Harvesting the resulting fertilized seed to provide said mixed population; and

(b) Subjecting said seed to a device which separates said mixed population into:

(i) A population of substantially inbred seed; and

(ii) A population of substantially hybrid seed wherein said seed is wheat or barley seed and said device separates said seed on the basis of a difference which is detectable via the use of near infrared light.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said device separates the seed such that the resulting population of separated substantially hybrid seed comprises no more than about 5% inbred seed.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said device utilises an algorithm to differentiate the near infrared spectral data obtained of said inbred and said hybrid seed which then allows the seed to be sorted on the basis of said spectral data.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said difference is a genotypic difference.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said difference relates to an amount of a compound selected from: glucose; xylose; mannose; galactose; arabinose; or a combination thereof, in the seed.