An Introduction To Tree Seed Technology

Seed is an indispensable gadget, for all people involved with plant kingdom. Seed by itself, is a fascinating piece of art and Daphne J. Osborne admire thus the almost universal formation of the dry seed and its revival on the addition of water is nothing short of an evolutionary miracle. Understanding of molecular mechanisms of seed and development of technologies for best exploitation of seed's potential is all about Seed Science and Technology. It is important to sensitize the students about the basic mechanisms of seed and the applicability of seed related technologies. This book is written for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students or a layperson that is interested to be introduced to Tree Seed Technology. The chapters of the book are arranged in such a way that the reader first gets acquainted with the intricacies of tree seed well. Later on, the biological systems of seed are dealt with to describe how seeds form, develop, mature, germinate or remain dormant. Thereafter, details of quality seed production are elaborated with due importance to the influence of agro- climatic and pollution factors involved. All the efforts generated to produce quality seeds should culminate in obtaining high vigor seedlings, for which seed handling techniques are imperative, therefore, chapter has been allocated to elaborate the methodologies and precautions to be followed during seed collection, extraction, drying, processing, treating, and storing. The chapter on synthetic seed production is included to reflect the large strides made in the recent years in the field of plant propagation. In order to make available right quality of seed, testing and certification of seeds has been implemented for agricultural and horticultural crops in India through Seed Acts. The same is yet to be extended for tree seeds also. The seed testing and certification procedures pertaining to trees seeds are provided in two chapters.The Book is designed to be straight- forward and reader- friendly. Figures and tables are provided at all necessary places to sustain the interest of the reader.

Seed quality. The seed industry. Development, ripening, dormancy and germination. Climatic and other requirements for seed multiplication. Pollination. Agronomy. Harvesting and drying. Storage. Processing. Multiplication. Testing for cultivar authenticity and purity. Certification. Release and registration of cultivars. Tolerances and sampling. Testing for purity. Testing for germination capacity and vigour. Testing for moisture content, health and uniformity. Legislation. Plant names.

Difficulties in conduction of purity analyses of tropical species are discussed with particular emphasis on the pasture species. Methods and equipment requiring further research are highlighted. Operating and management problems of processing -seed in tropical areas are described. Ways in which viability losses can be reduced in open or naturally ventilated seed stores are described. Methods of protecting seed from insect attack and testing seeds of tropical crops for many seed-borne diseases are discussed. Marketing and promotion requirements, methods, agencies and channels are diagrammed. Two alternatives are described for established a seed testing station in tropical areas: Seed - lab 2000, that can test 2000 samples/ year and Seed - lab 5000 that can test 5000 samples/year. A list of books and journals for a basic seed testing library is appended.

This Third Edition of Principles of Seed Science and Technology. like the first two editions. is written for the advanced undergraduate student or lay person who desires an introduction to the science and technology ofseeds. The first eight chapters presentthe seed as abiologicalsystemand coverits origin. development. composition. function (and sometimes nonfunctionJ, performance and ultimate deterioration. The last seven chapters present the fundamentals ofhow seedsare produced. conditioned. evaluated and distributed in our modern agricultural society. A new chapter on seed enhancement has been added to reflect the significant advancements made in the last 10 years on new physiological and molecular biology techniques to further enhance seed performance. Because of the fundamental importance of seeds to both agriculture and to all of society. we have taken great care to present the science and technology of seeds with the respect and feeling this study deserves. We hope that this feeling will becommuni cated to our readers. Furthermore. we have attempted to present information in a straight-forward. easy-to-read manner that will be easily understood by students and lay persons alike. Special care has been taken to address both current state-of-the-art as well as future trends in seed technology. . We believe this Third Edition represents a new level in presenting information that appeals to advanced undergraduate students as well as to those desiring more fundamental information on seed form and function. At the same time. it continues to havethestrengths ofthe firsttwoeditions.initsreadabilityaswellas itscomprehensive coverage of the broader area of seed science and technology.

The first comprehensive handbook on the seeds of trees and shrubs produced by the USDA Forest Service was USDA Misc. Pub. 654, Woody-Plant Seed Manual. The manuscript was ready for publication in 1941, but World War II delayed publication until 1948. The boom in tree planting in the 1950s and 1960s created a large demand for seeds and exposed the gaps in our knowledge concerning production and quality of seeds of woody plants in general. The 1974 Handbook proved to be very popular both in this country and abroad, leading to five printings and translations in several other languages. More than a quarter-century after its publication, however, numerous advances in tree seed technology have dictated that a new revision is needed; the result is the current volume. Part I contains information on how to get seeds and raise seedlings. Get Your Copy Now.