Forest Seed Science And Management

The present volume 'Forest Seed Science and Management' deals with various aspects of seeds and is comprised of 14 chapters

Seed is the primary input for productive forestry and for any afforestation program. In propagation and conservation of a species, seeds play a vital role. In recent years owing to greater emphasis on community forestry, wasteland development and to support the National, Mission for a Green India as a part of the "National Action Plan on Climate Change" the requirement of seed has multiplied manifold. Large quantities of seed are needed every year to raise the nursery stock for propagating the desired plant species. A plentiful supply of quality seed i.e., high in viability and vigour, is therefore one of the prerequisites to make such activities successful. Presently requirement of forest seeds has not been properly documented though some estimation has been arrived at quantifying the seed demand of various forestry species based on utilization of seed in the past. Seeds are the most suitable form to conserve and also a means to distribute the plant germplasm. The quality of seed depends on choice of seed collection stand, seed crop abundance, time of collection, handling and storage. The duration of the viability of the seeds in nature vary widely among species due to their varied maturation time and storage physiology. In view of the increasing importance of seed quality in forestry and the numerous challenges in handling, testing and storage of forest seed, present book is very important for the benefit of forest seed industry. In the significant advances that India made in forest science in the last four decades, the role of the seed sector has been substantial. The present volume 'Forest Seed Science and Management' deals with various aspects of seeds and is comprised of 14 chapters highlighting aspects on historical perspective, recent research trends, insect, pest and disease management, physiological, biotechnological and molecular aspects, collection to processing and storage, testing, industrial approach, seed policy & legislation, IPRs and rural extension.

Forest Tree Improvement and seed Technology are relatively neglected subjects as compared to forest management in general. Importance of forest improvement and seed technology has become important in recent years as forests have a significant role in maintaining climatic balance and conservation of biodiversity. The impending climate change may have a catastrophic effect on the ecological health of planet earth and may imperil the survival of life itself. This book is a modest effort in bringing out fundamental scientific information on forest tree improvement and forest seed science and technology in one compilation and therefore may prove useful to the researchers ad students of forestry.

The book deals with all practical issues in connection with practical tree seed procurement and supply in tropical countries, with necessary background information and documentation of applied methods. It starts with seed collection and follows the processes of the standard fates of seeds. The text covers simple hands-on methods and more advanced methods. A synthesis and discussion of recent findings in seed research is given.

This new revision reflects the many changes and approaches to forestry that have occurred in the field of forestry over the last decade. This book is intended to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the important aspects of the field of forestry. Treatment is comprehensive and more advanced than other forestry textbooks, featuring a new section on Forests and Society to reflect the increasing human influences on forestry.

Describes the basic principles that govern the biology of forest tree seeds and examines how these principles might apply to reforestation.