The book has been prepared keeping in view the course requirements of seed science and technology for undergraduate students at various institutions. An attempt has been made to consolidate the scattered information and presented in a simple format. The subject matter covered is rather wide and has been discussed in different topics. From this the readers will get knowledge about seeds, science and technology involved in this subject. Seeds are fertilised mature ovules shaped through sexual reproduction in plants. It is the cheapest and key input in agriculture. It is estimated that good quality seeds of improved varieties can contribute about 20-25% increase in yield. Seed technology is an interdisciplinary science, involves such activities as variety development, evaluation and release seed development, seed processing, seed storage, seed testing, seed certification, seed quality control and seed marketing etc., through which the genetic and physical characteristic of seeds could be improved. Each topic was discussed in separate chapter. We hope that this book will be helpful to our readers of this subject.

Seed In broad sense, seed is a material which is used for planting or regeneration purpose. However, scientifically, seed is a fertilized matured ovule together covered with seed coat is called seed or it is a propagating material i.e., part of agriculture, sericulture, silviculture and horticultural plants used for sowing or planting purpose. Seed is a mature integumented megasporangium or mature ovule consisting of embryonic plants together with store food material covered by a protective coat. Seeds are fertilised, mature ovules, the result of sexual reproduction in plants. Not all plants produce seed (some produce spores or reproduce vegetatively) but most of the higher plants produce seed. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant. The formation of the seed completes the process of reproduction in plants (started with the development of flowers and pollination), with the embryo developed from the zygote and the seed coat from the integuments of the ovule.  

History and development of seed Industry in India can be discussed under two heads Pre-independence development. Post-independence development.  

Generation system of seed multiplication is nothing but the production of a particular class of seed from specific class of seed up to certified seed stage. The choice of a proper seed multiplication model is the key to further success of a seed programme. This basically depends upon, The rate of genetic deterioration Seed multiplication ratio Total seed demand (Seed replacement rate)  

Variety is a group of plants having clear distinguished characters which when reproduced either sexually or asexually retains their characters. The genetic purity of a variety or trueness to its type deteriorates due to several factors during the production cycles. The factors that are responsible for loss of genetic purity during seed production are : Developmental Variation Mechanical Mixtures Mutations Natural Crossing Genetic drift Minor Genetic Variation Selective influence of Diseases Techniques of the Breeder Breakdown of male sterility Improper/defective seed certification System

Seed Production Systemized crop production is known as seed production. In seed production adequate care is given from the purchase of seeds upto harvest adopting proper seed and crop management techniques. The benefits of seed production are Higher income Higher quality seed for next sowing  

The important events involved in seed development and maturation include Pollination Fertilization Development of the fertilized ovule by cell division Accumulation of reserve food material Loss of moisture content  

The seed production of varieties and hybrids should be carried out carefully by following various techniques in the region where they are well adopted. The various factors affecting quality seed production includes, Agro climatic factors / Ecological factors - edaphic and climatic factors Production factors Post harvesting handling of seed Seed quality control factors  

Harvesting is one of the agronomic management practices that require technical knowledge on maturation of the crops. This knowledge is much important in seed production than in commercial production. Physiological maturation It is the stage of accumulation of maximum dry matter within the seeds. The moisture content of the seed at this stage will be in decreasing order (25-30%) and is expressed with maximum dry weigh of seed, germination and vigour potential. The physiological maturation is represented for individual seed and this maturation will not be the same for the population, due to differential flowering habit. The attainment of physiological maturation is represented by sigmoid curve of growth pattern. The physiological maturation can be represented both as duration and visible symptoms.  

Removal of seeds from dry fruits is known as threshing while that of wet fruits is known as extraction. Threshing involves beating or rubbing the plant material to detach the seed from its pod or fruit. The detached seed is then winnowed to remove chaff, straw and other light material from the seed. Threshing / extraction methods 1. Mechanical threshing Various types of threshing machines with adjustable cylinder speeds are available for extraction of vegetable seeds. Care must be taken to avoid damage to the seed during mechanical threshing, by properly adjusting the speed of the beaters, the width of the gap between the beaters and the concave, the airflow and the sieve sizes.  

Seed Processing Seed processing may be understood to comprise all the operations after harvest that aim at maximizing seed viability, vigour and health. It includes cleaning, drying, seed treatment, packaging and storage.

Seed Packing Seed packaging is the process of filling, weighing and sewing of bags with seed. The choice of packaging materials and amount of seeds to be packed depends on kind of seeds to be packed, duration of storage, storage environment, the seed moisture content, the cost of seed, the cost of packaging material, the geographical area where the seeds will be stored.

Seed certification It is a legally sanctioned system for quality control and seed multiplication and production. It involves field inspection, pre and post control tests and seed quality tests. As per Indian Seed Act seed certification is voluntary and it is not compulsory. The seed that is sold in the market is of two types certified seed or truthfully labelled seed. Whereas truthfully labelled seed is one which is being produced and marketed by the producing company by maintaining the labelling standards.

Seed sampling Seed sampling is to draw a portion of seed from seed lot that represents the entire seed lot. Seed lot is a uniformly blended quantity of seed either in bag or in bulk.

Purity analysis Purity of a seed lot indicates in percentage how large a fraction is made up of pure seeds of the species in question, and how much is made up of inert matter and other seeds. Impurities may be any non seed material (leaf, flower, fruit fractions, soil etc.), small fractions of seeds of the actual species, as well as seeds of other species. Pure seed may include both dead and empty seed, plus damaged seed, purity does not tell anything about viability. The purity analysis of a seed sample in the seed testing laboratory refers to the determination of the different components of the purity viz., pure seeds, other crop seeds, weed seeds and inert matter. Each component is reported as a percentage of total weight. The objective of the purity analysis is to determine whether the submitted sample conforms to the prescribed physical quality standards with regard to physical components. Large seeds are generally easy to clean and purity analyses are therefore often omitted. However, for smaller seeds contamination with other seeds may occur e.g., during processing.

Seed germination It is defined as the emergence and development from the seed embryo, of those essential structures, for the kind of seed in question, indicates its ability to produce a normal plant under favourable conditions. The seedlings devoid of an essential structure; showing weak or unbalanced development; decay or damage affecting the normal development of seedling are not considered in calculating the germination percentage.

Seed viability tests Only two methods, the Topographical tetrazolium (TZ) test and the embryo excision test were previously accepted by the International Seed Testing Association as official methods for some species of seeds. ISTA has recently accepted the X-ray method as a valid alternative to the cutting test for the detection of empty and insect-damaged seeds. The following tests can be applied depending on the circumstances.

Seed Health Testing Science of determining the presence or absence of disease causing agents such as fungi, bacteria and viruses and insects in the seed samples. Seed Borne disease The seed primordial or the maturing seed may be infected either (i) directly from the infected plant through the flower or fruit stalk and the seed stalk or directly from the seed surface, or (ii)infection from outside may be introduced through stigma or ovary wall or pericarp, and the flower or fruit stalk, and later through the seed coat. A pathogen may penetrate several of these parts of the seed and in turn infect them. The infestation /contamination of the seed may occur during harvesting, threshing and processing. Visualizing the importance of seed borne diseases the Central Seed Certification board has prescribed certification standards for foundation and certified seed for several diseases. The pathogen may carry with the seeds in three ways. Admixture: Pathogens are independent of seeds but accompany them. They are mixed with health seeds during threshing. External:The pathogen may be present on seed surface as spores, oospores and chlamydospores. Internal: Pathogens establish within the seed with definite relationship with seed parts.

An Act to provide for regulating the quality of certain seeds for sale, and for matters connected therewith. It enacted by Parliament in the Seventeenth Year of the Republic of India. 1. Short Title, Extent and Commencement This Act may be called the Seeds Act, 1966. It extends to the whole of India. It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act, and for different States or for different areas thereof.  

Part I - Preliminary Short title: These rules may be called the Seeds Rules, 1968 Definitions: In these rules, unless the contest otherwise requires.  

Preliminary 1. Short title and extent This Order may be called the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 It extends to the whole of India It shall come into force on the 30th December, 1983  

Aims and Objectives It has become evident that in order to achieve the food production targets of the future, a major effort will be required to enhance the seed replacement rates of various crops. This would require a major increase in the production of quality seeds, in which the private sector is expected to play a major role. At the same time, private and Public Sector Seed Organisations at both Central and State levels, will be expected to adopt economic pricing policies which would seek to realise the true cost of production. The creation of a facilitative climate for growth of a competitive and localised seed industry, encouragement of import of useful germplasm, and boosting of exports are core elements of the agricultural strategy of the new millennium. Biotechnology will be a key factor in agricultural development in the coming decades. Genetic engineering/modification techniques hold enormous promise in developing crop varieties with a higher level of tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. A conducive atmosphere for application of frontier sciences in varietal development and for enhanced investments in research and development is a pressing requirement. At the same time, concerns relating to possible harm to human and animal health and bio-safety, as well as interests of farmers, must be addressed. Globalization and economic liberalization have opened up new opportunities as well as challenges. The main objectives of the National Seeds Policy, therefore, are the provision of an appropriate climate for the seed industry to utilize available and prospective opportunities, safeguarding of the interests of Indian farmers and the conservation of agro-biodiversity. While unnecessary regulation needs to be dismantled, it must be ensured that gullible farmers are not exploited by unscrupulous elements. A regulatory system of a new genre is, therefore, needed, which will encompass quality assurance mechanisms coupled with facilitation of a vibrant and responsible seed industry.

A bill to provide for regulating the quality of seeds for sale, import and export and to facilitate production and supply of seeds of quality and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Be it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-Fifth Year of the Republic of India as follows

Seed marketing is one of the most vital components of seed technology. Broadly, it includes such activities as production, processing, storage, quality control and marketing of seeds. In the narrow sense, however seed marketing refers to the actual acquisition and selling of packed seeds, intermediate storage, delivery and sales promotional activities. Seed marketing comprises the following: Demand forecasts (assessment of effective demand) Marketing structure Arrangements for storage of seeds Sales promotional activities Post-sales service Economics of seed production and seed pricing

References Agrawal, R.L. 1995. Seed technology. Oxford and IBH Publishing. New Delhi. Bhaskaran, M., K.Vanangamudi, A.Bharathi, P.Natesan, R.Jerlin, N.Natarajan and K.Prabhakaran. 2003. Principles of Seed Production and Quality Control. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana. http://agricoop.nic.in/seedpolicy.html http://agricoop.nic.in/seeds/seeds_bill.html http://agricoop.nic.in/seedsact.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-Year_Plans_of_India http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed http://nsrtc.nic.in/testing.html http://plantquarantineindia.nic.in/PQISPub/html/seepol.html http://www.agriinfo.in/?page=topic&superid=3&topicid=78 http://www.indiaagronet.com/indiaagronet/seeds/CONTENTS/general_pr... http://www.mpkrishi.org/EngDocs/AgriLeft/alliedAgenciesSeedCerti.aspx http://www.thefreedictionary.com/seed http://seednet.gov.in/PDFFILES/Seed_Control_Order_1983.pdf http://krishi.bih.nic.in/Acts-Rules/Seed_Rules_1968.pdfh http://seednet.gov.in/PDFFILES/National%20Seed%20Policy,%202002.pdf