Seed Science and Technology 

About: Seed Science and Technology is an academic journal published by International Seed Testing Association. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Germination & Seedling. It has an ISSN identifier of 0251-0952. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 2509 publications have been published receiving 40113 citations.

The quantification of ageing and survival in orthodox seeds

Abstract: Orthodox seed ageing, survival and longevity are discussed in relation to environmental factors during storage. It is explained why it has been necessary to introduce a new improved viability equation to quantify the relationship between seed longevity and storage environment. This new equation may be applied to predict the viability of seed lots of all cultivars of species after any period under a very wide range of storage environments. Other symptoms of seed deterioration which occur before death are discussed in terms of both the individual and the population. Evidence is presented for a model which represents and quantifies the development of ageing symptoms in seed lots.

Seed deterioration: Physiology, repair and assessment

Abstract: Unpalatable food and unsatisfactory stand establishment are undesirable consequences of seed and grain deterioration. Considerable research has been generated in the last 15 years focusing on the physiology, repair, and assessment of seed deterioration, but this information has yet to be collated into a comprehensive review. The objective of this report is to systematically summarize these findings from a physiological perspective. A model of seed deterioration is forwarded arguing that free radical assault on mitochondrial membranes may be a primary event of seed deterioration. The purpose of the review is to stimulate debate about the mechanism(s) of seed deterioration thereby improving our understanding and directing future study of this important event that compromises seed and grain quality.

Accelerated aging techniques for predicting the relative storability of seed lots

Abstract: CHARLES C. BASKIN Extension Agronomist, Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service, Mississippi State University, State College, U.S.A. BS, MS, AuburnUniversity, Auburn. Alabama; PhD, Mississippi State University, State College. Seed company management must make many technical decisions in the course of business operations. One of the important decisions that must be made each season involves the determination of which seed lots among those held in inventory should be marketed first and which can be safely held for carry-over in the event of a weak market or to insure an adequate seed supply the following year. 1 Journal Paper No. 2133 of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State University, State College, Mississippi. The major portion of the research on which this report is based was supported under Cooperative Agreement No. 12-14-100-9010 (51) between the MAFES and MQRD, ARS, USDA (1966-70). Substantial support during the early stages of the work was provided by a grant from the American Seed Research Foundation (1964-1966). The Southern Seedsmen's Association granted funds during the period 1966-1970 for closely related research. 2 Agronomist, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, and Extension Agronomist, Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service, respectively.

The interaction between salinity stress and seed vigour during germination of soyabean seeds

Abstract: Seeds of six soyabean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivars were germinated between paper towels moistened with a range of solutions of both NaCI (32.2 to 421.1 mmolal NaCI) and polyethylene glycol (PEG, 5-30% w/v). The solutions of NaCI and PEG used had the same water potentials within the range -0.23 to -1.9 MPa. After 8d the ungerminated seeds were transferred to towels moistened with deionised water for 7d. Cultivars differed in their response to salinity and failure of seeds to recover from high salinity when transferred to deionised water, revealed the toxicity of NaCl. In contrast, the increase in germination during the recovery period after exposure to PEG suggested that PEG was not toxic. At the same external water potential, the lower mean germination time (MGT) and higher final germination in NaCl than in PEG could be explained by the more rapid imbibition in NaCl solutions and achievement of a moisture content that allowed germination. The influence of seed vigour on the response of soyabean to stress was examined using seeds having high percentage germination but a range of seed vigour, produced by rapid ageing at 15% moisture content (MC) and 45°C for up to 9h. The germination of aged seeds having reduced vigour fell with increased salinity (330, 421 mmolal NaCI) but there was no significant interaction between salinity and seed ageing. Transfer of unaged and aged seeds to 0 MPa after exposure to NaCI resulted in a greater increase in the germination of unaged seeds. The negative correlation of seed leachate conductivity and MGT with the increase percentage germination after transfer to 0 MPa suggested that seed vigour influences the ability of seeds to recover from saline conditions.