Experimental Seed Science and Technology

Contents: Preface. 1. Seed structure and identification. 2. Seed dormancy. 3. Seed hardening. 4. Seed priming. 5. Seed pelleting. 6. Upgradation of rice seed quality. 7. Emasculation and dusting. 8. Delinting of cotton seed. 9. Supplementary pollination. 10. Seed extraction techniques. 11. Cultivar identification. 12. Seed processing. 13. Mechanical injury. 14. Blending of seed lots. 15. Physical and genetic contaminants. 16. Field inspection. 17. Grow out test. 18. Seed certification agency. 19. Seed sampling. 20. Purity analysis. 21. ODV test. 22. Seed moisture estimation. 23. Seed germination test. 24. Quick viability test. 25. Seed health test. 26. Seed vigour test. 27. Seed testing laboratory. Reference. "Seed is the best bet of nature against the ravages of time and all other adversities. Man started appreciating the intense and immense potential of seeds long time ago; further he devised technologies to harness the insitu potential of seeds. The role of seed and seed technology in improving the country's food production needs no overemphasis. Today, seeds are celebrated as a basic tool for secured food supply, a carrier of new technologies, so on and so forth. Never the less, the seed industry has grown into a dictator of modern agriculture. This book is designed such that it takes the initiative to sensitize the students to scientific learning of seed science and technology. It contains features to explain, why seed science and technology is an important and practical subject. Each chapter begins with 'goal' statements. This identifies what the student can expect to learn through the chapter. The principles and basics of each topic is dealt at length to provide the students all the facts which will prepare them to appreciate the applications of seed science and technology. Each chapter is enriched with 'activity' section. This guides the students step--by-step, to conduct experiments and learn the intricacies. Sufficient space is provided for incorporation the 'data and observations' after conducting each experiment. Sets of review questions called 'making sure' have been placed as the concluding part of each chapter. These questions provide another means of self-evaluation. In short, this book is tailor-made to eliminate the need for mechanical task of voluminous record writing and drawing and to motivate the student to think and analyse different aspects of science and technology." (jacket).…