seed, seed technology,seed types,classes of seed,grain,seed viability,germination,seed dormancy,seed quality,grow-out test,seed truthful label, seed science

1. SEED SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(BASICS )
Vijaykumar Shrivastav ( M.Sc.Ag - Agronomy)
G. B. Pant University of Ag & Tech, Pantnagar
Seed Professional – MNC (Seeds & Pesticides)
Mobile & WhatsApp - +919925318391

2. Grain : It is the part of commercial produce, saved for sowing / planting purposes and no quality standards
apply at all .
Seed : “ Seed is a plant part having living embryo that have a capacity to produce identical
plant and used for raising seed crop or commercial crop.”
Seed is the carrier of new technology . The introduction of quality seeds of new varieties wisely
combined with other inputs significantly increases the yield levels.
A typical seed includes three basic parts: (1) an embryo, (2) a supply of nutrients for the embryo,
and (3) a seed coat.
Hybrid seed : The seed ( the F1 generation ) produced from a cross between genetically dissimilar parents and
the hybrid vigour or heterosis is the absolute phenomenon where expression of the characteristics such as growth
related traits, flowering and yield fall outside the range of it’s parents with superiority.
Seed Technology : “The discipline of study having to do with seed production, maintenance , quality and
preservation.” It can be defined as the methods through which the genetic and physical characteristics of seeds
could be improved . It involves such activities as variety development, evaluation and release, Seed production,
processing, storage and certification.

3. Importance of seed :
- Basic input in agriculture
- Carrier of new technology
- Basic tool for secured food supply
- Secure high crop yields
- A medium for rapid rehabilitation in natural disaster
- Financial support to farmers with high income
- Having high quality standard for superior performance
- Source of innovation / experimentation
Seed Technology : Aims and scopes
- Rapid multiplication
- Assurance of high quality seed
- Adequate & timely supply of improved seeds / propagating
materials
- Availability of seeds at reasonable price
- Developing new scientific techniques
- Guidelines to maintain the seed certification standards
- Technical knowledge to check the govt. statutory guidelines
of seed standards
Seed Structure. The outer covering of a seed
is called the seed coat. ... Seed coats can be
thin and soft. Endosperm, a temporary food
supply, is packed around the embryo in the
form of special leaves called cotyledons or
seed leaves.

4. Seed Types – Monocots and Dicots
Dicotseed Monocotseed
1. It is a true seeddevelopedfrom the ovule andis formedinside
the fruit.
1. The seedis known as the grain which is represented
by the seededfruit known as the caryopsis.
2. The seedcoat is distinct from the fruit coat or pericarp 2. The seedcoat is fusedwith the pericarp.
3. The seedencloses two cotyledons.
3. The seedencloses only a single cotyledon which is
known as the scutellum.
4. The seedcoat is differentiatedinto outer testa andinner tegma.
4. The seedcoat is unilayeredandis inseparable from
the pericarp.
5. The seeds may or may not possess endosperm so they are known
respectively as the endospermic or non-endospermic dicot seed.
5. Most of the monocot members possess endospermic
grains.
6. Presence of the distinct structures like the hilum, raphe and
micropyle.
6. The hilum, raphe andmicropyle are absent.
7. The two cotyledons enclose the embryonic axis in between them.
7. The grain is dividedinternally into two distinct parts
the by epithelium.
8. In the endospermic seedthe endosperm encloses the embryo.
8. The endosperm is foundabove the embryo. The
endosperm andthe embryo are separated by the
epithelium.
9. The embryonic axis is dividedinto the hypocotyl andthe
epicotyl.
9. The hypocotyl andepicotyl are absent.
10. The plumule andthe radicle are unprotected.
10. The plumule is protectedby the coleoptile andthe
radicle by the coleorhiza.
11. Reserve foodmaterial is storedin the cotyledons andis usedup
at the time of seedgermination.
11. The reserve foodmaterial is storedin the
endosperm which is passedto embryo through the
cotyledons.
A seed, stands for any of the material used for
sowing or planting like seed, seedling, tubers, bulbs,
rhizomes, roots, cuttings, grafts and any other
propagating materials for food crops, cattle fodder or
floriculture.

5. Class Source Production / multiplication Status Tag color
Nucleus /Breederseed Developed by Breeder Originating at experiment station,
directly undersupervision of breeder
Geneticpurity maintained,
source of all class of seeds,
mass selection often Golden
Certified seed Foundation seed Produced by SSCA*,
As perseed standards,
certified by SSCA,
must confirm to rigid purity &
quality seed,
underuse forcommercial crop
Blue
Produced by NSC */SSC at theirfarms,
also called Motherseed
Geneticpurity maintained,
progeny of breederseed
WhiteBreederseedFoundation seed
Registered seed Foundation seed Produced by SSC*
Geneticpurity maintained,
progeny of foundation seed,
omitted in India
Purple
NSC* - National Seeds Corporation
SSC* - State Seeds Corporation
SSCA* - State Seed Certification Agency
CLASSES OF SEEDS & IT’S MULTIPLICATION

6. CLASSES OF SEED
Breeder seed
Foundation seed
Registered seed
Certified seed
directly from plant breeder
grown from breeder seed
grown from foundation seed
grown from either foundation,
registered or certified seed
(Omitted in India)
Very small quantity
Big quantity
Bulk quantity
(Used by farmers for commercial sowing)

7. Difference between seed & Grain
Seed Grain
Result of well planned seed program Part of commercial produce saved for sowing
The pedigree of the seed is ensured, it can be
related to initial breeder seed
Varietal purity is unknown
Satisfactory seed genetic purity and seed health
ensured
Purity and health may be inferior.
The seed has to essentially meet the "Quality
standards". The quality is therefore well known.
No such standards apply. The quality is non-descript
and not known
There is quality control, quality is supervised by
Seed certification Agency, the seed is scientifically
processed, tested, stored, treated, packed and
labelled with proper lot identity.
There is no quality control.
It is not used for human consumption. It is used for human consumption and animal feed.
Seed results to crop uniformity,high yielding, good
productivity, good quality and good income.
Poor crop and low yielding, low quality, low income

8. 1. Genetic purity – refers to the trueness to type, genetically pure seed
2. Physical purity - refers to the physical composition of seed lots
3. Seed germination – refers ability of seed to give rise of normal seedling
4. Seed Vigor – refers all attributes for effective plant stand in field
5. Seed health – refers presence or absence of diseases or insect pests on seeds.
6. Seed moisture – most critical factor for maintenance of seed germination and viability
7. Seed size, weight and specific gravity- correlates germination and vigor
8. Seed color – often reflects condition during seed maturity
9. Seed viability – refers living properties / life span of seed
10. Seed dormancy – refers inability of seed to germinate in favorable environmental condition
11. Improved variety- refers superiority of variety over existing ones
Seed Quality

9. Germination : Ability of a seed when planted under normal sowing conditions to give rise to a normal
seedling and developing into new plants.
Germinating seedlings : Normal seedlings / Abnormal seedling / Dormant seedlings /Dead seedlings
TYPES OF GERMINATION :
Epigeal Germination: In this type of germination, the hypocotyl
elongates rapidly and arches upwards pulling the cotyledons
which move above the soil.
Hypogeal Germination: In this type of germination, the epicotyl elongates and the
cotyledons remain below the soil.

10. Ideal conditions for Germination :
- Optimum moisture
- Optimum Temperature
- Sunlight (Red light promotes & blue light inhibits germination
- Aeration
- Nutrient rich soil
- Good quality seed
Seed dormancy –Seed dormancy is defined as a state in which seeds are prevented from germinating even
under environmental conditions
Cause of dormancy – Hard seed coat (impermeability for O2 & H2O
- Immature embryo
- Presence of growth inhibitors
- Absence of growth promoters
- Nature of seed for periodical dormancy
Dormancy treatment - Scarification ( with sand, knife and sand papers
- temperature treatment ( Low-high)
- Light treatment (with red light)
- Pressure treatment
- Chemical treatment ( with KNO3, HCL, H2SO4, GA3 etc. )
- Cool treatment

11. Seed viability test – Topographical Tetrazolium test or TZ Test is very useful for rapidly obtaining an
indication of germination potential and viability of samples and is in extensive use
Chemical used 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride / bromide is a colorless to light yellow water-soluble dye. In the
the mitochondria of living cells, it is reduced to a deep red, water-insoluble compound (formazan). 2,3,5-
Triphenyltetrazolium chloride / bromide helps to distinguish between viable and infarcted brain tissue after stroke.
Suitable container
100 seeds + Tetrazolium chemical Red
(Moisturized longitudinally bi-sect cut seed samples) Dark warm optimum condition
Evaluation – A normal tetrazolium stain appears cherry-red to the naked eye. Under magnification, the scutellum
appears to have many dark red spots against a light red background.
Grow-out Test – Conducted to determine genetic purity of a seed lot wherever it is prerequisite for grant of
the certificate and also on the seed lots where a doubt has been arisen about the genetic purity. The grow-out
tests can be complemented by certain related laboratory tests.
Etherol treatment – used for seed germination improvement
Etherol chemical – 2-Chloractyle phosphoric acid
Method – Seed soaking with 25-30 ppm Etherol solution in 40% volume for a period of 6 hours.
ELISA Test - Enzyme-linked immune sorbent assays (ELISA) are being used extensively for the identification of
Bt-protein in Bt transgenic crops. A sandwich ELISA test is the most preferable immunoassay for the quantification
of Bt-protein in transgenic cotton plants.

12. TRUTHFUL LABEL – Details to be mentioned on seed packing
Crop
Kind
Variety
Lot No
Batch no
Date of test
Date of packing
Valid upto
Maximum retail price Rs/- (Inclusive of all taxes)
Net weight
Number of seeds
Physical purity (Min)
Inert matter (Max)
Other crop seed (Max)
Weed seed (Max)
Germination (Min)
Moisture (Max)
Genetic purity (Min)
Treated with
Recommended for cultivation in state
Recommended for cultivation season

13. Vijay Kumar