This document discusses seed basics, including the differences between monocots and dicots. Monocots have one cotyledon, parallel veins, and scattered vascular bundles, while dicots have two cotyledons, netted veins, and vascular bundles in a ring. The document also covers seed types like open pollinated varieties, heirloom varieties, and hybrid varieties. Maintaining genetic diversity and seed purity when saving seeds is important. Proper isolation distances depend on the crop's pollination biology and location.

1. Seed Basics
Botany and Biology
Russell T. Nagata
College of Tropical Agri. and Human Resources
Komohana Research and Education Center
Hawai’i Public Seed Initiative
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Hilo, Hawaii
russelln@hawaii.edu

2. Monocots and Dicots
 Major division in plant biology
 Angiosperm
 Difference in plant growth pattern
 Difference in seed germination
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3. Monocots
 one cotyledon in seed
 include all grasses
 parallel veins
 bundled vascular strands scattered
 flower petals number 1, 3 and 6
 secondary growth absent
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4. Monocots
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5. Monocot Seed
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6. Dicots
 two cotyledons in seed
 major veins netted
 flower petals number 4, 5 and many
 secondary stem growth
 vascular bundle in ring
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7. Dicot Characteristics
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8. Dicot Seed
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9. Dicot Seed
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10. Comparison
 One cotyledon
 Petals multiple of 3
 No secondary stem
growth
 Parallel major veins
 Vascular bundle
scattered
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 Two cotyledon
 4 or 5 petals
 Secondary stem
growth
 Net like major veins
 Vascular bundle in
ring

11. Seed Types
 OP or Open Pollinated Variety
 Hybrid Variety
 Heirloom Variety
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12. Open Pollinated
Variety
 allowed to “randomly mate”
 variation in plant types are normal
 good for self saving seeds
 genetic drift constant issue
 seeds generally low cost
 includes most heirloom varieties
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13. Heirloom Variety
 normally 2 to 3 generations or 60 years
of planting history
 began in an person’s garden or small
farm
 has local or regional adaption
 has one or more outstanding
characteristics
 possible to self save seeds
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14. Hybrid Variety
 created by control crossing of two plants
 anthers emasculated by hand or
physiologically, or by incompatibility
 plant vigor often associated with hybrids
 difficult to create hybrid seeds in home
garden
 usually most expensive seeds
 cannot self save seed
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15. Mating Preferences
 Self Pollinators
 Out Crossers
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16. Self Pollinators
 Self Compatible
 Floral Morphology
 enclose reproductive structures
 tubes
 pollination prior to flower opening
 flower positioned to favor self pollination
 Tomato, Snap Beans, Lettuce
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17. Out Crossers
 Wind Pollinated
 light, loose pollen
 dependent on wind direction
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18. Out Crossers
 Wind Pollinated
 Insect Pollinated
 availability of pollinators
 pollinator preference
 greenhouse production conditional
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19. Out Crossers
 Wind Pollinated
 Insect Pollinated
 Vertebrate Pollinated
 birds, mammals
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20. Out Crossers
 Wind Pollinated
 Insect Pollinated
 Vertebrate Pollinated
 Self Incompatibility
 Chemical Recognition
 Pollen and seed compatibility
 Eg. Cabbage, Onions, Radish
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21. Out Crossers
 Wind Pollinated
 Insect Pollinated
 Vertebrate Pollinated
 Self Incompatibility
 Floral Biology
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22. Floral Biology
 Monoecious
 one plant with male and female flowers
 Dioecious
 separate male and female flower plants
 Receptivity
 pollen shed and stigma receptivity not
synchronized
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23. Out Crossers
 Wind Pollinated
 Insect Pollinated
 Vertebrate Pollinated
 Self Incompatibility
 Floral Structure Dependent
 Hybrid Vigor
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24. Out Crossers
 Wind Pollinated
 Insect Pollinated
 Vertebrate Pollinated
 Self Incompatibility
 Floral Structure Dependent
 Hybrid Vigor
 Inbreeding Depression Possible
 reduced plant vigor
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25. Pollen Transfer
 Wind
 direction important in small plots
 loose pollen grains
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26. Pollen Transfer
 Wind
 Insects and Animals
 Sticky Pollen Grains
 Packaged Pollen Grains
 Bees and Wasps
 Beetles
 Flies
 Butterflies and Moths
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27. Pollen Transfer
 Wind
 Insects and Animals
 Humans
 Lack of Natural Pollinators
 New Character Combinations
 Variety Purity
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28. Reproductive Cycles
 Annuals
 Biennial
 Perennial
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29. Annuals
 Seed to Seed in One Growing Season
 Herbaceous
 Bean, pea, corn, lettuce, cucurbits
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30. Biennials
 Require Two Growing Seasons
 seed to seed
 Need Dormancy or Photoperiod
 cabbage, beets, carrots, collards, kale
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31. Perennials
 Grow Many Years
 Many Seed Cycles
 Many Are Woody Plants
 coconut, avocado, etc.
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32. Strategies on Saving
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Seeds
 What is the best source
 Genetic diversity
 Seed purity and rouging
 Selection criteria
 Isolation distances

33. What to Save From?
 Heirlooms
 Self Pollinated Crops
 Annuals
 Open Pollinated Varieties
 No Hybrids Unless…
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34. Maintaining Genetic
Diversity
 How Many Plants to Keep
 Mating Biology
 Genetic Drift
 Available Space
 More Plants or More Seeds
 Seed Yield Ratio
 Seed Quantity Needed
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35. Maintaining Genetic
Diversity
 How Many Plants to Keep
 Plant Selection
 Reason For Selection
 Eliminated Undesirables
 Move in New Direction
 New Possibility
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36. Maintaining Genetic
Diversity
 How Many Plants to Keep
 Plant Selection
 Population Makeup
 Population Uniformity
 Narrow Genetic Base
 Open Pollinated
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37. Maintaining Genetic
Diversity
 How Many Plants to Keep
 Plant Selection
 Population Makeup
 Pollination Biology
 mating behavior
 pollen transfer
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38. Seed Purity
 Dependent on Starting Material
 What are your objectives?
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39. Seed Purity
 Dependent on Starting Material
 Selection and Rouging Procedures
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40. Seed Purity
 Dependent on Starting Material
 Selection and Rouging Procedures
 Cleanliness
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41. Seed Purity
 Dependent on Starting Material
 Selection and Rouging Procedures
 Cleanliness
 Proper Labeling – Seed to Seed
 Variety Name
 Common or Scientific Name
 Date
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42. Seed Purity
 Dependent on Starting Material
 Selection and Rouging Procedures
 Cleanliness
 Proper Labeling – Seed to Seed
 Seed Saving Goals and Objectives
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43. Seed Purity
 Dependent on Starting Material
 Selection and Rouging Procedures
 Cleanliness
 Proper Labeling – Seed to Seed
 Seed Saving Goals and Objectives
 Pollen Flow Control
 Start to Finish
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44. Isolation Distances
 Crop Specific
 Pollination Biology
 Self Pollination
 Cleistogamy
 Wind Pollinated
 Insect Pollinated
 Animal Pollinated
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45. Isolation Distances
 Crop Specific
 Location Specific
 In Geographic Space
 In Time
 Exclusion of Pollinators
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