Principles of Seed Science

The study of seed is undertaken by the branch of seed science. The seed is an embryonic plant that is enclosed within a protective covering. It is formed during reproduction in seed plants, including gymnosperms and angiosperms. Seeds are of immense economic significance to humans. They can be used as edibles such as cereals, legumes and nuts. Seeds are also used for extracting cooking oils, food additives, spices and beverages. They have also been used for medicinal purposes such as castor oil and tea tree oil. Hybrid seed production is crucial for modern agriculture. Hybrids are developed to improve traits in crops such as high yield, improved disease resistance, better color, etc. Open pollination and clonal propagation are alternative techniques to hybridization that are used in agriculture. This book discusses the fundamentals as well as modern approaches of seed science. It unravels the recent studies in this field. It will serve as a valuable source of reference for graduate and postgraduate students, as well as for experts.