Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-21T23:39:21.025Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Seed enhancements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

A. G. Taylor*
Affiliation:
Department of Horticultural Sciences, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USA
P. S. Allen
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
M. A. Bennett
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
K. J. Bradford
Affiliation:
Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
J. S. Burris
Affiliation:
Seed Science Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IO 50011, USA
M. K. Misra
Affiliation:
Seed Science Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IO 50011, USA
*
*[email protected]+1-315-787-2320

Abstract

Seed enhancements may be defined as post-harvest treatments that improve germination or seedling growth, or facilitate the delivery of seeds and other materials required at the time of sowing. This definition includes three general areas of enhancements: pre-sowing hydration treatments (priming), coating technologies and seed conditioning. Pre-sowing hydration treatments include non-controlled water uptake systems (methods in which water is freely available and not restricted by the environment) and controlled systems (methods that regulate seed moisture content preventing the completion of germination). Three techniques are used for controlled water uptake: priming with solutions or with solid particulate systems or by controlled hydration with water. These priming techniques will be discussed in this paper with reference to methodology, protocol optimization, drying and storage. Coating technologies include pelleting and film coating, and coatings may serve as delivery systems. Seed conditioning equipment upgrades seed quality by physical criteria. Integration of these methods can be performed, and a system is described to upgrade seed quality in Brassica that combines hydration, coating and conditioning. Upgrading is achieved by detecting sinapine leakage from nonviable seeds in a coating material surrounding the seeds. Seed-coat permeability directly influences leakage rate, and seeds of many species have a semipermeable layer. The semipermeable layer restricts solute diffusion through the seed coat, while water movement is not impeded. Opportunities for future seed enhancement research and development are highlighted.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allen, P S (1997) Dehydration of primed seeds can alter rate of subsequent radicle emergence. pp 158163in Bennett, M A and Metzger, J D (Eds) Fifth national symposium on stand establishment, Columbus, Ohio.Google Scholar
Argerich, C A, Bradford, K J and Tarquis, A M (1989) The effects of priming and ageing on resistance to deterioration of tomato seeds. Journal of Experimental Botany 40, 593598.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beresniewicz, M M, Taylor, A G, Goffinet, M C and Koeller, W D (1995a) Chemical nature of a semipermeable layer in seed coats of leek, onion (Liliaceae), tomato and pepper (Solanaceae). Seed Science and Technology 23, 135145.Google Scholar
Beresniewicz, M M, Taylor, A G, Goffinet, M C and Terhune, B T (1995b) Characterization and location of a semipermeable layer in seed coats of leek, onion (Liliaceae), tomato and pepper (Solanaceae). Seed Science and Technology 23, 123134.Google Scholar
Beresniewicz, M M, Taylor, A G, Goffinet, M C and Terhune, B T (1995b) Seed coat integrity in relation to amino acid leakage in onion (Allium cepa) and leek (Allium porrum). Plant Varieties and Seeds 8, 8795.Google Scholar
Berlage, A G and Brandenburg, N R (1984) Seed conditioning equipment research. Seed Science and Technology 12, 895908.Google Scholar
Bewley, J D and Black, M (1994) Seeds: physiology of development and germination, 2nd edn.New York, Plenum Press.Google Scholar
Bradford, K J (1986) Manipulation of seed water relations via osmotic priming to improve germination under stress conditions. HortScience 21, 11051112.Google Scholar
Bradford, K J (1995) Water relations in seed germination. pp 351396in Kigel, J and Galili, G (Eds) Seed development and germination. New York, Marcel Dekker, Inc.Google Scholar
Bradford, K J and Haigh, A M (1994) Relationship between accumulated hydrothermal time during seed priming and subsequent seed germination rates. Seed Science Research 4, 6369.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brandenburg, N R (1977) The principles and practice of seed cleaning: separation with equipment that senses dimensions, shape, density and terminal velocity of seeds. Seed Science and Technology 5, 173186.Google Scholar
Brandenburg, N R and Park, J K (1977) The principles and practice of seed cleaning: separation with equipment that senses surface texture, colour, resilience and electrical properties of seeds. Seed Science and Technology 5, 187197.Google Scholar
Bruggnink, G T, Ooms, J J J and van der Toorn, P (1997) Induction of longevity in primed seeds. Abstract, p 43in Symposium on seed biology and technology: applications and advances. Fort Collins, Colorado.Google Scholar
Buljaski, W, Nienow, A W, Petch, G M, Drew, R L K and Maude, R P (1992) The process engineering of leek seeds: a feasibility study. Seed Science and Technology 20, 129139.Google Scholar
Burris, J S, Prijic, L M and Chen, Y (1994) A small-scale laboratory fluidized bed seed-coating apparatus. pp 419423 in Martin, T (Ed.) Seed treatment: progress and prospects. Surrey, British Crop Protection Council.Google Scholar
Butler, R (1993) Coatings, films and treatments. Seed World, October, 19–24.Google Scholar
Cheng, Z, Gurusinghe, S and Bradford, K J (1997) Hydrothermal time and cell cycle activity during priming of tomato seeds. pp 150156in Bennett, M A and Metzger, J D (Eds) Fifth national symposium on stand establishment. Columbus, Ohio.Google Scholar
Copeland, L O and McDonald, M B (1995) Seed science and technology, 3rd edn.New York, Chapman & Hall.Google Scholar
de Serres, O (1600) Le théâtre d'Agriculture et mesnage des champs.Google Scholar
Debaene-Gill, S B, Allen, P S and White, D B (1994) Dehydration of germinating perennial ryegrass seeds can alter rate of subsequent radicle emergence. Journal of Experimental Botany 81, 739744.Google Scholar
Desai, B B, Kotecha, P M and Salunkhe, D K (1997) Seeds handbook. New York, Marcel Dekker, Inc.Google Scholar
Duan, X and Burris, J S (1997) Film coating impairs leaching of germination inhibitors in sugar beet seeds. Crop Science 37, 515520.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eastin, J A (1990) Solid matrix priming of seeds. US Patent No. 4,912,874.Google Scholar
Evenari, M (1980/1981) The history of germination research and the lesson it contains for today. Israel Journal of Botany 29, 421.Google Scholar
Hacisalihoglu, G (1997) Differential control of embryo growth potential in tomato and lettuce seeds. MSc thesis, Cornell University.Google Scholar
Halmer, P (1988) Technical and commercial aspects of seed pelleting and film-coating. pp 191204in Martin, T J (Ed.) Application to seeds and soil. British Crop Protection Council.Google Scholar
Hardegree, S P and Emmerich, W E (1990) Effect of polyethylene glycol exclusion on the water potential of solution-saturated filter paper. Plant Physiology 92, 462466.Google Scholar
Hill, H J (1997) New developments in seed technology. Proceedings of the Oregon Horticultural Society, Portland, Oregon 88, 123130.Google Scholar
Hill, H J and Taylor, A G (1989) Relationship between viability, endosperm integrity and imbibed lettuce density and leakage. HortScience 24, 814816.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hill, H J, Taylor, A G and Huang, X L (1988) Seed viability determinations in cabbage utilizing sinapine leakage and electrical conductivity measurements. Journal of Experimental Botany 39, 14391448.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khan, A A (1992) Preplant physiological seed conditioning. pp 131181in Janick, J (Ed.) Horticultural reviews. New York, John Wiley & Sons.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lang, A R G (1967) Osmotic coefficients and water potentials of sodium chloride solutions from 0 to 40°C. Australian Journal of Chemistry 20, 20172023.Google Scholar
Langan, T D, Pendleton, J W and Oplinger, E S (1986) Peroxide coated seed emergence in water-saturated soil. Agronomy Journal 78, 769772.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, P C and Taylor, A G (1995) Accuracy of sinapine leakage in Brassica as a method to detect seed germinability. Plant Varieties and Seeds 8, 1728.Google Scholar
Lee, P C, Taylor, A G and Paine, D H (1997) Sinapine leakage for detection of seed quality in Brassica. pp 535545in Ellis, R H, Black, M, Murdoch, A J and Hong, T D (Eds) Basic and applied aspects of seed biology. Dordrecht, Kluwer Academic Publishers.Google Scholar
Lee, P C, Paine, D H and Taylor, A G (1998) Detection and removal of off-colored bean seeds by color sorting. Seed Technology 20, 4355.Google Scholar
Lee, S S, Taylor, A G, Beresniewicz, M M and Paine, D H (1995) Sugar leakage from aged leek, onion and cabbage seeds. Plant Varieties and Seeds 8, 8186.Google Scholar
Leopold, A C, Sun, W Q and Bernal-Lugo, I (1994) The glassy state in seeds: analysis and function. Seed Science Research 4, 267274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mauromicale, G and Cavallaro, V (1995) Effects of seed osmopriming on germination of tomato at different water potentials. Seed Science and Technology 23, 393403.Google Scholar
McGee, D C (1995) Advances in seed treatment technology. Technical report no. 11. pp 114in McNicoll, A (Ed.) Proceedings of the Asia and Pacific Seed Association. New Delhi, APSA.Google Scholar
Michel, B E (1983) Evaluation of the water potentials of solutions of polyethylene glycol 8000 both in the absence and presence of other solutes. Plant Physiology 72, 6670.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ni, B R (1997) Seed coating, film coating and pelleting. pp 737747in Chinese Association of Agricultural Sciences, DOA Ministry of Agriculture PR China and China National Seed Group Corporation (Ed.) Seed industry and agricultural development. Beijing, China Agriculture Press.Google Scholar
Parera, C A and Cantliffe, D J (1994) Presowing seed priming. pp 109141in Janick, J (Ed.) Horticultural reviews. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Google Scholar
Powell, A A, Yule, L J and Thornton, J M (1997) Influence of the aerated hydration seed invigoration treatment on the response of Brassica seed to storage. pp 141149in Bennett, M A and Metzger, J D (Eds) Fifth national symposium on stand establishment. Columbus, OH.Google Scholar
Ptasznik, W and Khan, A A (1993) Retaining the benefits of matriconditioning by controlled drying of snap bean seeds. HortScience 28, 10271030.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riesse, J H, Misra, M K, Knapp, A D and Bern, C J (1991) Conditioning shriveled soybean seed. Part I. Variation in physical properties. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 34, 481486.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robani, H (1994) Film-coating horticultural seed. HortTechnology 4, 104105.Google Scholar
Rowse, H R (1991) Methods of priming seeds. US Patent No. 5,119,589.Google Scholar
Rowse, H R (1996) Drum priming. Seed Science and Technology 24, 281294.Google Scholar
Sachs, M, Cantliffe, D J and Nell, T A (1981) Germination of clay-coated sweet pepper seeds. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences 106, 385389.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scott, J M (1989) Seed coatings and treatments and their effects on plant establishment. Advances in Agronomy 42, 4383.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scott, J.M, Blair, G.J and Andrews, A C (1997) The mechanics of coating seeds in a small rotating drum. Seed Science and Technology 25, 281292.Google Scholar
Shyy, Y Y and Misra, M K (1987) Automation of an air-screen seed cleaner. ASAE paper no. 87–6038. St Joseph, Michigan, American Society of Agricultural Engineers.Google Scholar
Shyy, Y Y and Misra, M K (1992) Computer control of a gravity table. ASAE paper no. 92–3546. St Joseph, Michigan, American Society of Agricultural Engineers.Google Scholar
Shyy, Y Y and Misra, M K (1994) Development of a soybean quality analyzer. pp 317322in Proceedings of the FPAC III Conference: Food Processing Automation, Orlando, Florida.Google Scholar
Steuter, A A, Mozafar, A and Goodin, J R (1981) Water potential of aqueous polyethylene glycol. Plant Physiology 67, 6467.Google Scholar
Sun, W Q, Koh, D C Y and Ong, C M (1997) Correlation of modified water sorption with the decline of storage stability of osmotically-primed Phaseolus aureus seeds. Seed Science Research 7, 391397.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tarquis, A M and Bradford, K J (1992) Prehydration and priming treatments that advance germination also increase the rate of deterioration of lettuce seeds. Journal of Experimental Botany 43, 307317.Google Scholar
Taylor, A G (1997) Seed storage, germination and quality. pp 136in Wien, H. C. (Ed.) The physiology of vegetable crops. Wallingford, CAB International.Google Scholar
Taylor, A G and Eckenrode, C J (1993) Seed coating technologies to apply Trigard for the control of onion maggot and to reduce pesticide application. pp 7378in Efforts pertinent to the integrated pest management effort at Cornell University 1993. NYS IPM Publication #117.Google Scholar
Taylor, A G and Harman, G E (1990) Concepts and technologies of selected seed treatments. Annual Review of Phytopathology 28, 321339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, A G, Huang, X L and Hill, H J (1988) Sinapine leakage from non-viable cabbage seeds. Journal of Experimental Botany 39, 14331438.Google Scholar
Taylor, A G, Min, T G and Mallaber, C A (1991) Seed coating system to upgrade Brassicaceae seed quality by exploiting sinapine leakage. Seed Science and Technology 19, 423434.Google Scholar
Taylor, A G, Prusinski, J, Hill, H J and Dickson, M D (1992) Influence of seed hydration on seedling performance. HortTechnology 2, 336344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, A G, Churchill, D B, Lee, S S, Bilsland, D M and Cooper, T M (1993a) Color sorting of coated Brassica seeds by fluorescent sinapine leakage to improve germination. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 118, 551556.Google Scholar
Taylor, A G, Paine, D H and Paine, C A (1993b) Sinapine leakage from Brassica seeds. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 118, 546550.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, A G, Harman, G E and Nielsen, P A (1994) Biological seed treatments using Trichoderma harzianum for horticultural crops. HortTechnology 4, 105109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, A G, Lee, S S, Beresniewicz, M B and Paine, D H (1995) Amino acid leakage from aged vegetable seeds. Seed Science and Technology 23, 113122.Google Scholar
Taylor, A.G, Grabe, D F and Paine, D H (1997) Moisture content and water activity of pelleted and film-coated seeds. Seed Technology 19, 2432.Google Scholar
Thompson, J R (1979) An introduction to seed technology. New York, John Wiley and Sons.Google Scholar
Thornton, J M and Powell, A A (1992) Short-term aerated hydration for the improvement of seed quality in Brassica oleracea. Seed Science Research 2, 4149.Google Scholar
Valdes, V M and Bradford, K J (1987) Effects of seed coating and osmotic priming on the germination of lettuce seeds. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 112, 153156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walcott, R, Misra, M K and McGee, D C (1994) The detection of aysmptomatic soybean seeds infected with Aspergillus and Pencillium spp. using ultrasound analysis. Phytopathology 84, 1153.Google Scholar
Warren, J E and Bennett, M A (1997) Seed hydration using the drum priming system. HortScience 32, 12201221.Google Scholar
Weges, R and Karssen, C M (1990) The influence of redesiccation on dormancy and potassium ion leakage of primed lettuce seeds. Israel Journal of Botany 39, 327336.Google Scholar
Welbaum, G E and Bradford, K J (1990) Water relations of seed development and germination in muskmelon (Cucumis melo) IV. Characteristics of the perisperm during seed development. Plant Physiology 92, 10381045.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wettlaufer, S H and Leopold, A C (1991) Relevance of Amadori and Maillard products to seed deterioration. Plant Physiology 97, 165169.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yim, K O and Bradford, K J (1997) Relationship of callose accumulation to semipermeability of the perisperm of muskmelon seeds. Plant Physiology 114 (Suppl), 289.Google Scholar