Applying population-based threshold models to quantify and improve seed quality attributes

Description

Achieving rapid and uniform stand establishment in crops requires a combination of high-quality seeds and appropriate environmental conditions. In particular, temperature and soil moisture (or water potential) are the major factors influencing germination in the field. In this chapter, we focus on the application of population-based threshold (PBT) models to characterize seed germination time courses and how environmental and technological inputs influence them. Viewing seed quality as a product of the behavior of populations of individual seeds is critical for understanding the causes and consequences of poor performance. Quantitatively characterizing seed population features enables their use in seed sorting and seed enhancement, and provides phenotypes for use in research, breeding, conservation and restoration. We believe that PBT models are essential tools to enable full utilization of new advances in seed technology to improve seed quality and enable successful stand establishment in agriculture or in natural settings.

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 The importance of seed quality and behavior in crop production and weed control 3 Understanding the population-based behavior of seeds 4 Population-based models for environmental factors affecting seed germination 5 Population-based models for physiological and other factors affecting seed behavior: dormancy, aging, seed vigor, respiration and other characteristics 6 Applying population-based threshold models 7 Future trends in research 8 Where to look for further information 9 Acknowledgements 10 Abbreviations 11 References