Book Description

• the effect of the soil physical environment on seed germination
• the roles of physiology, genetics, and environment in the inception, maintenance, and termination of dormancy
• the relationship between the termination of dormancy and the synthesis and signaling of gibberellins and abscisic acid
• mechanisms of orthodox seed deterioration and approaches for repair of seed damage
• characteristics, behavior, and mechanisms of desiccation tolerance in recalcitrant seeds
• the role of seed moisture in free radical assaults on seeds and the protective function of raffinose oligosaccharides
• the production of free radicals and their effect on lipids and lipid peroxidation
• components of grain quality in oil crops and factors influencing them
• structural components and genotypic and environmental factors affecting barley malting quality

• screening protocols for germination tolerance to temperature and water stress
• methods for improving seed performance in the field
• techniques for controlling preharvest sprouting of cereals
• breeding and production strategies for improving grain quality
• population-based threshold models in the prediction of germination and emergence patterns
• modeling changes in dormancy to predict weed emergence

• About the Editor
• Contributors
• Preface
• SECTION I: GERMINATION IN THE SOIL AND STAND ESTABLISHMENT
• Chapter 1. Seedbed Preparation—The Soil Physical Environment of Germinating Seeds
• Introduction
• Environmental Requirements of Germinating Seed
• Soil Environment—Physical Aspects
• Seedbed Preparation, Characterization of Seedbed Attributes, and Seedbed Environment Conditions and Seed Germination
• Water Uptake by Sees and Seedlings
• Seed-Soil Water Relationships
• Modeling Seed Germination and Seedbed Physical Attributes
• Concluding Remarks
• Chapter 2. The Use of Population-Based Threshold Models to Describe and Predict the Effects of Seedbed Environment on Germination and Seedling Emergence of Crops
• Introduction
• Imbibition
• Germination
• Other Germination Models
• Postgermination Seedling Growth
• Threshold Models: Prediction of Germination and Emergence Patterns in the Field
• Summary and Conclusions
• Chapter 3. Seed and Agronomic Factors Associated with Germination Under Temperature and Water Stress
• Introduction
• Seed Coats
• Seed Size
• Seed Water Uptake
• Radicle Emergence and Root System Development
• Genetic Links to Germination Temperature Limits
• Seed Production and Seed Vigor
• Sowing Depths and Planter Technology
• Tillage Systems and Soil Structure Effects
• Interactions with Seed Treatments and Other Crop Protection Chemicals
• Screening Protocols for Germination Tolerance to Low Temperature and Water Stress
• Concluding Remarks
• Chapter 4. Methods to Improve Seed Performance in the Field
• Introduction
• Changing Seed Form and Lot Construction
• Physiological Enhancement
• Physiological Responses to Enhancement
• Ecological Aspects of Seed Hydration
• Conclusions and Future Directions
• SECTION II: DORMANCY AND THE BEHAVIOR OF CROP AND WEED SEEDS
• Chapter 5. Inception, Maintenance, and Termination of Dormancy in Grain Crops: Physiology, Genetics, and Environmental Control
• Introduction
• Physiology of Dormancy in the Cereal Grain
• Physiology of Dormancy in the Sunflower Seed
• The Expression of Dormancy in Grain Crops
• Removing Dormancy at Industrial Scale
• Genetics and Molecular Biology of Dormancy in Grain Crops
• Environmental Control of Dormancy in Grain Crops
• Concluding Remarks
• Chapter 6. Preharvest Sprouting of Cereals
• Introduction
• The Preharvest Sprouting Process
• Physiological Control of Preharvest Sprouting
• Quality of Products from Sprouted Cereals
• Measurement of Preharvest Sprouting
• Controlling Sprouting by Breeding
• Controlling Sprouting in the Field
• Chapter 7. The Exit from Dormancy and the Induction of Germination: Physiological and Molecular Aspects
• Introduction
• The Effects of Light Photoreceptors
• Embryo Growth Potential
• Endosperm Weakening
• Termination of Dormancy: Its Relationship with the Synthesis and Signaling of Gibberellins and ABA
• Concluding Remarks
• Chapter 8. Modeling Changes in Dormancy in Weed Soil Seed Banks: Implications for the Prediction of Weed Emergence
• Introduction
• Dormancy: Definitions and Classification
• How Is Dormancy Level Expressed?
• Environmental Factors Affecting Dormancy Level of Seed Populations
• Factors That Terminate Dormancy
• Conceptualizing the System with Modeling Purposes
• Modeling Dormancy Changes in Weed Seed Banks As Affected by the Environment
• Concluding Remarks
• SECTION III: SEED LONGEVITY AND STORAGE
• Chapter 9. Orthodox Seed Deterioration and Its Repair
• Introduction
• The First Seed
• Seed Deterioration
• Mechanisms of Orthodox Seed Deterioration
• Free Radical Production
• Free Radicals and Their Effects on Lipids
• How Do Free Radicals Cause Lipid Peroxidation?
• What Is the Influence of Seed Moisture Content on Free Radical Assault?
• Do Free Radicals Attack Only Lipids?
• Why Suspect Free Radical Attack on Mitochondria?
• How Are Seeds Protected Against Free Radical Attack?
• Raffinose Oligosaccharides and Their Protective Role
• Repair of Seed Damage
• Model of Seed Deterioration and Repair During Priming/Hydration
• Conclusions
• Chapter 10. Recalcitrant Seeds
• Seed Characteristics—The Broad Picture
• Seed Behavior
• The Suite of Interacting Processes and Mechanisms Involved in Desiccation Tolerance
• Drying Rate and Causes of Damage in Recalcitrant Seeds
• SECTION IV: INDUSTRIAL QUALITY OF SEEDS
• Chapter 11. Processing Quality Requirements for Wheat and Other Cereal Grains
• Introduction
• The Range of Grain Species Used Industrially
• Cereal Grains and Out Diet
• Uses of Cereal Grains
• Wheat-Grain Quality Traits: A Molecular Basis
• Grain Hardness
• Starch Properties
• Conclusion
• Chapter 12. Grain Quality in Oil Crops
• Introduction
• Components of Grain Quality in Oil Crops and Factors Influencing Them
• Oil Quality
• Meal Quality
• Breeding and Production Strategies
• Chapter 13. The Malting Quality of Barley
• Introduction
• Grain Structural Components That Affect Malting Quality
• Genotypic and Environmental Factors Affecting Malting Quality
• Achieving Barley-Grain Quality Targets
• Conclusions
• Index
• Reference Notes Included