1. Hort 4040 - 2011 Paul A. Thomas The University of Georgia Producing Plants From Seed

2. No Two Seeds Are Alike

3. Expiration Date Planting Depth Directions Important Information Source

4. GerminationPercentage Lot Number Scientific Name More Information

5. Fungicides/RhyzobiaFungicides/Rhyzobia PolycoatingPolycoating Pre-germinatedPre-germinated Seed Coatings

6. Seed Collecting Seeds collected from hybrids rarely look like the parent plant due to the random reassortment of genetic material, and the random sources of pollen. Native species tend to be more stable, but also have variation between generations. To get a clone, try vegetative propagation!

7. Seed Deterioration Seeds lose half their storage life for every 1% increase in seed moisture between 5 and 14%. Seeds lose half their storage life for every 5 degrees C increase in storage temperature between 0 o and 50 o C.

8. Life Expectancy Of Selected Seeds Sugar Maple 2 weeks English Elm 26 weeks Cocklebur 16 years White Clover 90 years Sensitive Plant 200 years Indian Lotus 1,040 years Artic Lupine 10,000 years

9. Seed Storage Moist Storage @35 to 50 o F Dry Storage @ 35 to 50 o F* Cold Storage @ 0 o F, –18 o C * Cryopreservation @ -196 o C * *** at 3 – 8% Moisture *** at 3 – 8% Moisture

10. The Cycle of Life

11. 1. Imbibed water stimulates Gibberellin synthesis. 2-3. Gibberellins diffuse to the aleurone layer and stimulate the synthesis of enzymes.. 4-5. Enzymes break down the starch and the sugars are transported to the developing embryo.

12. Advantages of Seed Dormancy Favors seedling survival Favors seedling survival Creates a seed bank Creates a seed bank Seed dispersal (birds) Seed dispersal (birds) Synchronizes germination with seasons Synchronizes germination with seasons

13. Types of Dormancy in Seed – The seeds are able to germinate upon Quiescent – The seeds are able to germinate upon imbibition of water at permissive temperatures. – Seeds cannot germinate Primary Dormancy – Seeds cannot germinate even if immediate conditions are right. This form of dormancy delays germination until season, or other macro-environmental issues are right for survival. – An additional level of Secondary Dormancy – An additional level of Protection to prevent germination. Can be induced under very unfavorable conditions such as drought or cold, etc.

14. - Imposed by Exogenous Dormancy - Imposed by factors outside the embryo. factors outside the embryo. Seed coat. – Imposed by Endogenous Dormancy – Imposed by factors within the embryo. Underdeveloped embryo. Types of Dormancy in Seed

15. Physical – Impermeable seed coat : Scarification Chemical – Inhibitors in seed coat : Removal / Leaching Exogenous Dormancy

16. Photodormancy : A type of dormancy Photodormancy : A type of dormancy where the ability of the seed to germinate is controlled by the wavelengths and durations of light received by the embryo. Lettuce, Butterflyweed, Tobacco

17. SEED STORAGE Recalcitrant Seed – Short-term Viability – Store warm and moist (ASAP) Tropical – Store warm and moist (ASAP) Coffee, Cocoa, Mango, Macadamia, Avocado, Tea – Store cool and moist (ASAP) Subtropical – Store cool and moist (ASAP) Maple, Oak, Elm, Poplar, Salix,

18. Orthodox Seed – Store dry and cold (Under 1 yr) Short-Lived – Store dry and cold (Under 1 yr) Vinca, Pansy, Begonia - Store dry and cold ( 2-5 years) Medium - Lived - Store dry and cold ( 2-5 years) Marigold, Petunia, Coleus – Store dry and cold ( 5-200 years) Long - Lived – Store dry and cold ( 5-200 years) Morning Glory, Zinnia, Hollyhock

19. Testing Viability - Simplified

20. Fermentation Fermentation Flotation Flotation Blender Separation Blender Separation Screen-Press Separation Screen-Press Separation Gravity Separators Gravity Separators Hand Separation Hand Separation Sifting Sifting Drying (Heating Pine Cones) Drying (Heating Pine Cones) Extraction Methods

21. Seed Cleaning / Separation For many dry seed, simply crush dried material and blow gently, transferring the seed from hand to hand. Cleaning seed reduces disease and weed seed from growing along with your selection

22. Fleshy Berry Seed

23. Preconditioning Seeds (for more uniform germination) Mechanical scarification Soaking In Water Acid Scarification Moist Chilling / Freezing Double Dormancy Methods:

24. Hot Water Scarification Water temperature should be over 110 O F Let soak for a few hours. Stir often. Do not re-heat the water. Plant ASAP.

25. Mechanical Scarification

26. Moist Stratification Cold or Warm

27. Seed Soaking / Leaching Seed soaking optimizes the amount of imbibed seeds and evens out the stage of imbibition by insuring 100% moisture availability Soaking too long can cause anoxia and reduced germination. 12-36 hours is a very common soaking period.

28. Germination Of Lettuce

29. Handling Tiny Seeds Mix Seed with Sand

30. Electric Heating Tapes