This open-access edited book is a collection of 17 chapters synthesized primarily from the
lectures delivered by eminent Indian and international experts during a series of
capacity-building programmes organised in India during 2020 and 2021 under the aegis of
'Indo-German Cooperation on Seed Sector Development' a component of the Bilateral Cooperation
between the Governments of India and Germany. Seed Science and Technology a multi-disciplinary
subject is advancing rapidly keeping pace with the development of improved plant varieties and
other climate-resilient technologies. Knowledge of the underlying biological processes and
application of appropriate technologies for variety maintenance and seed production quality
assurance testing and enhancement processing packaging and storage etc. are important in a
seed programme. Chapters presented in the book is a blend of basic seed biology covering seed
development maturation dormancy germination vigour and invigoration and seed deterioration
variety maintenance and production of genetically pure seed of open-pollinated and hybrid
varieties in a few key field crops and vegetables and fundamentals of seed processing
packaging and storage and seed quality assurance systems followed in different countries
testing the essential components of seed quality including seed health application of
molecular technologies for precision in testing and enhancement of seed quality. It concludes
by identifying the key areas of future seed research and technology development. The book
covers the fundamentals and recent advances of seed science and technology with the latest
research information and an exhaustive and updated list of references on different topics. It
is expected to benefit the students as well as the scientists faculty members and seed sector
professionals working in the public and private seed sectors certification authorities and
seed producing agencies in India and elsewhere.
