Translation of Basic Seed Biology into Agronomy and Crop Sciences.

Seeds are an excellent delivery system of genetic information and an ideal form of germplasm conservation. Seeds of wild species play a significant role in restoration of natural habitats while seeds of crop species provide both starting materials and end products in agriculture. In either case, the genetic information stored in seeds can be realized only when germination is successfully managed. Seeds of wild species tend to maintain deep dormancy, which could be problematic when germplasm centers try to grow out certain species for their reproduction or restoration of genetic vigor. In contrast, a ‘no dormancy’ phenotype in crops species, which is the consequence of intentional or unintentional selection over the course of domestication, causes precocious germination and reduces grain quality. Therefore, it is critical to understand the mechanisms of seed dormancy and germination and utilize the scientific information for the management in environmental control and agriculture. Basic seed biology research in the last decade advanced an understanding of the mechanisms underlying seed dormancy and germination. Biochemical and molecular studies of hormonal regulation of seed dormancy have solved the mystery of the antagonistic function of gibberellin and abscisic acid in seeds. The importance of seed covering tissues, such as testa (seed coat) and endosperm, in seed germination control has also become clear through physiological and genetic studies. Recent progress in seed biology provides a great potential for “translation” of the basic knowledge into practices in agriculture and environmental sciences.