Seed Health Management for Better Productivity - Govind Ballabh ...

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(Seed Health Management for Better Productivity)Seeds: The Tale of BiotechnologyAnil Kumar and Dinesh YadavDepartment of MBGE, CBSH, G.B.P.U.A.&T., Pantnagar-263145 (Uttarakhand)“Seeds are the connection between the past and the future. They contain the accumulatedgenetic wisdom of the past, and the potential for its perpetuation in the future”Seed is the most important determinant of agricultural production potential, on whichthe efficacy of other agriculture inputs is dependent. Seeds of appropriate characteristics arerequired to meet the demand of diverse ago-climatic conditions and intensive croppingsystems. Sustained increase in agriculture production and productivity is dependent to alarge extent, on development of new improved varieties of crops and an efficient system fortimely supply of quality seeds to farmers. The seed sector has made impressive progressover the last three decades. There has been considerable progress in production of goodquality seeds at commercial level with the involvement of multinational companiesthroughout the world. The production and distribution of seeds is a complex processinvolving farmers, growers, government agencies, research institutions and otherstakeholders. The demand for hybrid seeds and transgenic seeds is also increasing basedon the added benefit of better yield and incorporation of desired traits. Seeds are the sourceof life and delivery systems for agricultural biotechnology. Quality seeds are the most criticaland basic input for agricultural output, and accounts for 25-30% of yield increase. In India80% of the farmers rely on farm-saved seeds which may results in low yield. Indian seedsprogramme recognizes three kind of seed generations namely breeder, foundation andcertified seeds. There has been substantial increase in the production of foundation seedsand distribution of quality/ certified seeds as compared to breeder seed in the recent years.The area under certified seeds has increased from less than 500 hectares in 1962-63 to over5 lakh hectares in 1999-2000. The quantum of quality seeds has crossed 100 lakh quintals.The seed sector is seen as a major driver of agriculture sector in the country and isexpected to enhance the production based on increased seed replacement rate, higherconversion, wider use of proprietary hybrids, increased farmer awareness of new methodsand introduction of technologically advance products that offer improved biotic and abiotictraits. The commercial seed market in the country accounts for 25 per cent of the totalmarket potential and the remaining 75 per cent is dominated by vareital seeds that farmersretain from prominent food and commercial crops. Seed quality is an important considerationin agricultural practices and needs to be evaluated for better production. Seed quality is acomplex trait being influenced by interaction of numerous genetic and environmental factors.High quality seed leads to excellent seedling performance in the field and is need of thehour. Conventional plant breeding approach in combination with modern biotechnological- 188 -
(Seed Health Management for Better Productivity)tools can enhance physiological quality, vigor and synchronity of seeds to establish a crop in thefield under diverse environmental conditions.Varietal identification: A core issue in seed productionConventionally identification of any cultivar has relied on morphological markers, whichrequires a detailed study of seeds and or growing plants and the observation recording andanalysis of a number of morphological characters. However, these methods are subjective andmay be influenced by environmental conditions. Further these markers were not quite enough toexpose the genetic diversity between the morphological overlap cultivars and the morphologicalidentical accessions. The need, therefore, for new method such as molecular methods wasdisparate. These methods are independent of cultivar morphology and physiology, and offersignificant advantages over morphological methods of variety and/or species identification in thatthey are rapid, relatively cheap, eliminate the need to grow plants to maturity and are largelyunaffected by the growing environment.Molecular methods for variety identification can be divided in to two classes:1. Protein based methods and 2. DNA based methodsBecause of the increased emphasis on quality of food product for specific purposes, thereis a need for development of methods which ensure quality assurance, variety identitypreservation, seed purity and product traceability. Exporters, importers and consumers globally aredemanding higher quality products, including specific varieties of grain for specific purposes.Hence, with the advent of new technology, stricter quality control and international competition, theimportance of efficient varietal identification techniques can not be neglected. Varietal identificationtechniques are also required for enforcement of Intellectual property rights and resolution ofcontroversial issues related with the use of patented variety and introduction of a variety forcommercial production. Varietal identification is required for discrimination of various crop varietiesof agriculture and horticulture and is crucial from seed technology view point. For example, it isessential for maintenance of plant breeders rights, and implementation of rigid standards forvarietal identity and purity. Varietal identification techniques are also important to check hybridity ofthe cultivars which is essential to detect if varieties are segregating or not.Seed quality improvementSeed technologies include priming, pelleting, coating, artificial seeds, and other novel seedtreatment methods for quality improvement. Seed germination is controlled by environmentalfactors (light, temperature, water) and on plant hormones as endogenous regulators (gibberellins,abscisic acid, ethylene, auxin, cytokinins, brassinosteroids). The utilization of plant hormones andinhibitors of their biosynthesis and action in seed treatment technologies affects seed germinationand seedling emergence. The genes, enzymes, signaling components and down-stream targets ofplant hormones provide molecular marker for seed quality and seedling performance.Various mechanical techniques like polishing off or rubbing off seed coat (testa) or fruitcoat (pericarp) projections or hairs and seed sorting by sizes and seed density can contribute to- 189 -
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Page 219 and 220: potential. An improvement in qualit
Page 221 and 222: 9. Session Arrangement CommitteeDr.
Page 223 and 224: 9. Dr. Pradip Kumar BorahSr. Scient
Page 225 and 226: TRAININGONANNEXURE-IIISEED HEALTH M
Page 227 and 228: ANNEXURE-IVCENTRE OF ADVANCED STUDI
Page 229 and 230: SundayApril 6MondayApril 7TuesdayAp
Page 231: TuesdayApril 15WednesdayApril 16Thu
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