Advances in Seed Science

Contents: 1. Physiological and molecular aspects of seed development. 2. Gene expression during seed development. 3. Theories and concepts of selective cell elimination in seeds. 4. Physiological and molecular regulation of germination and dormancy. 5. Mechanism of desiccation and stress tolerance during seed development. 6. Gene expression and structural changes in membranes of developing seeds during desiccation. 7. Prediction of seed dormancy and longevity using mathematical models. 8. Effect of climate change on pollination, seed formation, development and seed quality. 9. Recent techniques in seed production of self-incompatible and apomictic plant species. 10. Somatic embryogenesis, principles and methods of production of synthetic seeds and merits and demerits. 11. Gene use restriction technology (GURT) – terminator and verminator technology. 12. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) Cas and gene editing techniques. 13. OMICS in relation to seed science and technology. 14. Principles and application of proteomics in seed development and germination. 15. Principles and application of proteomics in seed dormancy and longevity. 16. Principles and application of seed proteomics in varietal identification. 17. Genetic analysis and QTL mapping of traits related to seed germination. 18. Genetic analysis and QTL mapping of traits related to seed dormancy. 19. Genetic analysis and QTL mapping of traits related to seed vigour and longevity. 20. DNA Fingerprinting – RFLP, AFLP and RAPD techniques for identification of varieties and hybrids. 21. SSR, SNP and microarray techniques for identification of varieties and hybrids. 22. Techniques for detection of GM seeds. 23. Varietal identification through image analysis and machine vision techniques. 24. Spectral imaging for varietal identification and quality assessment. 25. Use of artificial intelligence in seed production and quality control. 26. New approaches in seed enhancement techniques – seed coating and pelleting. 27. Physiological, molecular and sub-cellular basis of seed priming. 28. Application of nano technology in seed quality enhancement. 29. Detection and identification of seed borne diseases and insect pests through ELISA. 30. Detection and identification of seed borne diseases and insect pests through PCR techniques. 31. International movement of seeds, OECD seed certification schemes. 32. Recent developments in seed laws and policies. 33. Ethical issues and IPR system related to seed trade and movement.