Applying population-based threshold models to quantify and improve seed quality attributes

• Main Author: Bradford, Kent J. (auth)
• Other Authors: Bello, Pedro (auth)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing 2022
• Series: Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science
• Subjects: Agronomy & crop production; Plant physiology; Plant reproduction & propagation; Sustainable agriculture; Agricultural science; Population-based threshold models; germination time course; seedling emergence; hydrotime; hydrothermal time; seed dormancy; seed priming; seed aging; seed storage
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

Achieving rapid and uniform stand establishment in crops requires a combination of high-quality seeds and appropriate environmental conditions. In particular, temperature and soil moisture (or water potential) are the major factors influencing germination in the field. In this chapter, we focus on the application of population-based threshold (PBT) models to characterize seed germination time courses and how environmental and technological inputs influence them. Viewing seed quality as a product of the behavior of populations of individual seeds is critical for understanding the causes and consequences of poor performance. Quantitatively characterizing seed population features enables their use in seed sorting and seed enhancement, and provides phenotypes for use in research, breeding, conservation and restoration. We believe that PBT models are essential tools to enable full utilization of new advances in seed technology to improve seed quality and enable successful stand establishment in agriculture or in natural settings.