794-024 Seed Technology

The objective of this subject is to extend participants' ability to:

• describe the major biological and environmental factors affecting a plant's capacity to produce, disperse and regenerate from seed;

• describe the key tasks in commercial seed production, processing, storage and marketing;

• describe and demonstrate specified seed testing procedures; and

• recommend and describe effective techniques for establishing plants from seed under nursery, field and revegetation conditions.

The content includes seed development, dispersal, germination and establishment, environmental influences on these processes, the technology applicable to commercial seed production and marketing, seed testing, effective techniques for sowing, and germinating and establishing seed.

Project/assignment of 2500 words (60%); practical reports (40%).