Seed Abstracts

Overview

Seed Abstracts is a fully searachable abstracts database of internationally published research. Seed Abstracts brings you the latest information on seed science, covering all aspects of research on both wild and cultivated plants.

Derived from CAB Abstracts, the applied life sciences database, coverage includes seed physiology, seed germination and dormancy, embryology and seed development, seed technology, seed production, seed composition, seed ecology and the seed industry.

Each week Seed Abstracts delivers all the new highly-targeted, searchable summaries covering key English and non-English language journal articles, reports, conferences and books about Seeds. Over 7,500 records are added to the database each year.

Seed Abstracts includes a fully searchable backfile to 1976. Over 146,000 research summaries (click here for a sample record) bring a wealth of current and seminal research in seeds to your fingertips!

Seed Abstracts, updated weekly online, is also available in print, delivered monthly.

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Coverage

Seed industry
Covers the seed trade including national and international regulations, seed marketing, economic aspects of seed production, and the private and public sector seed industries.
 
Seed treatment and testing
All aspects of seed testing including

• Seed certification 
• Testing for germination, vigour and viability
• Seed health testing
• Seed identification
• Cultivar identification
• Purity standard procedures and rules for seed testing and sampling
• Seed technology and treatment, including treatments to enhance germination and plant growth, and protection against pests and diseases  
• All properties of seeds other than composition, including physical, mechanical and optical properties

Equipment
Equipment for the processing and treatment of seeds including threshing and grading, and agricultural machinery used for seed production, harvesting and sowing.

Seed composition
The chemical composition of seeds. Includes broad composition (contents of proteins and oils, and other major components) the chemical structure of seed constituents, isolation and identification of new compounds from seeds, and variability of composition between genotypes and environments.
 

Anatomy and morphology
Anatomy of morphology of seeds, including

• Seed coat structure
• The use of seed structure and anatomy in taxonomy
   

Embryology and seed development
All aspects of embryogenesis and seed development including

• Apomixis    
• Embryo abortion  
• Embryo rescue and use of in vitro culture for seed development
• Seed set  
• The physiology of development, including metabolism and biosynthesis, and changes in enzyme activity and composition  
• Seed maturation  
• Seed and grain filling  
• Identification of seed maturity and optimum harvesting stage 

   

Seed germination and dormancy
Both agronomic and physiological aspects of seed germination and dormancy are covered. Types and mechanisms of seed dormancy, and internal and external factors regulating dormancy are included, as is dormancy breaking occurring naturally and as affected by seed treatments.

Germination physiology, including  

• Breakdown of storage compounds  
• Changes in enzymes and growth regulators

Agronomic aspects of germination covered include

• Effects of sowing date, seed size and quality
• Effects of tillage and soil compaction  
• Differences in germination between cultivars  

Seed production
Coverage of seed production literature includes: 

• Commercial production of seeds for sowing 
• Production of hybrid seeds and the use of male sterility
• Management of seed orchards for tree species, and collection of tree seeds  
• Effects of production methods, environment and harvest date on seed quality 
• Seed output of wild plants and weeds
• Pollination, level of seed production in different species, and environmental effects on seed output.  

  
   

Storage 

• Effects of storage on seed quality   
• Storage conditions  
• Seed treatments to prevent storage decay  
• Storage physiology and behaviour, including recalcitrant and orthodox seeds  
• Methods of storage for preservation of plant genetic resources  

Ecology and dispersal 

• Biotic and abiotic methods of seed dispersal in species and ecosytems  
• Effects of dispersal method and ability on vegetation ecology  
• Seed predation  
• Seed banks, including size and persistence of seed banks  
• Weed seeds and the carry-over of crop seeds as volunteer weeds
• Effects of soil tillage and disturbance on seed banks   
• The role of seed banks in revegetation and reclamation  
• Seedling emergence and natural regeneration of plant communities 
   

Pests and diseases
Pests and diseases of seeds, and the effects of pests and diseases on the seed production process.
Coverage of pests includes pests of stored seed and grain as well as pests of seeds in the field.
Insect, nematode and vertebrate pests are all included. Disease coverage includes    

• All seedborne fungi bacteria and viruses  
• The detection and identification of seedborne diseases  
• Diseases and decay of seeds in storage  
• Control of pests and diseases of seeds  
• Seed treatment for protection against pests and diseases  
• Organisms attacking other parts of the plant which impact on seed crops and seed production    

Breeding and genetics
Aspects covered include:   

• Genes affecting seed characteristics 
• Gene expression in seeds 
• Plant genetic resources, and conservation of genetic resources as seeds in gene banks 
• Breeding for seed characteristics, seed quality and seed production 
• Genetically modified seeds 
• Genetic variation in seed characteristics

Updates to this list are produced monthly. Designation of Open Access publications are currently available in the downloadable version.

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