Seed Science and Technology: An Illustrated Textbook is a resource created in accordance with the ICAR curriculum for undergraduate studies, which is implemented in all state and central agricultural universities. Comprised of 8 units, this textbook is designed to align with the guidelines established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

K. Vanangamudi, Former Dean (Agriculture) and Seed Scientist, graduated B.Sc., (Agri) in 1975 from Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; M.Sc., (Ag.) and Ph.D. in Seed Science and Technology, respectively in 1977 and 1981 from TNAU; and Post Doctoral Fellow (1988-1990) at Mississippi State University, USA. He joined Department of Seed Science and Technology, TNAU as Assistant Professor in 1982 and served the University for 32 years as Associate Professor (1986- 1988) at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar; Professor (1992-2001) at Forest College & Research Institute, Mettupalayam; Professor and Head (2001-2003) of Department of Seed Science and Technology; Dean, Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College (2003-2006), Kalavai; and Dean (Agriculture), Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore (2006-2009). He retired from service on August 31, 2013 He has undergone Post Doctoral Programme in Tree Seed Technology at Mississippi State University, USA from 1988-1990 and visited USA, Japan and Canada in connection with Forestry education and research under USAID-Winrock International program. He underwent training on e-learning and web based teaching at UC, Davis and Cornell University, USA during 2017. Dr. Vanangamudi’s significant contributions in Agricultural Education are 1. starting B.Tech (Bioinformatics), B. Tech (Agricultural Information Technology) and BS (Agribusiness Management) degrees at AC&RI, Coimbatore, and B.Sc (Horti.) degree at AP Agricultural College; 2. He introduced e-education and online examination; 3. Under NAIP project on “Development of e-courses for B.Sc., (Ag) degree program as Co.PI, he developed e-learning materials for all the 50 courses and hosted in TNAU and ICAR websites; and 4. Video streaming of lecture presentation by the teachers in the classroom (video filming, editing and publishing). He has prepared course materials for 90 courses for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) program in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agricultural Engineering, Animal husbandry, Poultry, Food processing under “Modular Employment Skills” and “Centre of Excellence” funded by National Instructional Media Institute, Ministry of Labour & Employment, GOI, Chennai, for the students and instructors of ITI all over India. As a researcher, he was the Principal Investigator of 11 research projects funded by ICAR-NIAP, ICAR-World bank, ICFRE-World bank, Tamil Nadu Forest department, Ministry of Labour and Employment (GOI), CIDA-Gulpeh, Canada and Private agencies. Dr. Vanangamudi has published 2 review papers, 35 research papers in International journals, 112 research papers in National journals, 29 popular articles in English and 53 in Tamil. He has written 40 books in English and 10 in Tamil. He has also written 11 technical bulletins in English and 29 in Tamil. About the Authors In recognition of his contribution in Agriculture Education, Research and Extension, he was awarded with Best PG teacher award in 1998 and Best scientist award in 1999 by TNAU; Best PG Teacher award 2000 by Madras Agricultural Students Union (MASU), Coimbatore; Best Seed Scientist award in 2003 by Hisar Agricultural University (HAU), Hisar; Tamil Nadu Scientist award in 2006 by Tamil Nadu Council for Science and Technology (TNCST), Chennai; Best Research Paper award in 2005 by Indian Society of Seed Technology (ISST), New Delhi and Bharat Ratna Dr. C. Subramaniam Best Teacher award in 2006 by Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), New Delhi. He is a recognized guide of Bharathiar University, Coimbatore; Bharathidasan University, Trichy and Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. He was a Research and Technical Consultant to Little’s Orientals Balm and Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Chennai for seed priming, seed film coating and setting up of Seed Research Lab; to a farmer for 200 acres of farm land development; to a EU-KKID-Peace trust project for end term evaluation; and to a Kerala Forest Department project (World Bank) for developing training course syllabi and establishment of seed processing and testing units. He served as Senior Advisor and Consultant to Dr Mohan’s Health care Products Pvt. Ltd., Chennai.

Unit 1: Seed Biology: 01. Floral Biology 02. Flowering and Pollination 03. Fruit and its Structure 04. Seed and its Structure 05. Vegetative Propagules 06. Seed Formation and Development 07. Apomixis, Parthenocarpy and Polyembryony 08. Synthetic Seed 09. Seed Maturity Indices 10. Chemical Composition of Seeds 11. Seed Dormancy and Methods to Break the Dormancy 12. Seed Germination Unit 2: Seed Production: 13. Principles and Methods of Plant Breeding 14. Development and Release of Varieties 15. Deterioration of Varieties 16. Maintenance Breeding 17. Seed Generation System 18. Seed Village 19. Seed Planning 20. Seed Policy 21. Seed Quality 22. Principles of Seed Production 23. Heterosis and Hybrid Vigour 24. Techniques of Hybrid Seed Production 25. Seed Production in Field Crops 26. Seed Production in Vegetables 27. Hybrid Seed Production 28. Nursery Management 29. Micropropagation Unit 3: Seed Processing: 30. Harvesting and Threshing 31. Seed Extraction 32. Seed Drying 33. Seed Processing 34. Seed Quality Enhancement Unit 4: Seed Quality Control: 35. Seed Act and Rules 36. Seed Certification 37. Field Inspection 38. Objectionable Weeds 39. Seed Certification Standards 40. Seed Sampling 41. Mixing and Dividing of Seed 42. Purity Analysis 43. Seed Moisture Determination 44. Germination Test 45. Quick Viability Test 46. Grow-Out Test 47. Seed Vigour 48. Variety Identification 49. International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) Unit 5: Seed Storage: 50. Seed Storage 51. Seed Deterioration 52. Seed Treatment 53. Germplasm Conservation and Cryopreservation Unit 6: Seed Health: 54. Seed Pathology 55. Seed Health Testing 56. Seed Storage Insects 57. Seed Borne Nematodes Unit 7: Seed Industry and Marketing: 58. Seed Industry 59. Seed Marketing UNIT 8: PPV AND FR: 60. Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act