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Seed Enhancement
Seed enhancement refers to various technologies used to
increase the consistency of seed performance, thereby
improving a crop’s harvested yield and quality. Seed
enhancement technologies are gaining increasing
attention for their potential to confer greater disease
resistance in seeds, improve seed vigor and modify seed
emergence capabilities.
Seed
coating
refers to the application of materials to the seed
surface, often containing seed protectants such as
fungicides. In recent years, film coating, in which the
active ingredient is applied in a quick-drying polymer
film around the seed, has gained popularity. A major
advantage of film coating is reduced loss of active
material from the seed during seed transport and
handling.
Seed pelleting
technologies are used to alter seed shape, surface
properties, density and size to enable more precise seed
singulation and placement in the planting tray or soil.
Singulation eliminates
clustering of seed that leaves too much or too little
space between plants within a row. Seed pelleting is
also used to deliver a range of beneficial additives,
including micronutrients and plant protection agents.
Seed
priming is used to increase germination rate
(speed) and uniformity and overcome seed dormancy. In
seed priming, seeds are hydrated in a controlled manner
to provide enough water to initiate the metabolic*
processes of germination, but not enough to allow
germination to be completed. Subsequently, the seeds are
dried, distributed and planted in the usual way. Primed
seed usually exhibit more rapid and uniform emergence of
seedlings from the soil compared to non-primed seed of
the same seed lot. These differences are greatest under
adverse environmental conditions in the field, such as
cold or hot soils. Primed seed often has a shorter shelf
life than non-primed seed, and should be stored under
optimal conditions prior to planting.
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Metabolic |
Relating to metabolism, the set of
chemical reactions that occur in
living organisms in order to live.
These processes allow organisms to
generate energy, grow and reproduce,
maintain their structures, and
respond to their environments. |
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resources:
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