Seed Testing: Principles and Practices

Preface

ix PrEfACE This book has been planned for many years. It began when it became clear that the USDA Handbook No. 30 “Testing Agricultural and Vegetable Seeds,” which was developed in 1952, did not have the advanced tests to meet the needs of today’s sophisticated seed industry. Although Handbook No. 30, which was developed under the leadership of Dr. O. L. Justice, who for many years was the head of the USDA Seed Testing Laboratory at Beltsville, MD, represented the only comprehensive coverage of seed testing for generations of seed analysts, developing an updated book was earnestly needed. This need was initially met by the development of a series of handbooks published as three-ring binders by the AOSA. While this concept of handbooks was useful, many analysts and others involved in seed quality evaluation continued to be interested in a comprehensive book in one or two volumes. This need was in part met by the 2008 publication “Seed Purity and Taxonomy” by Baxter and Copeland. The authors of this book, “Seed Testing: Principles and Practices,” hope that this publication will further address the remaining need and represent a comprehensive, state-of-the-art coverage of seed testing as it is practiced in 2011 and beyond. As such, it should be a valuable resource for beginning and experienced seed technologists, as well as students and members of the seed industry. This book is a cooperative effort of four people who have contributed the wealth of their collective experience and interest in seed science and technology on the subject of seed testing. Lawrence Copeland, Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University has had a long-term interest in seed testing and development of educational materials covering this subject. He originally conceived the scope of this book and enlisted the aid of his long-time collaborator, Miller McDonald, Professor Emeritus, Ohio State University, who contributed chapters on germination (Chapter 5), vigor (Chapter 6), and varietal purity testing (Chapter 7). A fourth chapter (Chapter 10) on seed health testing was contributed by Denis McGee, Professor Emeritus, Iowa State University. Notwithstanding the scope and vision for the manuscript, the book took second place to other projects, such as retirements, other writing projects, research, etc. Finally, two former graduate students with Professor Copeland at Michigan State University, after extensive experience in academic and seed industry professions, brought to this proposed book their talents and wealth of experiences and positions at two state-of-the-art seed testing laboratories. Dr. Sabry G. Elias, Associate Professor in the Crop and Soil Science Department at Oregon State University, teaches seed science and technology to undergraduate and graduate students and is also the director of Special Testing at OSU Seed Laboratory. Previously, he spent time in the private seed industry and Alabama A & M University. In addition, Dr. Elias is a talented artist and many of his drawings appear in this book. Dr. Riad Baalbaki has been Senior Botanist at the California State Seed Laboratory since 2006, after spending fifteen years as an Associate Professor at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, where he was active in teaching and research. Besides their respective abilities and experiences in their present positions, Dr. Elias and Dr. Baalbaki are involved in many committees and activities of the Association of Official Seed Analysts. This extraordinary collection of unique experience and abilities has contributed to making this book best reflect the most current seed testing technologies as they are practiced in the United States as well as internationally. The authors sincerely thank Kimberly Collar, quality manager at Oregon State University Seed Laboratory, for her assistance with preparing the manuscript, improving many of the illustrations and reviewing Chapter 12. Lawrence Copeland Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan ...