Main Description

A practical coverage of the principles of producing seeds for the main agricultural crops, this book emphasises producing optimal quality seed, and applies to small and large scale farms worldwide. Cereals such as wheats, rice, barley, rye and maize are covered along with pulses, legumes, oil seed rape and soybean. Coverage includes principles of production such as pollination, agronomy issues such as site selection and cultivar purity, seed processing, drying and storage. A focus on global food security is maintained throughout.

Readership

Researchers and students in agriculture and plant sciences.

Main Contents

PART 1: PRINCIPLES

1. From Landrace to Modern Plant Breeding

2. Pollination, Types of Cultivar

3. Agronomy, Maintenance of Cultivar Purity and Organic Crops

4. Harvesting and Processing

5. Seed Storage

6. Seed Quality Control, Handling and Distribution

PART 2: SEED PRODUCTION OF SPECIFIC CROPS

7. Gramineae - Self-fertilized Cereals

8. Gramineae - Cross-Fertilized Cereals

9. Gramineae - Temperate, Prairie and Tropical Grasses

10. Leguminosae - Temperate and Tropical Forage Legumes

11. Leguminosae - Pulse Crops

12. Edible Oilseed Crops

13. Forage Crops of Cruciferae and Chenopodiaceae

14. Amaranthaceae

Appendix: UPOV test guidelines

References

General Index

Index of Species

A practical coverage of the principles of producing seeds for the main agricultural crops, this book emphasises producing optimal quality seed, and applies to small and large scale farms worldwide. Cereals such as wheats, rice, barley, rye and maize are covered along with pulses, legumes, oil seed rape and soybean. Coverage includes...

George Raymond A T George has spent a lifetime in agronomy specialising in seed production. Following four years at Cambridge University Botanic Garden he moved to the NVRS, Wellesbourne as an Experimental Officer in the Plant Breeding Section for seven years. He then worked as an Advisory Officer for four years prior a lecturing and research appointment in crop production at the University of Bath where he supervised a team of research postgraduates studying seed production. He was seconded to The UN FAO in 1976 and worked on seed projects in Asia. Following his return to Bath University he was appointed Senior Lecturer in Crop Production and also continued to make consultancy missions for FAO, mainly concerned with seed production in Africa, Asia, South Pacific and the Indian Sub-Continent. Following retirement from Bath he continued consultancy and editorial work for FAO's Seed Service until 2010. He continues to write on seed production and associated topics.