Seed enhancement is a range of treatments of

seed In botany, a seed is a plant structure containing an embryo and stored nutrients in a protective coat called a ''testa''. More generally, the term "seed" means anything that can be Sowing, sown, which may include seed and husk or tuber. Seeds ...

s that improves their performance after

harvest Harvesting is the process of collecting plants, animals, or fish (as well as fungi) as food, especially the process of gathering mature crops, and "the harvest" also refers to the collected crops. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulses fo ...

ing and conditioned, but before they are sown. They include priming, steeping, hardening, pregermination, pelleting, encrusting, film-coating, tagging and others, but excludes treatments for control of seed born pathogens. They are used to improve seed sowing,

germination Germination is the process by which an organism grows from a seed or spore. The term is applied to the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm, the growth of a sporeling from a spore, such as the spores of fungi, ...

and seedling growth by altering seed vigor and/or the

physiological Physiology (; ) is the science, scientific study of function (biology), functions and mechanism (biology), mechanisms in a life, living system. As a branches of science, subdiscipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ syst ...

state of the seed. The alteration may improve vigor or the physiological state of the seed by enhancing uniformity of germination. Treatments may include hydration treatments, such as priming, steeping, hardening, and pre-germination. Other treatment include the use of chemicals that trigger systemic acquired resistance or improve stress tolerance. The use of antioxidants. Enhancements like pelleting, coating and encrusting improve seed handling and planting. Some treatments enhance nutrient availability or provide inoculates by delivering materials (other than pesticides) needed during sowing, germination and seedling establishment.

References

{{Reflist Seeds Agriculture