agriculture

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DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS AND PLANT BREEDING
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Course No.

: GPBR 312

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Course Title

: Principles of Seed Technology

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Credit Hours

: 3 (2+1)

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General Objective

: To impart knowledge to the students on the seed production and seed science and technology aspects in relation to Seed Act

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Specific Objectives

Theory
By the end of the course, the students will be able to
i. understand the concepts of quality seed production of different field and vegetable crops ii. study about different classes of seed and maintenance of genetic purity during seed production iii. learn about seed certification procedure, seed drying, processing, cleaning, testing, packaging, storage, marketing etc.
Theory Lecture Outlines
1.

Introduction to seed technology – definitions – concept, role and goals of seed technology
– differences between scientifically produced seed and grain used as seed

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History and development of seed industry in India – pre-Independence and post independence development – First Five Year Plan (FYP) – Grow More Food Enquiry
Committee – Second FYP – Coordinated Crop Improvement Schemes and Agricultural
Production Team – Third FYP – National Seeds Corporation and High Yielding Variety
Programme (HYVP) – Annual Plans (1966-69) –

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History and development o seed industry in India – Fourth FYP – Tarai Development f Corporation (TDC) and Indian Society of Seed Technology (ISST) – Fifth FYP – National
Commission on Agriculture (NCA) and National Seeds Programme – Sixth FYP – Seventh
FVP – New Policy on seed development – Eighth FVP

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Importance of seed production – seed policy – seed demand forecasting and planning for breeder seed, foundation seed and certified seed production

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Testing, release and notification of varieties – Central Variety Release Committee (CVRC) and State Variety Release Committee (SVRC) – National Seeds Corporation (NSC),
Andhra Pradesh State Seed

References: Agarwal, P.K. 1994. Principles of Seed Technology. ICAR, New Delhi. Agarwal, P.K. and Dadlani, M. 1986. Techniques in Seed Science and Technology. Agarwal, R.L. 1996. Seed Technology. Oxford and IBH Publication Co., New Delhi. Thomson, J.R. 1979. An Introduction to Seed Technology. Leonard Hill, London. Definitions of Seed Technology Cowan (1973) identified seed technology as “that discipline of study having to Feistritzer (1975) defined seed technology as the methods through which the genetic and physical characteristics of seeds could be improved