SylbV01-00-00. pmd

V. Aim of the course
To study the influence of ecology on seed production, reproductive biology, seed
dispersal, longevity and adoptation mechanisms and to study the effect of pollutants
on seed production and quality.
VI. Theory
Unit I
Introduction to ecology – seed ecology – importance – genetic effects – geographic
adaptation of native and invasive species; ecological factors on seed germination
and regeneration; reproductive allocation – reproductive effort; flowering phenology,
assessment of resource allocation – positional and azimuth influence on flowering
and reproduction; influence of climate change on reproduction, seed formation,
germination and dormancy.
Unit II
Seed dispersal – definition – modes of dispersal, dispersal dynamics, aerial seed

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Plant Sciences–Seed Science and Technology
111
dispersal, pre and post dispersal hazards, seed predators and ecological significance.
Seed polymorphism – types, causes, consequences on seedling adaptation.
Unit III
Soil seed bank – definition – classification – soil seed bank dynamics.
Thermodynamic models – population dynamics in soil seed bank – seed longevity
and germination models in soil seed bank – weed seed ecology and longevity – long
term experiments in buried seeds; ecological significance of seed dormancy and
seed polymorphism.
Unit IV
Influence of environment on seed germination – allelopathy, temperature, light,
moisture and gaseous environment – eco-physiological role in seed storage.
Unit V
Effect of pollutants – air, water and soil pollutants on seed germination and seedling
establishment – factors limiting seedling establishment – problem soils and seed
management techniques – climate change and seed production – management
strategies to overcome the effect of climate change on seed production and germination.
VII. Practical
• Understanding flowering phenology of different crop species;
• Study of seed dispersal mechanism of different crop species;
• Study on agents and distance of dispersal of different crop species;
• Studies on pre and post dispersal hazards;
• Assessing the natural regeneration in relation to ecology;
• Assessing the problems related to natural regeneration;
• Experiment on naturally buried seeds – dormancy and longevity;
• Studies on effect of environmental factors on seed germination and dormancy;
• Influence of seed polymorphism on germination and dormancy;
• Assessing the allelopathy effect on seed germination in crop species;
• Effect of soil pollutants on seed germination;
• Effect of air pollutants on germination of crop seeds;
• Effect of water pollutants on growth on seed quality;
• Seed management practices for polluted environment and climate change effects;
• Visit to 
in-situ 
and 
ex-situ 
conservation sites;
• Visit to biological hotspots.