APPILCATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN SEED SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
Course Code: BBT 2301
Course Credit: 3 CU
Brief course description:
This course will cover floral development process, extrinsic and intrinsic factors in seed
germination, importance of seeds in conservation of genetic diversity, basic principles
of seed technology, hybrid seed production, quality control and marketing.
Specific learning outcomes:
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. describe the floral development process,
2. explain seed formation, development and maturation,
3. explain intrinsic and extrinsic factors in seed germination,
4. describe the importance of seeds to conservation of plant genetic diversity,
5. describe basic principles of seed technology, hybrid seed production, quality
control and marketing.
Detailed course description:
Seeds as products of sexual reproduction (4 Hours), Seeds as nutritional reserves to
support the growing seedling (3 Hours), Seed maturation and entry into quiescence (2
Hours), Seed germination and seedling establishment (6 Hours), Seed production and
crop improvement (3 Hours), National seed systems and seed sector development (3
Hours), Seed certification and seed quality (1 Hour), Seed banks and conservation of
genetic diversity (4 Hours), Seeds as the major delivery system for plant biotechnology
(4 Hours),
Practicals (30 hours)
Mode of delivery:
The course will consist of lectures, practicals and tutorials
Assessment method:
This will be done through examinations (60%) and coursework (practicals, tests and
assignments) (40%)
READING LIST
1. BEWLEY, J.D and BLACK, M. (1994). Seeds: Physiology of Development and
Germination. Second Edition. Plenum Press. New York and London
2. CHRISPELS, M.J and SADAVA, D.E.( 2003). Plants, Genes and Crop Biotechnology.
Second Edition. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Sudbury, Massachusetts. Boston.
Toronto. London. Singapore
3. FENNER, M. (1993). Seeds: The Ecology of Regeneration in Plant Communities. CAB
International.
4. HARTMANN, H.T, KOFRANEK, A.M, RUBATZKY, V.E and FLOCKER, W.J. (1988). Plant
Science: Growth, Development, and Utilization of Cultivated Plants. Second Edition.
Prentice Hall Career & Technology. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
5. LEA, P.J and LEEGOOD, R.C. (1997). Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. John
Wiley and Sons. Ltd. Chichester. England
6. MURPHY, T.M and THOMPSON, W.F. (1988) Molecular Plant Development. Prentice
Hall Career & Technology. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey