* About the Editor * Contributors * Preface * SECTION I: GERMINATION IN THE SOIL AND STAND ESTABLISHMENT * Chapter 1. Seedbed Preparation--The Soil Physical Environment of Germinating Seeds (Amos Hadas) * Introduction * Environmental Requirements of Germinating Seed * Soil Environment--Physical Aspects * Seedbed Preparation, Characterization of Seedbed Attributes, and Seedbed Environment Conditions and Seed Germination * Water Uptake by Seeds and Seedlings * Seed-Soil Water Relationships * Modeling Seed Germination and Seedbed Physical Attributes * Concluding Remarks * Chapter 2. The Use of Population-Based Threshold Models to Describe and Predict the Effects of Seedbed Environment on Germination and Seedling Emergence of Crops (William E. Finch-Savage) * Introduction * Imbibition * Germination * Other Germination Models * Postgermination Seedling Growth * Threshold Models: Prediction of Germination and Emergence Patterns in the Field * Summary and Conclusions * Appendix * Chapter 3. Seed and Agronomic Factors Associated with Germination Under Temperature and Water Stress (Mark A. Bennett) * Introduction * Seed Coats * Seed Size * Seed Water Uptake * Radicle Emergence and Root System Development * Genetic Links to Germination Temperature Limits * Seed Production and Seed Vigor * Sowing Depths and Planter Technology * Tillage Systems and Soil Structure Effects * Interactions with Seed Treatments and Other Crop Protection Chemicals * Screening Protocols for Germination Tolerance to Low Temperature and Water Stress * Concluding Remarks * Chapter 4. Methods to Improve Seed Performance in the Field (Peter Halmer) * Introduction * Changing Seed Form and Lot Composition * Physiological Enhancement * Physiological Responses to Enhancement * Ecological Aspects of Seed Hydration * Conclusions and Future Directions * SECTION II: DORMANCY AND THE BEHAVIOR OF CROP AND WEED SEEDS * Chapter 5. Inception, Maintenance, and Termination of Dormancy in Grain Crops: Physiology, Genetics, and Environmental Control (Roberto L. Benech-Arnold) * Introduction * Physiology of Dormancy in the Cereal Grain * Physiology of Dormancy in the Sunflower Seed * The Expression of Dormancy in Grain Crops * Removing Dormancy at an Industrial Scale * Genetics and Molecular Biology of Dormancy in Grain Crops * Environmental Control of Dormancy in Grain Crops * Concluding Remarks * Chapter 6. Preharvest Sprouting of Cereals (Gary M. Paulsen and Andrew S. Auld) * Introduction * The Preharvest Sprouting Process * Physiological Control of Preharvest Sprouting * Quality of Products from Sprouted Cereals * Measurement of Preharvest Sprouting * Controlling Sprouting by Breeding * Controlling Sprouting in the Field * Chapter 7. The Exit from Dormancy and the Induction of Germination: Physiological and Molecular Aspects (Rodolfo A. Sanchez and R. Alejandra Mella) * Introduction * The Effects of Light Photoreceptors * Embryo Growth Potential * Endosperm Weakening * Termination of Dormancy: Its Relationship with the Synthesis and Signaling of Gibberellins and ABA * Concluding Remarks * Chapter 8. Modeling Changes in Dormancy in Weed Soil Seed Banks: Implications for the Prediction of Weed Emergence (Diego Batlla, Betina Claudia Kruk, and Roberto L. Benech-Arnold) * Introduction * Dormancy: Definitions and Classification * How Is Dormancy Level Expressed? * Environmental Factors Affecting Dormancy Level of Seed Populations * Factors That Terminate Dormancy * Conceptualizing the System with Modeling Purposes * Modeling Dormancy Changes in Weed Seed Banks As Affected by the Environment * Concluding Remarks * SECTION III: SEED LONGEVITY AND STORAGE * Chapter 9. Orthodox Seed Deterioration and Its Repair (Miller B. McDonald) * Introduction * The First Seed * Seed Deterioration * Mechanisms of Orthodox Seed Deterioration * Free Radical Production * Free Radicals and Their Effects on Lipids * How Do Free Radicals Cause Lipid Peroxidation? * What Is the Influence of Seed Moisture Content on Free Radical Assault? * Do Free Radicals Attack Only Lipids? * Why Suspect Free Radical Attack on Mitochondria? * How Are Seeds Protected Against Free Radical Attack? * Raffinose Oligosaccharides and Their Protective Role * Repair of Seed Damage * Model of Seed Deterioration and Repair During Priming/Hydration * Conclusions * Chapter 10. Recalcitrant Seeds (Patricia Berjak and Norman W. Pammenter) * Seed Characteristics--The Broad Picture * Seed Behavior * The Suite of Interacting Processes and Mechanisms Involved in Desiccation Tolerance * Drying Rate and Causes of Damage in Recalcitrant Seeds * SECTION IV: INDUSTRIAL QUALITY OF SEEDS * Chapter 11. Processing Quality Requirements for Wheat and Other Cereal Grains (Colin W. Wrigley and Ferenc Bekes) * Introduction * The Range of Grain Species Used Industrially * Cereal Grains and Our Diet * Uses of Cereal Grains * Wheat-Grain Quality Traits: A Molecular Basis * Grain Hardness * Starch Properties * Conclusion * Chapter 12. Grain Quality in Oil Crops (Leonardo Velasco, Begona Perez-Vich, and Jose M. Fernandez-Martinez) * Introduction * Components of Grain Quality in Oil Crops and Factors Influencing Them * Oil Quality * Meal Quality * Breeding and Production Strategies * Chapter 13. The Malting Quality of Barley (Roxana Savin, Valeria S. Passarella, and Jose Luis Molino-Cano) * Introduction * Grain Structural Components That Affect Malting Quality * Genotypic and Environmental Factors Affecting Malting Quality * Achieving Barley-Grain Quality Targets * Conclusions * Index * Reference Notes Included