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Integrative Seed Biology is a seed biology program at Oregon State University established by the NSF CAREER grant. The program consists of research and learning activities on plant seeds. This website introduces you to our research projects and useful information on seeds.
 

 



 

learning opportunities

Reading & Discussion for Seed Biology!

 

Advanced Seed Biology (HORT564), Fall 2009

Instructor: Hiro Nonogaki, Associate Professor, Oregon State University, Ruth Martin, Plant Molecular Biologist, USDA-ARS

This graduate course focuses on the biology of plant seeds. The objective of this class is to comprehend the existing knowledge on seed development, dormancy and germination and to apply the knowledge in analyzing current literature on seed biology research. The class consists of lectures by the instructors and journal article reading and presentation by graduate students. Initial lectures will focus on reproductive biology such as flowering, pollination and fertilization, which is important for the initiation of seed development and for applications in seed production. Then the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of seed development, dormancy and germination will be introduced in lectures. Graduate students will present journal articles related to the lecture themes. Class discussions will allow students to integrate prior lecture knowledge with cutting-edge seed literature to obtain a current perspective of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of seed survival strategy.

 

 

Course Contents

 

 

            Lecture 1.   Flowering and Flower Development

 

                                    Reading and Discussion

 

            Lecture 2.   Pollination and Fertilization

 

                                    Reading and Discussion

 

            Lecture 3.   Embryogenesis and Endosperm Development

 

                                    Reading and Discussion

 

            Lecture 4.   Seed Reserves

 

                                    Reading and Discussion

 

            Lecture 5.   Seed Maturation

           

                                    Reading and Discussion

 

            Lecture 6.   Seed Dispersal

 

                                    Reading and Discussion

 

            Lecture 7.    Seed Dormancy

 

                                    Reading and Discussion

 

            Lecture 8.    Seed Germination

 

                                    Reading and Discussion

 

            Lecture 9.    Post-Germinative Events

 

                                    Reading and Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

Class Schedule

(T, R: 2:00-3:20 pm)

 

Week

Date

Title

Week 1

9/29 (T)

Class Overview

 

10/01 (R)

Reading and Discussion 1

Flowering and Flower Development

Week 2

10/06 (T)

Lecture 1

 

10/08 (R)

Lecture 2

Pollination and Fertilization

Week 3

10/13 (T)

Reading and Discussion 2

 

10/15 (R)

Lecture 3

Embryogenesis and Endosperm Development

Week 4

10/20 (T)

Reading and Discussion 3

 

10/22 (R)

Lecture 4

Seed Reserves

Week 5

10/27 (T)

Reading and Discussion 4

 

10/29 (R)

Lecture 5

Seed Maturation

Week 6

11/03 (T)

Reading and Discussion 5

 

11/05 (R)

Lecture 6

Seed Dispersal

Week 7

11/10 (T)

Reading and Discussion 6

 

11/12 (R)

Lecture 7

Seed Dormancy 

Week 8

11/17 (T)

Reading and Discussion 7

 

11/19 (R)

Lecture 8

Seed Germination

Week 9

11/24 (T)

Reading and Discussion 8

 

11/26 (R)

No class

 

Week 10

12/01 (T)

Lecture 9

Post-Germinative Events

 

12/03 (R)

Reading and Discussion 9

  

 

 

Learning Opportunity for Seed Biology!

Seed Biology (HORT363/CSS363), Fall 2008

Instructor: Hiro Nonogaki, Associate Professor, George Bassel, Research Associate,  Oregon State University

This undergraduate course focuses on the biology of plant seeds. The intent of this course is to learn the phenomena and the principles of seed formation and development, dormancy, germination, and early seedling establishment. It is important to understand these mechanisms and the strategies of seed survival and plant propagation from a multidisciplinary scientific viewpoint. To achieve these objectives, the course covers ecological, physiological, biochemical and molecular biological, and genetic aspects of seeds. The application of seed biology principles in hybrid seed production will be also introduced in this class. Some lectures will include demonstrations of experimental techniques.

The course begins by introducing the mechanisms of flower development, flowering and fertilization that are indispensable steps to initiate seed formation and development. Seed development is divided into three different stages, early, mid and late embryogenesis. The specific events in each stage will be explained. Recent advances in research on the mechanisms of seed dormancy and germination will be introduced. Lectures will also cover some of the basic concepts in plant biology, such as wounding, signal transduction, cell wall, cell membranes and symbiosis.

Course Contents

I. SEED DEVELOPMENT

1. FLOWERING

i) Control of Flowering

ii) Flower Development

2.FERTILIZATION

i) Pollination

ii) Double Fertilization

iii) Male Sterility

iv) Self-Incompatibility

3. EARLY EMBRYOGENESIS

i) Embryogenesis

ii) Endosperm Development

4. MID EMBRYOGENESIS

i) Seed Reserves - Carbohydrates

ii) Seed Reserves - Lipids

iii) Seed Reserves - Proteins

5. LATE EMBRYOGENESIS

Desiccation Tolerance

6. MATURE SEEDS

i) Seed Morphology

ii) Seed Dispersal

II. SEED DORMANCY

1.TYPES OF DORMANCY

Types of Dormancy

2. CONTROL OF DORMANCY

i) Plant Hormones

ii) Phytochrome

III. SEED GERMINATION

1. IMBIBITION

i) Water Uptake

ii) Oxygen Uptake

2. GERMINATIVE EVENTS

i) Embryo Growth

ii) Endosperm Weakening

3. POST-GERMINATIVE EVENTS

i) Reserve Mobilization

ii) Seedling Establishment

IV. SEED VIABILITY

1. LONGEVITY

Longevity

2. DETERIORATION MECHANISMS

Deterioration Mechanisms

 

 

 

Class Schedule  

(T, R: 2:00-3:20 pm)

Week

Date Lecture Title

1

9/30 (T)

1

Introduction and Course Overview

 

10/2 (R)

2

Control of Flowering/ Flower Development

2

10/7 (T)

3

Pollination/Double Fertilization

 

10/9 (R)

4

Male Sterility/Self Incompatibility

3

10/14 (T)

5

(Demo 1) Seed Testing (Seed Lab)

 

10/16 (R)

6

(Demo 2) Seed Anatomy (Seed Lab)

 4

10/21 (T)

7

Gene expression in seeds

 

10/23 (R)

8

(Demo 3) Seed Bioinformatics

5

10/28 (T)

9

Embryogenesis/Endosperm Development

 

10/30 (R)

10

Seed Reserves - Carbohydrates/Lipids 

6

11/4 (T)

11

Seed Reserves - Protein/Desiccation Tolerance

 

11/6 (R)

Review
 7

11/11 (T)

Mid Term

 

11/13 (R)

12

Seed Morphology/Seed Dispersal

8

11/18 (T)

13

Types of Dormancy/Plant Hormones/Phytochrome

 

11/20 (R)

14

Water Uptake/Oxygen Uptake/Embryo Growth

9

11/25 (T)

15

Endosperm Weakening/Reserve Mobilization/Seedling Establishment

 

11/27 (R)

Thanksgiving

10

12/2 (T)

16

Seed Longevity/Deterioration Mechanisms

 

12/4 (R)

Review
 

12/

Final Exam

 

 

     
 

Undergraduate Seed Biology - hands-on seed anatomy class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

The graduate and undergraduate courses are part of the educational activities in the Integrative Seed Biology Program funded

by

National Science Foundation

 

Copyright 2003 Integrative Seed Biology Laboratory at Oregon State University
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