Nowadays, artificial seed technology is one of the most important tools to breeders and scientists of plant tissue culture. It has offered powerful advantages for large scale mass propagation of elite plant species and conservation of plants. The artificial seed technology is a rousing and fast growing area of research in plant tissue culture. The information in the areas of synthetic seed preparation technology, its implications, achievements and limitations are lying unorganized in different articles of journals and edited books. This information was presented in this monograph in organized way with up-to-date citations, which will provide comprehensive literature of recent advances. To be an expert in artificial seeds, one should have enough practical hand in plant tissue culture. The main aim of artificial seeds is to obtain true-to-type plants; consequently the different methods of testing clonal.

Synseeds is the first major book devoted to synthetic seeds. It provides an outstanding state-of-the-art treatise on somatic embryogenesis, embryo dessication, coating and encapsulation technology, synthetic seed storage, controlled release for synthetic endosperm development, mechanization of synthetic seed production, direct field planning, and the status of patents. Major problems for the commercialization of synthetic seeds are discussed, and new methods for encapsulation of somatic embryos and creation of synthetic endosperm are presented. The most advanced somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis systems for alfalfa, carrots, celery, grapes, lettuce, mangos, mulberries, orchardgrass, sandalwood, soybeans, and spruce are described in detail. Synseeds also presents the latest data from major organizations conducting synthetic seed research and development. The book will be an essential reference for all researchers and students working on somatic embryogenesis and synthetic seed development.

This book introduces the reader to synthetic or artificial seeds, which refer to alginate encapsulated somatic embryos, vegetative buds or any other micropropagules that can be used as seeds and converted into plantlets after propagating under in vitro or in vivo conditions. Moreover, synthetic seeds retain their potential for regeneration even after low-temperature storage. The production of synthetic or artificial seeds using micropropagules opens up new vistas in agricultural biotechnology. Encapsulated propagules could be used for in vitro regeneration and mass multiplication at reasonable cost. In addition, these propagules may be used for germplasm preservation of elite plant species and the exchange of plant materials between national and international laboratories. This book offers state-of-the-art findings on methods, applications and prospects of synthetic or artificial seeds.

The artificial seed technology is a rousing and fast growing area of research in plant tissue culture. This technology is currently considered as an efficient alternative technique for plant propagation of commercially important plant materials. This technology also facilitates the way of handling cells and tissues, protecting them from external gradients, short-term and long-term storage under low temperature and ultra-low temperature, respectively and as an efficient system of delivery.The information in the areas of synthetic seed preparation technology, its implications, achievements and limitations are lying unorganized in different articles of journals and edited books. Those information is presented in this book in organized way with up-to-date citations, which will provide comprehensive literature of recent advances. Note: T& F does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This title is co-published with New India Publishing Agency.

Cell immobilisation biotechnology is a multidisciplinary area, shown to have an important impact on many scientific subdisciplines – including biomedicine, pharmacology, cosmetology, food and agricultural sciences, beverage production, industrial waste treatment, analytical applications, biologics production. "Cell Immobilisation Biotechnology" is an outcome of the editors’ intention to collate the extensive and widespread information on fundamental aspects and applications of immobilisation/encapsulation biotechnology into a comprehensive reference work and to provide an overview of the most recent results and developments in this domain. "Cell Immobilisation Biotechnology" is divided into the two book volumes, FOBI 8A and FOBI 8B. The FOBI 8A volume, Fundamentals of Cell Immobilisation Biotechnology, is dedicated to fundamental aspects of cell immobilisation while the present volume, FOBI 8B, Applications of Cell Immobilisation Biotechnology, deals with diverse applications of this technology.

While working in the laboratory of Professor Dr. Jacob Reinert at the Freie Universitat Berlin (1974-1976), I had the opportunity to become deeply involved in studying the intricacies of the fascinating phenomenon of somatic embryogenesis in plant cells and protoplasts. In numerous stimu lating discussions with Professor Reinert on this subject, I was fully convinced that somatic embryogenesis would become one of the most important areas of study, not only regarding basic and fundamental aspects, but also for its application in crop improvement. During the last decade, we have witnessed tremendous interest and achievements in the use of somatic embryos for the production of synthetic seeds, for micro propagation, genetic transformation, cryopreservation, and conservation of germplasm. The en masse production of somatic embryos in the bioreactors has facilitated some of these studies. Somatic embryos have now been induced in more than 300 plant species belonging to a wide range offamilies. It was therefore felt that a compilation ofliterature/state of the art on this subject was necessary. Thus, two volumes on Somatic Embryo genesis and Synthetic Seed have been compiled, which contain 65 chapters contributed by International experts. Somatic Embryogenesis and Synthetic Seed I comprises 31 chapters, arranged in 3 sections: Section I Commitment of the cell to somatic embryogenesis; early events; anatomy; molecular basis; gene expression; role of polyamines; machine vision analysis of somatic embryos. Section II Applications of somatic embryos; technology of synthetic seed; fluid drilling; micropropagation; genetic transfor mation through somatic embryos; cryopreservation.

This Fourth Edition of Principles of Seed Science and Technology, like the fIrst three editions, is written for the advanced undergraduate student or lay person who desires an introduction to the science and technology of seeds. The fIrst nine chapters present the seed as a biological system and cover its origin, development, composition, function (and sometimes nonfunction), performance and ultimate deterioration. The last nine chapters present the fundamentals of how seeds are produced, conditioned, evaluated and distributed in our modern agricultural society. Two new chapters have been added in this fourth edition, one on seed ecology and the second on seed drying. Finally, revisions have been made throughout to reflect changes that have occurred in the seed industry since publication of the Third Edition. Because of the fundamental importance of seeds to both agriculture and to all of society, we have taken great care to present the science and technology of seeds with the respect and feeling this study deserves. We hope that this feeling will be communicated to our readers. Furthermore, we have attempted to present information in a straight-forward, easy-ta-read manner that will be easily understood by students and lay persons alike. Special care has been taken to address both current state-of-the-art as well as future trends in seed technology.