Seed vigour and crop establishment: extending performance beyond adaptation

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Biology
• Ecology

Background:

• Seed vigour is a complex trait critical for crop establishment, impacting yield and resource use efficiency.
• While seed germination is well-understood, the basis of variation in seed vigour remains limited.
• Current agricultural practices face challenges due to seed characteristics adapted to natural environments, not farming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore seed vigour from ecophysiological, molecular, and biomechanical perspectives.
• To identify limitations in current seed vigour for agricultural applications.
• To propose applications of plant science for enhancing seed performance in crops.

Main Methods:

• Review of ecophysiological, molecular, and biomechanical factors influencing seed vigour.
• Analysis of seed characteristics in natural versus agricultural contexts.
• Discussion of potential applications of basic plant science research.

Main Results:

• Seed vigour significantly influences rapid, uniform, and robust seedling establishment across environments.
• Some natural seed adaptations are disadvantageous for agriculture.
• Domestication has offered incremental improvements, but directed change is needed.

Conclusions:

• Improving seed vigour is a key objective for the agricultural industry to enhance crop yield and food security.
• Further research integrating ecophysiological, molecular, and biomechanical insights is required.
• Applying basic plant science can lead to the development of superior crop seeds for current and future needs.