I. USE OF SEEDS IN PROPAGATION

    A. For mass propagaiton
            -Inexpensive
            -Crops:  Agronomic crops (cereals, forage, oil crops, grass)
                          Bedding plants
                          Some herbaceous perennials, pot plants
                          Forest crops
                          Woody ornamentals

    B. For root stocks
            -Fruit crops
            -Woody landscape plants (maple)
            -Some vegetables (watermelon on gourd stock -in Japan due to resistance to nematode fursarium wilt)

II. CONTROL OF GENETIC UNIFORMITY

    A. Self-pollinated species (wheat, barley, rice) 
            Inbreeding results in homozygous genotypes
                Pureline-----inbred line that does not segregate
                multiline-----combined several purelines (isolines, for specific traits)

    B. Cross-pollinated species (cucurbits, conifers, walnut, flowers)

            1. Inbred lines-----problem with "Inbreeding depression" -Homozygous
            2. Hybrid lines----Hybrid vigor (heterozygous, homogeneous)

            3. Synthetic cultivars--seeds from random cross pollination of selected parental plants (i.e. Alfalfa)

III. SEED PRODUCTION IN HERBACEUS CULTIVARS

    A. Control genetic uniformity by isolation, roguing
    B. Controlled pollination ---selfing, hybridizing
    C. Use of Apomixic seeds
    D. Somatic embryogenesis - synthetic seeds (cell cultures)
    E. Seed distribution
 

IV. SEED SOURCES FOR WOODY PLANTS

        Genetic variability is extensive
           most woody plants are cross-pollinated --heterozygous

    A. Genetic Variability
            1) Within seed sources -- cross pollination by adjacent trees

    B. Source Selection
            -phenotypic selection -- seed parents
            -genotypic selection -- study of segregating progenies
            -seed selection zone (hardiness zone)

    C. Seedling Root Stocks for Fruit, Nut Crops
            -A wide geographic location for seed collection
            -used for many crops- peach, apple, pear, cherry

    D. Use of Hybrids
            -controlled pollination

    E. Seed Production
            -productin areas (CA, OR, WA)
            -Seed orchards
                    root stocks
                    forest trees

V. SEED CERTIFICATION AND PATENT PROTECTION

    A. Plant Variety Protection Act (1970) revised 1994
            -The breeder applies to the USDA for a Plant Variety Protection Act
            -A new cultivar should be:
                a. different from all known cultivars (morphological, physiological)
                b. uniform
                c. stable
                d. have commercial value
            -Certificate is good for 17 years

    B. Federal Seed Act
            -Only certified seeds can be sold by cultivar name
            -Stimulates commercial development by seed companies