Flower Seeds: Biology and Technology

The floral industry represents a significant proportion of agricultural income in several developed countries, particularly the USA, the Netherlands and Japan. Hitherto, the sheer diversity of flower seeds, in their form, function and biology, has hindered the production of a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

This book provides a unique and much-needed resource of information on the biology and technology of flower seeds. It presents in-depth information on the history and evolution of the ornamental and wild flower seed industries followed by recommendations for successful breed and production programs. A comprehensive coverage of the biology of flower seeds is considered as well as appropriate technologies associated with germination, vigor and viability testing. In this volume, the first of its kind, international authorities from academia and industry have been brought together to provide a comprehensive reference resource for both practitioners and students of seed science and technology and of ornamental horticulture.

In introductory remarks on floriculture, McDonald (horticulture and crop science, Ohio State U.) and Kwong (PanAmerican Seed Co., West Chicago) describe the flower seed industry as a small but increasingly significant component of the global economy. Flower seed science has been rapidly evolving to meet the industry's requirements. Focusing primarily on 20 priority genera selected for their economic value, international contributors to 18 chapters review widely-dispersed information on the ornamental crops industry's history, challenges, and technical advances in the field. This advanced-level reference includes color plates of normal and pathogen-affected plant development. Distributed by Oxford U. Press. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR