Seed Science and Technology

Agron 338
Course Syllabus
Fall 2017

Instructor: A. Susana Goggi Office Hours: TBA

195C Seed Science
Phone: (515) 294-6372
e-mail:[email protected]

Course Description:

Seed science and technology class will cover all aspects of seed biology, production, and commercialization. We
will use corn and soybeans as model plants because they represent the two classes of seeds, monocotyledonous
or monocots, and dicotyledonous or dicots. This classification refers to the number of cotyledons in the mature
seed. These two crops also represent the two major seed production systems, hybrid seed and varieties.

Learning Objectives:
1. To gain knowledge of seed development and maturation; seed germination and vigor; seed
conditioning, storage and deterioration, seed pathology; and seed production.
2. To learn to integrate this knowledge by solving seed quality and production problems encountered
in the seed industry.

Grading System:
A 920 and above
A- 900
B+ 870
B 820
B- 800
C+ 770
C 720
C- 700
D+ 670
D 620
D- 600
F Below 600

EVALUATION:
Three exams: two Mid term exams and one 400 points 200 points each exam
comprehensive Final (lowest score is
automatically dropped)
Weekly quizzes 100 points 20 × 5 points/each
Group assignment – case scenarios (2) 300 points Students must work as a group to
develop and present the answer –
1 practice case for extra points (25 points) All must return peer-review
2 cases for grade points (second 100 grade evaluation of group members or
points, third 200 points) points will be lost
Laboratory reports 100 points Including reports of the tours
Participation in Discussion 100 points

Exams:
The maximum grade for the midterm and final exams added together is 400 points. Each exam is worth 200 points.
A student may opt for not taking one of the midterm exams or the final, or take all three and automatically the
instructor will drop the lowest grade. If for any reason a student misses one of the midterm exams, he/she must
take the final. There are no makeup midterm exams. The final exam is comprehensive.
Weekly quizzes:
There will be 5 announced quizzes during lectures to evaluate learning progress. Each quiz is worth 20 points and
will cover the topics from the previous lecture.

Group Assignment- case scenario and peer-review of group members:

The students will be divided into groups of five. These groups will work together throughout the semester to
complete the labs and to solve and present the answers to three seed-related case scenarios. One of these seed-
related case scenarios will be for practice and will be assigned a maximum of 25 extra points. The second and third
case scenarios are worth 100 and 200 points, respectively, of the overall grade for the class. The case scenarios
are based on potential (and real) problems of seed quality, seed conditioning, seed pathology, etc. The students,
working as a group, will review the literature and class notes, summarize their findings and come up with possible
answers. The class before the scheduled discussion session, each group will e-mail the answers to the instructor.
All students in the class must participate in the discussion of the group's findings. Each student will peer-evaluate
all students in their group for participation, interaction with other group participants, effort, etc.

Laboratory reports:
Each student must record the information covered in class and submit a summary of each lab session or field trip.
The summary must be submitted during the following lab session. Beware if you fall behind submitting these
summaries, you’ll lose 2 points for each week’s delay

Participation in discussion:
Students will be evaluated based on their participation in class.

Extra points:
Throughout the semester, groups will address short questions to evaluate understanding and ability to use
knowledge learned from the date’s lecture. All members PRESENT from each group will receive 5 extra points for
correct answers.

Lab &Tour étiquette and attire:

 Must wear appropriate footwear for labs and tours. Wear closed-toes shoes. In some tours and labs, safety
glasses and ear plugs are required and will be provided.
 Ask questions during the tours and industry lectures. These visits to/from potential employers give you the
opportunity to find out more about their companies and about the work they do.
 Be on time. The van will leave at 2:10 pm regardless.
 Please inform Dr. Goggi of conflicts that might prevent you from being on-time.
 All students planning to drive separate from the group MUST sign a “separation form” BEFORE the tour

Attendance:
A minimum of 70% attendance to lectures and laboratories is mandatory for this course. STUDENTS WITH
OVERALL CLASS ATTENDANCE OF 69.99% OR LOWER WILL RECEIVE AN “F” REGARDLESS OF THEIR
GRADES. Please make sure you sign your name in the signup sheet provided in class. Attendance will be spot-
checked throughout the semester. Please inform Dr. Goggi of personal or professional conflicts that might prevent
you from attending class as your grade depends on attendance. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Classroom étiquette :
Texting, e-mailing, or other use of cell phones:
The use of cell phones is prohibited during class. Please turn off all cell phones.
Use of hats:
Please avoid using hats during class as they obscure your facial features.

Class Lectures:

• Power Point presentations will be posted on-line a week after each class
– URL: http://agron-www.agron.iastate.edu/Courses/agron338/
–
– Username: ISU e-mail address
– Password: ISU password
 Lab instructions will be posted on Wednesday of each week prior to the Lab Session. Please read through the
lab instructions before class to be familiar with the material to cover.

Academic Dishonesty
The class will follow Iowa State University’s policy on academic dishonesty. Anyone suspected of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Students Office.
http://www.dso.iastate.edu/ja/academic/misconduct.html

Disability Accommodation
Iowa State University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Sect 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act. If you have a disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please contact Dr.
Susana Goggi to set up a meeting within the first two weeks of the semester or as soon as you become
aware of your need. Before meeting with Dr. Goggi, you will need to obtain a SAAR form with
recommendations for accommodations from the Disability Resources Office, located in Room 1076 on
the main floor of the Student Services Building. Their telephone number is 515-294-7220 or email
[email protected] . Retroactive requests for accommodations will not be honored.

Dead Week
This class follows the Iowa State University Dead Week policy as noted in section 10.6.4 of the Faculty
Handbook http://www.provost.iastate.edu/resources/faculty-handbook.

Harassment and Discrimination

Iowa State University strives to maintain our campus as a place of work and study for faculty, staff, and
students that is free of all forms of prohibited discrimination and harassment based upon race, ethnicity,
sex (including sexual assault), pregnancy, color, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability,
age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a U.S. veteran.
Any student who has concerns about such behavior should contact his/her instructor, Student Assistance
at 515-294-1020 or email [email protected], or the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance at
515-294-7612.

Religious Accommodation
If an academic or work requirement conflicts with your religious practices and/or observances, you may
request reasonable accommodations. Your request must be in writing, and your instructor or supervisor
will review the request. You or your instructor may also seek assistance from the Dean of Students
Office or the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance.

Contact Information
If you are experiencing, or have experienced, a problem with any of the above issues, email
[email protected].
Agronomy/Horticulture 338 – Seed Science and Technology
Lecture outline: Tu – Th 9:30 am - G541 Agronomy Hall

Date Topic Chapter in book

1 August 22 Orientation/ Importance of seeds –
2 August 24 Principles of Seed Conditioning – Alan Gaul, Seed Sci. Ctr. Chapter 11
3 August 29 Seed conditioning – Alan Gaul, Seed Sci. Ctr. Chapter 11
4 August 31 Principles of seed drying Chapter 12
5 September 5 Floral induction and flower structures Chapter 1
6 September 7 Fertilization, development, and maturation Chapter 2
7 September 12 Final maturation stages
8 September 14 Chemical composition of seeds Chapter 3
9 September 19 Water relationships in seeds-FIRST CASE SCENARIO Chapter 5
10 September 21 Physiology of germination Chapter 5
11 September 26 Seed viability and viability testing Chapter 6
12 September 28 FIRST EXAM
13 October 3 Seed viability and vigor testing Chapter 8
14 October 5 Seed dormancy Chapter 7
The status of corn breeding in the United States: The beginning
of the end, the end of the beginning, or somewhere in-
15 October 10 Chapter 10
between? – Stephen Smith, Agron. & Seed Sci. (formerly
DuPont Pioneer)
16 October 12 Seed deterioration - Seed storage and longevity Chapter 9
17 October 17 SECOND CASE SCENARIO
18 October 19 Seed pathology – Gary Munkvold, Plant Path. Chapter 16
19 October 24 Seed pathology – Gary Munkvold, Plant Path. Chapter 16
20 October 26 Double Haploids – Ursula Frei, Agronomy Chapter 10
21 October 31 SECOND EXAM
22 November 2 Seed enhancement Chapter 13
23 November 7 Seed ecology - Vegetable seed production Chapter 4 & 10
24 November 9 Seed selection – Heather Poutre, Agronomy Diversified LLC
25 November 14 Breeding for improved germplasm Chapter 10
26 November 16 Hybrid corn seed production – Edgar Cabrera, DuPont Pioneer Chapter 10
November 20-24 THANKSGIVING
27 November 28 Soybean seed production – Terry Gardner, Bayer CropScience Chapter 10
28 November 30 Seed certification Chapter 14
Seed laws, intellectual property rights, and importance to
29 December 5 Chapter 18
research investment – Stephen Smith, Agron. & Seed Sci.
30 December 7 Turf grass seed production – S. Fei, Horticulture Chapter 10
31 December 11-15 Final Exam - Tues. Dec. 12 - 9:45-11:45 a.m.
 Seed Science and Technology
Agron 338
Course Syllabus
Fall 2017

Laboratory outline: Th 2:10 – 5 pm, 106 SSC or back parking lot of Agron Hall (tours)

Date Topic
1 August 24 Seed Conditioning Exercise – corn conditioning – Alan Gaul
2 August 31 Seed Conditioning Exercise – soybean/small grains conditioning
3 September 7 Monsanto - Seed Conditioning Plant in Boone
4 September 14 Ag Reliant Genetics - http://www.agreliantgenetics.com/
5 September 21 Biotech Trait Testing – Tyler Tunning
6 September 28 MBS Genetics - https://www.facebook.com/mbsgenetics - TOUR
7 October 5 Laboratory - corn & soybean – Kim North
8 October 12 Tetrazolium Laboratory – corn & soybean germ
9 October 19 Vigor Laboratory – Corn cold test - soybean AA test / evaluate
crownvetch
10 October 26 Dormancy Laboratory –final evaluation of crownvetch – Lab Tour
11 November 2 Seed Pathology – Charlie Block
12 November 9 Pioneer DNA facility & Greenhouses
13 November 16 Plant transformation – Kan Wang (class starts 2:30 pm)
Nov 20-24 THANKSGIVING
14 November 30 Q&A – ½ hour per group-THIRD CASE SCENARIO
15 December 7 Q&A – ½ hour per group-THIRD CASE SCENARIO

References:
th
Copeland, L.O. and M.B. McDonald. 2001. Seed Science and Technology, 4 ed. Kluwer Academic
Publishers, MA.
nd
Bewley, J.D. and M. Black. 1994. Seeds: physiology of development and germination, 2 ed. Plenum Press, NY.

Seed development and germination. 1995. Edited by J. Kiegel & G. Galili. Marcel Dekker, Inc.

Biochemistry:
Heldt, Hans W. 1997. Plant biochemistry & molecular biology. Oxford University Press.

Embryogenesis:
nd
Esau, K. 1977. Anatomy of Seed Plants, 2 ed. John Wiley & Sons.