Seed aging : implications for seed storage and persistence in the soil /

This comprehensive treatise on seed longevity is by a plant physiologist and biochemist who has covered the world literature on the subject and has been personally involved in research. Although it is designed for the specialist, there are fascinating chapters that will appeal to nonscientists. Priestley's writing is clear and he includes occasional summaries to clarify the differing points of view. Specific technical items covered include loss of seed quality with storage, and morphological, structural, and biochemical changes occurring with seed aging. The appendix contains invaluable sets of tables on seed longevity by species. With more than 70 pages of references, this is a valuable work on seed aging, and is recommended for college libraries in institutions where biological research is ongoing. It may well find its way into other reference collections since the applied aspects in terms of seed storage are of wide interest and have practical application in agriculture.-W.A. Niering, Connecticut College