2023 APSA Seed Technology Webinar - Session 1 16 May 2023 / 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm (GMT+7)

Hosted by APSA Standing Committee on Seed Technology, the webinar series on Seed Technology is organized exclusively for APSA members only. This year is the third year APSA will be holding this webinar series, and will focus on such topics asSeed Priming, Seed Drying, Seed Disinfection, Seed Quality & Seed Vigor.

2023 APSA Seed Technology Webinar - Session 1
16 May 2023 / 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm (GMT+7)

Seed Priming

Speakers

Dr Irfan Afzal
Associate Professor/Focal Person, Seed Science and Technology
Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Pakistan

Profile:
Irfan Afzal has been working as faculty member and researcher in the field of seed science for the last 22 years and as Focal Person of Seed Science and Technology program in University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Pakistan since 2016. His priority research interests are basic and strategic research on seed quality, maintenance and enhancement. His rigorous postdoctoral training at leading institutes like SBC, UC Davis USA, Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics Adelaide and CSIRO Canberra prepared him to be a competent researcher. He has developed magnetic seed stimulation, priming, coating and pelleting technology and developed patent on “Climate Smart Storage Technology. He has been serving as Editor of Seed Science and Technology Journal, Member of ISTA Technical Committee on Seed Storage and Regional Representative of International Society of Seed Science (ISSS) since 2019. Based on his expertise on seed technology, he has been providing consultancy services to the national and international organizations. Dr Afzal is committed to education and assisting and supporting seed industry in fulfilling their potential and thus highly recognized by academia, formal and informal seed sectors. 

Abstract
Modern Seed Priming

This presentation will provide a comprehensive and practical overview of the current seed priming technologies and their utilization by farmers and the seed industry to address the gaps in the field for achieving sustainable agricultural productivity growth in developed and developing countries. The progress of seed enhancement techniques from simple to sophisticated and scaling up of these approaches at both farmer and industrial levels by keeping in mind affordability and the provision of high-quality seed crops will be discussed. 

Dr. Henry Bruggink
Senior Research Technology Specialist, Incotec Europe
ISTA ATC Advanced Technologies Committee 

Profile:
Born in 1960 in Sleen, the Netherlands. Married and with three children. Studied Biology at University of Groningen, from 1978 – 1985. Was a Researcher at the Government Seed Research Station, from1986 – 1989, where he helped in the Development of vigour test methods. Seed technologist at Bruinsma Seeds from 1990 – 1996. And now currently a Researcher at Incotec, with various projects in priming, upgrading, image analysis, shelf life, and quality testing. In addition; Assisted/gave courses/workshops with BreedWise, International Seed Academy, Wageningen Seed Centre, ISTA Advanced Technologies Committee; Developed and gave internal courses on Seed Biology and on Breeding and Seed Production; Invited lectures for East West Seed, ISTA, Incotec China, Green Expert Platform, Grodan,and  DanSeed.

Abstract
The presentation “Seed priming –practical purpose/commercial use” will briefly describe what priming is and what it may be used for. Furthermore, what the need is for priming in different areas of the world. Then I will describe what it takes to develop a priming for a new crop and how many experiments are involved to go from a laboratory set-up to a full commercial service for third parties. In addition to this, once a priming has been developed, it does not stay the same forever; changes in genetics, in seed production and in seed quality require continuous monitoring and if needed, adapting protocols to the actual situation. I will close the presentation by mentioning some of the global trends.

Event Time