About the Seed Biology Group

Seeds are the primary mechanism for the propagation and survival of domesticated crop and native plant species. Seeds also provide us with a major component of our food and feed nutritional requirements. The production of high quality seeds of improved cultivars is essential to crop production and agriculture. An understanding of seed ecology and the unique mechanisms of seed development, dormancy, germination and deterioration of all plant species is the goal of seed scientists and the discipline of seed biology.

The University of Kentucky has developed a strong interdisciplinary program in seed biology with internationally recognized researchers from the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the College of Arts and Sciences. This is a broad program with faculty in Plant and Soil Sciences, Horticulture and Ecology. It provides course work and research opportunities in both applied and fundamental aspects of seed biology.