ABSTRACT
Introduction In both angiosperms and gymnosperms the commonest mode of propagation is from the seed (38, 71). The seed is so familiar that we tend to overlook what an outstanding structure it is and the many functions it performs. It is a means of multiplication, a vehicle of dispersal and a form of resistance to environmentally unfavourable periods. Moreover, seeds such as those of cereals and legumes are major foods because of their storage reserves of protein, starch and oil. Most knowledge of seeds is from cultivated species which provide food and many raw materials for industry. Information on seeds of wild species and relatives of cultivated crops is scarce but, with the increasing interest in new food sources and in the use of genetic diversity in breeding programmes, the seeds of wild plants are now receiving more attention.
