ABSTRACT
Seeds play a crucial role in the evolution of both higher plants and human civilization. The domestication of the major crop plants about 13,000 years ago was contingent upon altering key seed characteristics, especially within the Gramineae and Leguminosae (1,2). The seeds of just three crops (rice, wheat, and maize) provide more than half of the global plant-derived energy intake (3). The persistent endosperm of wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, millet, barley, and oats contributes much of the world’s food supply (4). The world market for crop seed is approximately U.S. $45 billion, which can be roughly divided into three equal categories-commercial seed, farm-saved seed, and seed provided by government institutions (5). The importance of crop seeds has provided much impetus for research to understand seed ontogeny and develop improved seed characteristics (e.g., improved starch, protein, and oil profiles) (6).
