• Considers best practices for ensuring seed quality and health, such as phenotyping and non-invasive techniques, including hyper=spectral imaging and x-rays
• Provides a comprehensive review of our understanding of seed biology and the impact of genetic and environmental factors in determining seed longevity, dormancy and rate of seedling emergence
• Assesses key challenges facing seed science, including the need to mitigate the effects of climate change on seed quality and production

Part 1 Understanding seeds: from biology to the field
1.Seed dormancy and germination: a critical update: Henk W. M. Hilhorst, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands and University of Cape Town, South Africa;
2.Understanding the effects of maternal environment in controlling seed dormancy: Roberto L. Benech-Arnold, Cátedra de Cultivos Industriales, IFEVA-Facultad de Agronomía (CONICET/UBA), Argentina; M. Verónica Rodríguez, Cátedra de Fisiología Vegetal, IFEVAFacultad de Agronomía (CONICET/UBA), Argentina; Diego Batlla, Cátedra de Cerealicultura, IFEVA-Facultad de Agronomía (CONICET/UBA), Argentina; and Rocío Fernández Farnocchia, Cátedra de Cultivos Industriales, IFEVA-Facultad de Agronomía (CONICET/UBA), Argentina;
3.Applying population-based threshold models to quantify and improve seed quality attributes: Kent J. Bradford and Pedro Bello, University of California-Davis, USA;
4.Biotic sources of seed losses influencing germination and emergence success in crop plants and agricultural weeds: James W. Dalling and Adam S. Davis, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA;
5.Advances in understanding the genetic and environmental factors determining seed longevity: Julia Buitink and Olivier Leprince, Institut Agro, Univ Angers, INRAE, IRHS, France;

Part 2 Seed quality control and treatment
6.Advances in seed phenotyping using X-ray imaging: Sherif Hamdy, Aurélie Charrier and Laurence Le Corre, GEVES, France; Pejman Rasti, Université d’Angers and École d’ingénieur Informatique et Environnement (ESAIP), France; and David Rousseau, Université d’Angers, France;
7.Advances in testing seed health: Peter Bonants, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands;
8.Advances in preservation of seed vigour during storage: Fiona R. Hay, Aarhus University, Denmark;
9.Enhancing seed defence mechanisms against pathogens: John Hampton, Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, New Zealand;
10.Advances in seed priming techniques: Henry Bruggink, Incotec Europe, The Netherlands;