Abstract

The basis of the evolutionary development of a plant is reproduction. Because reproduction ensures the continuity of species, therefore, immediately after fertilization, the seed becomes the recipient of substances assimilated in the plant. As growth continues, the seed basically goes through three main physiological stages. The period in which 80% of the growth occurs is the period of cell division and elongation, the supply of nutrients from the mother plant through the funiculus, and the intense increase in seed weight. The funiculus degenerates and the seed breaks its connection with the parent plant. The seed has reached the maximum dry matter. This period is called mass maturity. Although physiological maturity has been considered for many years, it has been determined that the seed is not physiologically mature during this period. In the drying period, the seed begins to dry. During this period, environmental conditions, rain, temperature, diseases and pests to which the seed is exposed reduce the quality. It is imperative to carefully combine advances in seed management, vegetative propagation, biotechnology, and molecular genetics to support forestry practices that strive to balance socioeconomic requirements, biodiversity, and climate change with sustainable production. The production, preservation, and repair of seeds all start with seed physiology and technology. This chapter aims to explain the physiological processes that affect the formation, growth, and development of seeds, which are the basis of the continuity of plant generations, by evaluating the perspectives of future applications and current limitations.