## 2 Advances and Achievements in Seed Biotechnologies in the Decade 2014-2024
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l l l l} \hline \hline
**Biotechnological Initiatives** & **Seed Traits** & **Research Outcomes/Applications** & **Reference** \\ \hline  & \multicolumn{2}{c}{Molecular and genetic studies to determine seed size and weight} & \\ Big seeds1 (bs1) TF and Subtilase & \multicolumn{2}{c}{In _Mediago truncatula_ [PERSON]. (Barrel Medic), transcription} & \\ (sbt1.1) enzymes & \multicolumn{2}{c}{Seed weight and size} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{factors and enzymes as seed size and weight regulators} & \\ _habit1 (ikuI)_, minseed3 (_mini3_), & \multicolumn{2}{c}{In _Arabidopsis thaliana_ ([PERSON]) [PERSON]. multiple genetic} & \\ _hatik2 (_ika2_), _short hypocotyl under_ & \multicolumn{2}{c}{Endosperm growth and seed size} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{networks were identified (_iku_ pathway) governing} & \\ _bluel (sht1)_ genes & \multicolumn{2}{c}{endosperm growth and seed size} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{endosperm growth and seed size} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{[36]} \\ _AtSHB1_ & \multicolumn{2}{c}{Seed size} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{The overexpression of _Atshb1_ in _Brassic napus_ L. increased} & \\  & \multicolumn{2}{c}{seed size and _mini3_ and _ibuz1_ expression} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{[37]} \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: _Cont._(heterozygous) are removed since it diminishes the plant's genetic purity [42; 43]. When the crop is harvested, plant samples are taken for grow-out test (GOT) and seed testing, while the periodic testing of varieties for seed production is carried out to check for seed genetic purity and maintenance [47]. Nowadays, for genetic purity tests, innovative procedures including biochemical markers (Isozyme analysis, polypeptide profiling, and Chemotyping) and molecular markers are employed [48] which are used for precision. Sequencing-based approaches and microarrays are biotechnological innovations that facilitate reproducibility and accurate estimations. _Effects of environmental factors on seed longevity_: Seed longevity is significantly affected by environmental factors, genetic and physiological factors, and storage conditions. In groundnut and soybean crops, the maintenance of seed longevity is challenging and may be addressed by _Agrobacterium_-mediated gene silencing or molecular techniques, namely miRNA, siRNA, and RNAi, among others [43]. _Genetic mechanisms of seed longevity_: Seed longevity is a quantitative trait, and it is regulated by multiple genes and can be studied by employing genetics. Studies have identified the genetic loci linked with seed longevity in _O. sativa_ and _Arabidopsis_[43]. In plants, multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL) (on different chromosomes) were linked with seed viability. The presence of QTL regulating seed longevity in _rice_ was documented [49]. Multiple stress-related genes were mapped--related to oxidative stress, freeze tolerance, and drought stress. The QTL mapping has been prospective in deciphering the genetic mechanisms of seed longevity and the physiological aspects of seed germination. Further research in seed science and biotechnologies opened new avenues in delineating the metabolic systems and gene prospection for the identification of key seed features. Studies have shown that in _Arabidopsis_, _PIMT1_ gene overexpression promoted seed longevity while gene inactivation caused decreased seed longevity. In another study, greater seed longevity is caused by increased function to repair damaged proteins during imbibition [50]. Moreover, modeling methods were developed for the prediction of seed longevity based on seed germination changes. For genes involved in seed longevity, the co-integration of omics tools has been a powerful approach for gene prospection. Genomics studies (structural and functional) are necessary to elucidate the genomes and identify novel genes. Moreover, transcriptome analysis for drought tolerance, seed quality traits, and disease resistance are of significance in seed biology research.