## 2 Advances and Achievements in Seed Biotechnologies in the Decade 2014-2024  
Plant seeds comprise proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, fibers, and minerals [18; 21] and determine a healthy crop in agriculture. As an important starting material, improving the quality attributes and supply of seeds is essential. While scientific and technological advances empowered crop improvement, enhancing seed quality traits for resistance to heat, drought, and cold, pathogens/pests is key to ensuring food security across the globe. Significant advances have been made in the present decade, attributed to the progress achieved in seed biology, seed production, storage, quality improvement, biotic/abiotic stress tolerance, seed treatment, and therapeutic value, among other notable areas ([[https://www.syngenta-us.com/biotechnology](https://www.syngenta-us.com/biotechnology)]([https://www.syngenta-us.com/biotechnology](https://www.syngenta-us.com/biotechnology)), accessed on 25 October 2024). The multiple goals of seed technology are to increase agricultural output through high-yielding varieties, which can be achieved through improved seed varieties, optimum and timely supply, good quality of seeds, and affordability to farmers (Table 1). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt}} \hline \hline
**Biotechnological Initiatives** & **Seed Traits** & **Research Outcomes/Applications** & **Reference** \\ \hline \multicolumn{4}{c}{Seed phenotyping assays for seed vigor and viability} \\ CVMI & Seed vigor and viability & Multivariate models and spectra of single seeds and differentiate between non-germinated and germinated seeds with precision \\ SeedGerm & do & Software processes multi-images and performs machine learning analysis and seed phenotyping on large-scale Multivariate-based analysis and monitoring of biochemical differences among low- and high-vigor seeds \\ \hline \multicolumn{4}{c}{Genes regulating multiple seed traits and their functional characterization} \\ _mitogen-activated protein kinase_ (_mk3_) & Seed germination and dormancy & Wheat cultivars with different dormancy have amino acid substitution \\ _quantitative trait locus on seed dormancy I (_qsl1_) & do & Increased dormancy via the RNAi silencing of _qsl1_ gene \\ _aba insensitive 5 (_abi5_) & Seed vigor and longevity & Seed longevity regulation in _Pisum sativum_ L. (pea) & [27] \\ \hline \multicolumn{4}{c}{Synthetic biology approaches to seed quality improvement} \\ _qsl1_ & Seed dormancy & CRISPR-Cas9 was employed to develop a triple-receessive gene mutant causing longer seed dormancy \\ Plant enzymes L-isoaspartyl tranethyltransferases (PIMT) & Seed vigor & PIMT protein overexpression in rice, seeds increased seed longevity and vigor RNAi-silenced lines overexpressing genes (encoding TAG lipases) showed increased seed oil content in transgenic soybean \\ Methionine-rich \(\delta\)-zein & Seed lipid and protein realignment for higher nutrition & Enhanced methionine levels in seeds, balance in methionine and cysteine in sulfur storage \\ Mutant lines FN301952 and FN300012 in _Glycine mvar_ L. Merr. ( soybean) & do & High oil and protein in mutant lines, delayed carbon to raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFO) synthesis improved oil levels Increased seed dormancy and suppressed preharvest sprouting through MIR156 mutation \\ MicroRNAs (MIR156) & Grain yield & Increased seed dormancy and suppressed preharvest sprouting through MIR156 mutation \\ \hline \multicolumn{4}{c}{High-throughput assays for seed imbibition and germination} \\
2D and 3D imaging & Seed imbibition and germination & 3D X-ray—high-resolution method, qualitative characterization of seed imbibition \\  & do & 2D thermography—detect biochemical and biophysical changes associated with imbibition \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Progress and achievements in seed quality improvement, characteristic examples, and research outcomes discussing case studies.