News
8th International Workshop on Desiccation Sensitivity and Tolerance across Life Forms (15-19 January 2024, South Africa)
We are delighted to announce, and invite you to the ISSS-sponsored “8th International Workshop on Desiccation Sensitivity and Tolerance across Life Forms”, which will be held from the 15th to 19th of January 2024 at the Euphoria Lifestyle and Golf Estate in the Waterberg UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. This biosphere is known for the large amount of “resurrection plants” it hosts. The aims of this Workshop series are to bring together leading academic ... Read more »
IN MEMORIAM Cees Karssen (July 4, 1937 – October 14, 2023)
Cees Karssen started at Wageningen University in 1969 as assistant-professor to become professor in 1984. Cees contributed, to a large extent, to modern seed physiology. His studies together with Maarten Koornneef on mutants of Arabidopsis and tomato are highlights in the field and are still cited. The evolving hormone balance theory still stands firmly in our age of modern molecular and -omics research. He was closely befriended ... Read more »
Submissions invited for Seed Science Research special issue: Challenges of Seed Science in a Changing World
Invitation to publish in a special issue of Seed Science Research under the theme of the 14th ISSS conference: “Challenges of Seed Science in a Changing World”. SSR accepts Research Articles, (short) Reviews, Short Communications, as well as Technical Updates. Guest-Editors are Christophe Bailly and Julia Buitink. Deadline for submission is December 1, 2023. ***OA fees will be waived for submissions received before 25 October 2023*** Since SSR will be Full Open Access as of January ... Read more »
Job opportunity – Research Associate in Seed Biology at RBG Kew, UK
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew are seeking an experienced and motivated plant scientist to join the Seed and Stress Biology team based at the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst to work on a new project funded by the Forestry Commission. The “Plasma and phenotyping technologies for improved seed quality for tree production” project aims to enable improved propagation of trees from seeds and will investigate the effects of innovative plasma-based methods for breaking seed dormancy and ... Read more »
Training course in plant cryopreservation, 31 October – 8 November 2023
Applications are invited for a training course on 'Plant cryopreservation - theory and practice'. The course will be from 31 October to 8 November 2023 at Wakehurst, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, and will cover theoretical and practical aspects of cryopreservation of embryonic axes of recalcitrant seeds, shoot tips, pollen and fern and bryophyte spores. For more information please visit: https://www.kew.org/science/training-and-education/continuing-professional-development/plant-cryopreservation-theory-and-practice Closing date for applications: 31 August 2023.
ISSS/ISTA webinar – Seed Dormancy
The latest ISSS/ISTA webinar was on 7 June 2023 on the topic of seed dormancy. Speakers: David Johnston - Seed dormancy breakage for germination testing Ganesh K. Jaganathan - The ecological significance of physical dormancy, and much more: from conundrum to clarity The recording of the webinar and links to the presentations are available on the ISTA website: ISSS/ISTA webinars - International Seed Testing Association
ISSS members – please update your contact details
The membership of the ISSS has grown substantially in the last few months, and we now have over 700 members. Email is our only means of contacting our members, and there are a lot of incorrect or out of date email addresses in our membership database, which means that some members are not receiving updates or notifications from the society. Please check your details and email are correct by logging into the Members Area. If you are unable ... Read more »
Abstract submission for ISSS 2023 closes on 30 April 2023
The 14th Biennial ISSS Conference – Challenges of Seed Science in a Changing World will take place at Sorbonne Université in Paris from 3 to 7 July 2023. The deadline for abstract submission is 30th April 2023. Please submit your abstracts online via the conference website: https://isss2023.sciencesconf.org/ Don’t miss this opportunity to present your research to seed scientists from across the world!
in Memoriam: J. Derek Bewley 1943-2023
The following is published in Seed Science Research: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0960258523000119 and reproduced here with permission of Cambridge University Press.
Dr. J. Derek Bewley, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology (formerly Department of Botany) at the University of Guelph, Canada, passed away due to cancer on February 24, 2023. Derek was a towering figure in seed science over the past five decades, making critical research ... Read more »
Wageningen Seed Science Centre Master Class Seed Technology: 15-19 October 2023
18th Master Class Seed Technology from 15-19 October 2023 Wageningen Seed Science Centre organises this year again their Master Class Seed Technology. The aim of the four-day course is to offer seed technologists and biologists the possibility for a further deepening, broadening and actualisation of their knowledge and expertise. Through an intensive in-depth seminar programme and informal discussions, along with several practical demonstrations of recent technological developments, participants will be challenged with the latest developments in ... Read more »