Abstract:

【Objective】 To clear the ancient history of seed biology in China and to know the contribution of China to the ancient seed biology for to providing references and a basis for development of modern seed science and for study of the history of seed biology. 【Method】 The relational knowledge of seed development biology from the 22 century BC to the 19th century was summed up to take the contents of modern seed biology as a line through consulting ancient books and references. 【Result】 The ancient knowledge including the overall understanding of seed development, the influence of water and fertilizer and agronomic practices on seed development, and the discovery and prevention of seed abortion, and seed maturity and after-ripening and so on were studied. 【Conclusion】 The result showed that in ancient China, through long-term observation and practice made by working people, a lot of knowledge about seed development was found, especially the influencing factors on seed development. Although the ancient knowledge is accumulated from experience and records of phenomenon of seed growth, but it is basically in accordance with modern seed science, and is very useful for study modern seed developmental biology.

Key words: seed')">seed, development biology, China, ancient history