The mission of the American Seed Research Foundation (ASRF) is to encourage research in Plant and Seed Biology that has the potential for application to more than one crop species and to facilitate the transfer of resulting technology to benefit the seed industry, farmers/growers and consumers on a global basis. ASRF will support basic seed research which has the potential for application to more than one crop species. The following basic research priorities have been identified: (A) Fundamental Seed Biology: (1) genetic determinants of seed quality and vigor; (2) physiological determinants of dormancy; (3) effects of maternal environment on seed quality; (4) mechanisms of seed deterioration; (5) seedling establishment under subnormal temperatures; (B) Seed Technology: (1) standardized methods for GM detection; (2) application of new technologies to evaluate seed quality; (3) treatments to enhance seed emergence and uniformity; (4) effects of changed seed composition on germination and vigor; (C) Seed Production: (1) novel systems for inducing controllable male sterility; (2) computer-assisted seed conditioning and handling; (3) pollen flow studies to establish isolation standards; (4) quality consequences of combining small seed lots; and (D) Seed Health: (1) new seed disinfestation methods; (2) application of new technologies to identify seed-borne pathogens; (3) standardized germination tests for treated seed; and (4) durable resistance to plant pathogens.