65 Journal of New Seeds, 11:65–103, 2010 Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1522-886X print/1522-9025 online DOI: 10.1080/1522886X.2010.481777 WJNS 1522-886X 1522-9025 Journal of New Seeds, Vol. 11, No. 2, Apr 2010: pp. 0–0 Journal of New Seeds Improved Seeds and Green Revolution Improved Seeds and Green Revolution J. S. Dhiman et al. JAGTAR S. DHIMAN, MANJIT S. KANG, V. R. PARSHAD, P. K. KHANNA, S. S. BAL, and S. S. GOSAL Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India The purpose of this review is to share with developing countries how a dedicated agricultural university helped enhance food pro- duction and thwart Malthusian scenario. The Indian adequacy on the food-front has largely been attributed to the development of improved seeds of different crops, in particular wheat and rice, effi- cient system of agro-technology generation and its transfer to farmers, and useful coordination between state development departments and suitable government policies. We have discussed the revolution- ary role of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in transforming a food-deficient India into a food self-sufficient nation. This dramatic transformation is dubbed the Green Revolution. Fueled by scientific research, PAU has, since its inception in 1962, released more than 580 improved varieties/hybrids of field crops, vegetables, fruits, fodder, and ornamentals. Now, almost the entire cropped area of the Punjab state is under improved varieties. This is because PAU has one of the best seed-production and delivery programs among agricultural universities in India. Its total seed production capacity during the last five years was >30,000 tons. Millions of disease-free nursery plants of fruits and ornamentals are supplied to farmers annually. The seed-production technology, together with an improved seed-distribution system, has given an impetus to agriculture in recent years. New breeding methods and modern technologies, such as bio- technology, electron microscopy, and nanotechnology, should provide even better seeds in the future. The scanning electron microscopy facilities at PAU have helped distinguish between seed surfaces of drought-resistant and drought-susceptible genotypes of Indian mustard, and, revealed that seed coat microstructure could be used as a selection criterion for stress tolerance. Farmer training in Address correspondence to Manjit S. Kang, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India. E-mail: vcpau5264@yahoo.co.in