关键词: 种子地理学, 种子宏观性状, 种子微观性状, 地理分异格局, 景观格局, 农业土壤, 重金属, 珠江三角洲

Abstract: In this paper, a new concept ‘seed geography’ was provided, and its definition, research contents, and scientific issues were put forward. Seed geography is a newly developed interdisciplinary science from plant geography, seed ecology, and phytosociology, which studies the geographic variation patterns of seed biological traits as well as their relationships with environmental factors from macroscopic to microscopic, and the seed formation, development, and change trends. The main research contents would include geography of seed mass, geography of seed chemical components, geography of seed morphology, geography of seed cell biological characteristics, geography of seed physiological characteristics, geography of seed genetic characteristics, and geography of flower and fruit. To explore the scientific issues in seed geography would help us to better
 understand the long-term adaptation and evolution of seed characteristics to natural environments.

Key words: seed microscopic traits, patterns of geographical differentiation, seed geography, seed macroscopic traits, landscape pattern, agricultural soil, heavy metal, Pearl River Delta.