**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SEEDS ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF PLANT REPRODUCTION AND THE BASIS OF THE HUMAN FOOD SYSTEM. FROM VEGETABLE SEED, TO CERTIFIED CEREALS, TO NATIVE SPECIES FOR RANGELAND RESTORATION, SEED PRODUCTION COMPRISES A MAJOR AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE INDUSTRY IN THE INTERMOUNTAIN PACIFIC NORTHWEST. A SKILLED AND TECHNICALLY EDUCATED WORKFORCE IS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THIS INDUSTRY AND PRODUCE QUALITY SEED FOR AGRICULTURE AND PLANT RESTORATION. HOWEVER, TALENT MUST FREQUENTLY BE IMPORTED AND REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN INADEQUATE TO INFORM AND EDUCATE STUDENTS, YOUTH, AND THE PUBLIC AS TO THE IMPACT AND IMPORTANCE OF SEEDS AND A SEED PRODUCTION INDUSTRY. MOREOVER, THE INDUSTRY IS POORLY REPRESENTED BY COLLEGE GRADUATES FROM MINORITIES, WOMEN, AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS.WE PROPOSE AN IMMERSIVE, INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION EXPERIENCE FOR 2ND- AND 3RD-YEAR UNDERGRADUATES FROM HOST INSTITUTIONS AND REGIONAL 2-YEARS COLLEGES TO EXPLORE THE APPLICATIONS OF SEED MICROBIOLOGY TO REGIONAL AGRICULTURE AND HABITAT RESTORATION. STUDENTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS WILL BE ACTIVELY RECRUITED. STUDENTS IN THIS PROGRAM MAY CHOOSE FROM APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECTS IN COLLABORATION WITH REGIONAL INDUSTRY AND AGENCIES EXAMINING THE EFFECTS OF SEED MICROBES ON PLANT REGENERATION AND AN EXTENSION EDUCATION PROJECT DESIGNED TO RAISE AWARENESS TO SEED SCIENCE AND SEED PRODUCTION INDUSTRY AMONG AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, K-12 YOUTH, AND THE PUBLIC.STUDENTS WILL CONDUCT RESEARCH PROJECTS THE LOOK AT THE EFFECT OF FUNGI AND BACTERIA THAT LIVE INSIDE SEEDS ON SEED QUALITY (E.G. WHEAT SEED QUALITY FOR BREAD FLOUR) AND SEED SURVIVAL AND SEEDLING SURVIVAL IN HARSH ENVIRONMENTS (E.G. POST-FIRE REVEGETATION SITES); HOW NON-PATHOGENIC SEED-ASSOCIATED BACTERIA AND FUNGI MIGHT DEFEND SEEDS AND HOST PLANTS AGAINST PATHOGEN AND INSECT ATTACK; HOW INEXPENSIVE RECREATIONAL-TYPE DRONE TECHNOLOGY MIGHT BE ADAPTED TO DAILY USE IN FARM FIELDS AND RESTORATION SITES FOR BASIC PATHOGEN SAMPLING AND SEEDLING DEVELOPMENT MONITORING BY PRODUCERS; AND HOW INTERACTIONS BETWEEN POLLINATORS AND SEEDBORNE FUNGI AND BACTERIA MAY INTERACT TO IMPACT SEED QUALITY AND SEEDLING SURVIVAL AND POLLINATOR HEALTH AND SURVIVAL. STUDENTS WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE K-12 YOUTH TO BUILD AWARENESS OF THE PRACTICAL IMPORTANCE OF SEEDS TO HUMAN SURVIVAL AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SEED SCIENCE TO WORLD ECOLOGY.THE GOAL OF THE APPLIED SEED MICROBIOLOGY REEU IS TO INTRODUCE SOPHOMORE AND JUNIOR UNDERGRADUATES, K-12 YOUTH, AND PROFESSIONAL AND LAY AUDIENCES TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SEED SCIENCE AND SEED PRODUCTION AND INDUSTRY TOAGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND TO EXPLORE APPLICATION OF SEED MICROBIOLOGY IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE AND HABITAT RESTORATION. OUR PROGRAM SEEK TO BUILD COLLABORATIONS AMONG RESEARCH, LIBERAL ARTS, AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES; THE AGRICULTURAL SEED INDUSTRY; AND REGIONAL HABITAT RESTORATION PROFESSIONALS AND EXPAND OUR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF SEED SCIENCE.