Gel-coated seed

Abstract

A gel-coated seed is provided, which has sufficient strength for handling just after the production thereof and after the recovery following the storage under drying, and has a good property in terms of standing-up of seedling. The gel-coated seed includes: a seed of a plant; a coating gel-layer, which coats the seed, consisting of alginic acid-based aqueous gel gelled in the presence of a multivalent metal ion; and grains consisting of water-containing hydrophilic polymer, which is resistant to the multivalent metal ion, distributed in the coating gel-layer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gel-coated seed comprising: 
 a seed of a plant;    a coating gel-layer, which coats the seed, consisting of alginic acid-based aqueous gel gelled in the presence of a multivalent metal ion; and    grains consisting of water-containing hydrophilic polymer, which is resistant to the multivalent metal ion, distributed in the coating gel-layer.    
     
     
         2 . The gel-coated seed according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a carboxymethylcellulose-based hydrophilic polymer.  
     
     
         3 . The gel-coated seed according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the multivalent metal ion is a calcium ion.