Disclosed is a manufactured seed comprising: (a) a seed coat comprising a structure fabricated from one or more materials, the materials being selected from the group consisting of cellulosic materials, glass, plastic, polymeric resins, waxes, varnishes, and wax-impregnated paper (b) a nutritive media comprising an adsorbent material, wherein the adsorbent material is present in the media in a concentration from 30 g/L to 100 g/L and (c) a shoot restraint, wherein the shoot restraint comprises a cavity. Also disclosed is a method for germination of a plant embryo from a manufactured seed comprising: (a) assembling a manufactured seed comprising a seed coat and a shoot restraint, wherein the shoot restraint comprises a cavity (b) adding nutritive media comprising an adsorbent material, wherein the adsorbent material is present in the media in a concentration from 30 g/L to 100 g/L, to the seed coat (c) placing a plant embryo into the cavity of the shoot restraint and (d) culturing the manufactured seed under conditions suitable for germination of the plant embryo wherein the seed coat comprises a structure fabricated from one or more materials, the materials being selected from the group comprising cellulosic materials, glass, plastic, polymeric resins, waxes, varnishes, and wax-impregnated paper.
