Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #369133
Research Project: Efficient and Effective Preservation and Management of Plant and Microbial Genetic Resource Collections

Location: Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research

Title: Cleaning, processing, drying and storing orthodox seeds

Author
item Walters, Christina
item MASCHINSKI, JOYCE - Center For Plant Conservation (CPC)
item HAVENS, KAYRI - Chicago Botanical Garden
item VITT, PATI - Chicago Botanical Garden
item HEINEMAN, KATHERINE - Center For Plant Conservation (CPC)
item HORN, CHRISTA - San Diego Zoo

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2019
Publication Date: 8/16/2019
Citation: Walters, C.T., Maschinski, J., Havens, K., Vitt, P., Heineman, K., Horn, C. 2019. Cleaning, processing, drying and storing orthodox seeds. In: Falk, D., Holsinger, K., Wieland, G., Olwell, P., Millar, C., Guerrant, E.O., Havens, J.K., Maunder, M., Haskins, K., editors. CPC Best Plant Conservation Practices to Support Species Survival in the Wild. Escondido, CA: Center for Plant Conservation. p. 10-23.

Interpretive Summary: Maintaining a conservation collection requires an institutional commitment for the benefit of plant conservation. To maintain the highest conservation value, awareness of accurate record-keeping, conditions needed to ensure high seed quality, and monitoring seeds to determine seed survival are necessary. New research has shed light on practices that can improve seed longevity in storage. Keeping orthodox seeds alive for as long as possible will provide many options for using the seeds for future reintroductions. We urge practioners to follow the new practices to increase the longevity of seeds in storage.

Technical Abstract: Maintaining a conservation collection requires an institutional commitment for the benefit of plant conservation. To maintain the highest conservation value, awareness of accurate record-keeping, conditions needed to ensure high seed quality, and monitoring seeds to determine seed survival are necessary. New research has shed light on practices that can improve seed longevity in storage. Keeping orthodox seeds alive for as long as possible will provide many options for using the seeds for future reintroductions. We urge practioners to follow the new practices to increase the longevity of seeds in storage.