Abstract
Conservation seed banks are essential for ex-situ conservation of genetic biodiversity. These institutions are especially relevant for threatened species and play a vital role in their conservation by preserving genetic material. However, samples deposited in the seed banks must germinate when necessary to use them (i.e., recovery plans, etc.). This study uses four accessions of the endemic endangered species from Gran Canaria Island (Canary Islands), Isoplexis isabelliana (Webb & Berthel.) Masf. (Scrophulariaceae). Germination tests were carried out to measure seed viability through time and the possible impact of seed storage on their viability. These accessions have been kept in the seed bank for four months to thirty years under different storage conditions. Germination results differed for seeds after 45 days of exposition using 16 hours light and 8 hours darkness at 17 °C. Accessions kept in the seed bank, independently of storage, showed a high germination percentage (89%). Whereas the accessions with rough storage conditions showed a 0% germination rate. The results highlighted the good state of conservation of the material deposited in the Seed Bank of the Botanical Garden "Viera y Clavijo" and the reliability of the temperature and humidity conditions in which the seeds of I. isabelliana have been stored. We consider these results as momentous since several natural populations of I. isabelliana has been affected by the last forest fire on the island.
Highlights
Recent studies show that current global plant diversity extinction is 100 to 1000 times higher than during the recent geological past (Pimm et al, 1995; Humphreys et al, 2019)
This study aims to evaluate the effect of time and storage conditions on the germination of Isoplexis. isabelliana seeds by addressing the following questions: (i) do the storage time limit the germination percentage of I. isabelliana?, (ii) what factor has an influence on seed viability of this endangered endemic species?, (iii) can the resazurin reagent determine the seed viability in Scrophulariaceae?, (iv) are the current seed storage conditions in the Seed Bank of JBCVC favorable for the long time storage of I. isabelliana seeds?
In order to test the effect of storage time and conditions, four accessions with different storage history were selected from the Seed Bank JBCVC (Table 1); (1) an accession from the natural population of Tenteniguada, which has been stored for 31.5 years following the protocol of the Seed Bank JBCVC (529/B); (2) an accession belonging to the reintroduced population of Llano de la Pez and stored for 22.3 years at -10 °C in the Seed Bank (1236/B); (3) an accession sampled in the Natural Park of Tamadaba in September 2002 (2204/B) and stored at room temperature (15.8 – 22.1oC) and ambient humidity (80.5%); (4) a recent accession, from the natural population of Cazadores (5183/B), which has been stored at room temperature and humidity for four months
Summary
Recent studies show that current global plant diversity extinction is 100 to 1000 times higher than during the recent geological past (Pimm et al, 1995; Humphreys et al, 2019). The maintenance of ex situ seed viability over long periods in gene banks is a key element for conserving plant genetic resources (Fu et al, 2015). In this sense, it is essential to establish germination protocols for each of the species stored in the bank (pretreatment, seed dormancy). Germination studies are essential for the reintroduction of plant populations of threatened species. An increasing number of germplasm banks have been established to support the future recovery of species that might become extinct in the near future (Myers et al, 2000)
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