Seed Bank Research Articles

Agro-morphological characterization and genotypic diversity of chilli (Capsicum. frutescens) landraces of Bangladesh

Samples of 82 chilli (Capsicum spp.) genotypes grown during the Rabi season of 2016-17 were characterized based on 28 qualitative and 7 quantitative agro-morphological markers. The genotypes were collected and conserved in the Plant Genetic Resources Centre (PGRC) of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). The Chi-square (χ 2) tests and the Shannon Diversity Index (H´) were used for the genetic diversity study. All the characters under study were distributed independently except cotyledon leaf shapes and leaf pubescence density. The values of H´ of the genotypes varied widely, the maximum values being observed for the cotyledon leaf shape, leaf density, and anthocyanin leaf spot on the fruit. In contrast, the lowest values were recorded for pigmentation of node and leaf color. The estimated coefficient of variation was the highest while it was the lowest for one thousand seed weights. No variation was observed for calyx annular constriction of fruit. Analytical functions of DIVA-GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping localized the accessions into 10 districts and marked the areas of insufficient collection. Accession AMA-248 belonging to Mymensingh was almost round fruit. Accessions RAI-232 and RAI-80 belonging to Chattogram, AMA-335 belonging to Sherpur, AMA-361 belonging to Jamalpur, RAI-80 belonging to Chattogram, and AHI-01 belonging to Jhenaidah were elongated fruit. Germplasms collected from Chattogram showed the maximum variation in traits of cotyledon leaf color and stem color at the seedling transplanting age. The variation observed in different characters could be important characters in selecting parents for breeding programs.

Cross-Species Transferability of SSR Markers for Analyzing Genetic Diversity of Different Vicia species Collections

Legumes play an essential role in sustainable agriculture due to their ability to fix nitrogen and high protein content. Vicia is a relevant genus of the Fabaceae family that includes important crop species, such as V. faba and V. sativa, but also other species considered minor crops. They are mainly used as animal feed and usually cope resiliently with extreme conditions; therefore, they could play an essential role in sustainable agriculture under the present scenario of climate change and growing population. However, the scarcity of commercial cultivars limits their use. The Spanish National Plant Genetic Resources Center has collections of several species of the genus Vicia, including international landraces, which could be an essential source of biodiversity for breeding programs. These seed resources are underutilized due to the limited availability of characterization data, including the lack of molecular markers for these species. In this study, we analyzed the cross-transferability of SSR (simple sequence repeat) molecular markers from V. sativa and V. ervilia to distinct species of the genus Vicia. We also used heterologous validated markers for the genotypic characterization and genetic diversity analysis of almost 500 accessions of three undercharacterized Vicia collections: V. articulata (one-flower vetch), V. ervilia (bitter vetch), and V. narbonensis (narbon bean or French vetch). Subsequently, these molecular data were integrated with passport and agromorphological data to select representative varieties from these Vicia collections and establish core collections, with minimum loss of genetic diversity versus the Spanish total collections. The characterization of these legume collections is an essential step from an economic and ecological point of view to obtain selected Vicia varieties to be used in sustainable agriculture.

Phytosanitary management of ICARDA’s germplasm seed collections for safe movement and better future use

Abstract Germplasm exchange from international genebanks and breeding programs is vital for successful crop improvement programs. More than 10,000 different accessions of wheat, barley, lentil, faba bean, chickpea, grasspea, and pasture and forage crops are distributed by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) every year to around 70 countries. New accessions are added to the germplasm collections in the Center's genebank and utilized in the breeding programs. Recent years have witnessed an increasing global concern about the loss of plant genetic resources because of conflicts, human pandemic diseases, extreme weather events, pest and disease outbreaks, and natural calamities such as earthquakes, floods, etc., which led to disrupting access to germplasm and undermining social protection systems. Safety duplication of germplasm collections held in genebanks in other institutions, including international, regional, and national genebanks, as well as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (SGSV), is one of the essential measures to safeguard germplasm and also to replenish any lost accessions and resume use and distribution of seeds to users internationally. Germplasm distribution procedures are conducted per International Plant Protection Convention phytosanitary regulations to avoid the transboundary spread of seed-borne pests and pathogens. The ICARDA’s Seed Health Laboratory exercises maximum efforts to maintain the “phytosanitary clean” health status of germplasm during regeneration, conservation, distribution and ensure compliance with phytosanitary regulations in international germplasm distributions to guarantee minimum loss of genetic resources. These efforts include the development of new methods to detect and manage seed-borne pathogens. An increase in global awareness to preserve germplasm for current and future use is crucial to combat climate challenge, malnutrition, and food insecurity.

Sources of valuable traits for the selection of varieties and hybrids of agricultural crops on the Yaltushkiv EBS

Purpose. To identify sources of economic and valuable traits for the breeding process of industrial, grain and bioenergy crops at the Yaltushkivska Experimental Breeding Station of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beet of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences.
 Methods. Hybridization, selection, field tests, analytical, mathematical and statistical.
 Results. The best breeding genotypes of beets of foreign and domestic selection that are the donors of valuable traits, are concentrated at the Yaltushkivska EBS. The best hybrid combinations created on the basis of the Yaltushkivska EBS materials and evaluated in the variety test under the Beta cross program significantly exceeded the group standard: in yield (103.6–114.9%), sugar content (96.4–105.7%), sugar yield (110.1–110.8%). A highly productive buckwheat variety ‘Yuliana’ with a yield of 2.2 t/ha and a protein content of 15.0% was created and submitted for state variety testing. The best highly productive and energy valuable varieties of switchgrass were selected for cultivation in areas of insufficient and unstable soil moisture, which ensure the yield of dry biomass at the level of 7.5–16.2 t/ha, the yield of solid biofuel of 8.2–17.2 t/ha, and energy of 112.5–243 GJ/ha. Genotypes from the Miscanthus genus have been identified, which combine signs of tolerance to osmotic and salt stress and high energy yield.
 Conclusions. Selected sources of breeding-valuable traits became the basis for creating varieties and hybrids of agricultural crops (sugar beet ‘Barskyi’, ‘Chereshnevyi’, ‘Ruthenia 11’, ‘Ruthenia 12’, ‘Ruthenia 13’, etc., buckwheat ‘Yuliana’, switchgrass ‘Morozko’ and ‘Liadovske’ and varieties of miscanthus resistant to abiotic factors of the environment). Breeding genotypes and original lines of these crops were transferred to the National Center of Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine.

Seed exploration on Nusakambangan Island to enrich seeds collection in Bogor Botanic Garden

Seed exploration is one of the conservation strategies used to enhance the collection of seeds as natural resources in the seed bank. In 2020, we explored Nusakambangan Island from the West Nusakambangan nature reserve area, Batar Panjang coast, to Kali Jati Riverbanks. The exploratory approach and direct fruit tree sampling were employed. This study seeks to collect and preserve plant seeds and discover their biological seed characteristics. Thirty-two (32) collection numbers were obtained, consisting of 22 families and 27 genera. Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae (4 species) have the most fruiting trees in this exploration. Ficus variegata, Mucuna gigantea, and Ziziphus horsfieldii are new Bogor Botanic Gardens database collections. Most seeds (75%) we collect are orthodox and suitable for long-term storage. In addition, the specimens are not endemic or endangered trees; few still need identification. Also, this study provides information on biological seed characteristics that facilitate seed conservation storage at Bogor Botanical Garden Seed Bank.

Creating a North American prairie: The inspiration

SummaryThe inspiration and early planning for the new North American prairie planting at Wakehurst Place is explained, and how it fits into the landscape and is associated with the Millenium Seed Bank.

Species Composition of the Seed Bank in the Estuarine Part of the Il’d’ River and Neighboring Areas

Species Composition of the Seed Bank in the Estuarine Part of the Il’d’ River and Neighboring Areas

Viability of ‘ōhai Sesbania tomentosa seeds after 3 decades of ambient conditions

Abstract The plant species Sesbania tomentosa (‘ōhai; Fabaceae) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, federally listed as endangered in the USA and has been proposed for categorization as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In 2021, c. 12,000 seeds from 12 seed lots collected during 1990–1992 from across the Hawaiian Islands were discovered in ambient herbarium conditions (55% relative humidity (RH) at 20 °C). International gene bank standards suggest drying seeds in equilibrium with 15% RH and stored at −18 °C. To investigate seed viability, we mechanically scarified then sowed 15 seeds from each accession at daily alternating regimes of 12 h light and 12 h dark at temperatures of 25/15 °C, respectively. Germination was observed after 7 days and ended after 34 days. Mean final germination was 88.9 ± SD 0.1% (range 73–100%). Each seed lot was accessioned into the National Tropical Botanical Garden's Seed Bank and Laboratory. In seeds with a water-impermeable seed coat (i.e. physical dormancy), such as S. tomentosa, seeds can desorb but not absorb water. Therefore, if the seeds were initially dried, although exposed to high RH for up to 32 years, seed equilibrium RH may have remained low, which may in part explain the observed high germinability. This study holds significance for managers who are working to conserve this endangered Hawaiian species and suggests that even suboptimal conditions may still yield highly viable seeds several decades into the future.

Effects of different grassland utilization methods on the germinable soil seed bank of the Hulunbuir meadow steppe.

Seed banks are crucial regenerative resources for aboveground vegetation. The pattern of their changes holds immense significance in understanding alterations in the belowground seed bank. This understanding is pivotal for uncovering both short-term and long-term shifts in plant communities. Additionally, it contributes to the restoration of grassland ecosystems. To better protect grassland biodiversity and provide a theoretical basis for the restoration of degraded grasslands, in this study, the germination characteristics of soil seed banks in free-grazed, enclosed and mown areas were compared, and the results were combined with those of previous studies for a comprehensive analysis. The density of soil seed bank and perennial forage soil seed bank were significantly affected by different grassland utilization and soil depths. Grazing and enclosure grassland utilization methods increased the content of the soil seed bank, and mowing reduced the content of the seed bank. The soil seed bank density of perennial grasses accounted for the highest proportion under grazing, followed by mowing, and its lowest proportion was observed in the enclosures. Grazing not only facilitated the germination of the perennial grass seed bank but also substantially augmented its content. Mowing inhibited the germination of the upper growth grasses seed bank, which was particularly significant in the 0-2cm soil layer under grazing. The content of the upper growth grasses seed bank affected the total seed bank to a certain extent, mainly in the 5-10cm layer. The general correlations among the perennial grasses, upper growth grasses and soil germination seed bank resulted in 84.58% information extraction, and this information has practical significance for grassland ecological restoration.

Effect of burning of evergreen savin juniper and herbaceous patches on soil: Seed banks, chemical and biological properties

Effect of burning of evergreen savin juniper and herbaceous patches on soil: Seed banks, chemical and biological properties

Genetic Diversity of Cucumber Germplasm Collected and Conserved at the Plant Genetic Resources Centre of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute

Genetic Diversity of Cucumber Germplasm Collected and Conserved at the Plant Genetic Resources Centre of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute

Исследования по определению жизнеспособности семенного материала представителей семейства Asteraceae, находящихся на хранении в Семенном банке природной флоры Казахстана

Представляем вашему вниманию начало серии научно-образовательных статей, описывающих ре-зультаты исследований, проводимых в лаборатории «Семенной банк» РГП «Институт ботаники и фи-тоинтродукции». Кроме того, данная серия статей направлена на привлечение интереса и внимания к работе Семенного банка. В настоящей статье представлены исследования представителей семейства Asteraceae, хранящихся в Семенном банке природной флоры Казахстана (далее — СБ). Описаны ме-тоды, использующиеся в работе СБ: условия хранения семенного материала, определение жизнеспо-собности семян. Дана информация об условном делении хранящихся образцов на лекарственные, декоративные и эндемичные виды. Также представлены данные по результатам определения всхожести семян представителей семейства Asteraceae.

Weak seed banks influence the signature and detectability of selective sweeps.

Seed banking (or dormancy) is a widespread bet-hedging strategy, generating a form of population overlap, which decreases the magnitude of genetic drift. The methodological complexity of integrating this trait implies it is ignored when developing tools to detect selective sweeps. But, as dormancy lengthens the ancestral recombination graph (ARG), increasing times to fixation, it can change the genomic signatures of selection. To detect genes under positive selection in seed banking species it is important to (1) determine whether the efficacy of selection is affected, and (2) predict the patterns of nucleotide diversity at and around positively selected alleles. We present the first tree sequence-based simulation program integrating a weak seed bank to examine the dynamics and genomic footprints of beneficial alleles in a finite population. We find that seed banking does not affect the probability of fixation and confirm expectations of increased times to fixation. We also confirm earlier findings that, for strong selection, the times to fixation are not scaled by the inbreeding effective population size in the presence of seed banks, but are shorter than would be expected. As seed banking increases the effective recombination rate, footprints of sweeps appear narrower around the selected sites and due to the scaling of the ARG are detectable for longer periods of time. The developed simulation tool can be used to predict the footprints of selection and draw statistical inference of past evolutionary events in plants, invertebrates, or fungi with seed banks.

Mapeamento de Bancos Comunitários de Sementes Crioulas no Território de Identidade Piemonte Norte do Itapicuru

ABSTRACT Native Seed Banks of Communities (SBC) are one of the important social technologies that enables the coexistence with the climate in the Semiarid region of Brazil. These banks can supply appropriate seeds due to the genetic improvement carried out by farmers over generations, in addition to the traditional knowledge associated with them. The poor water distribution in part of the states in the Northeast region of Brazil makes family farmers to depend on rainfall and adapted seeds to grow viable crops. In this sense, native seeds are the most suitable due to their robustness and ideal adaptation to the environment and cultivation systems used in the region. Moreover, the conservation of native seeds in germplasm banks is an important strategy for minimizing the impacts of conventional agriculture. Thus, the objective of this study was to map seed banks of communities within the Piemonte Norte do Itapicuru Territory, state of Bahia, Brazil. The research was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic and presented a qualitative character through a study case methodology. The steps for data collection were: identification of SBC through information from technical advisory entities; georeferencing of the SBC locations; and description of SBC specificities. Eight seed banks were mapped, distributed in three municipalities: Antonio Gonçalves, Campo Formoso, and Pindobaçu. Although the territory is composed of nine municipalities, six of them do not have this technology.

Decision Support for Managing Conservation Seed Bank Collections: Comparing Germination and Viability

Without knowledge of seed germination requirements, conservation seed bank collections cannot be utilised, nor their viability monitored over time. When germination is low, deciding whether to invest further seed, time and resources into investigating why can be difficult. We investigated the germinability of 37 grassy ecosystem seed bank collections, including germination response to fire-related cues. Where germination was < 75% we investigated seed viability using the tetrazolium chloride (TZ) staining test. Germination and TZ test results were then compared to determine next steps in collection management. Using 95% confidence intervals of the difference between germination and viability, the 37 collections were assigned to one of seven different data- informed management decisions. This approach provides a detailed decision support framework for conservation collection management, to strengthen current guidelines and ensure that time and resources are effectively allocated. Other seed banks could customise this approach depending on the number of seeds used in testing and what percentage of germination is considered sufficient.

Building Software for Hierarchical Events in Biodiversity Informatics

In 2019, the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) ran a national consultation, clarifying a long-held suspicion that while simple occurrence records provide invaluable discoverability and analysis for biodiversity data, the lack of contextual information on data collection methodology and protocols limits its usefulness for species abundance estimation and time-series analysis. The consultation recognised that the ALA has strong leadership in biodiversity standards and development, and that our 12-year history and investment in projects and engagement demonstrates a clear capacity to transition to a repository capable of capturing and aggregating the monitoring and survey data required for conservation efforts (Daly 2019). Around the same time, the larger data landscape was undergoing change in a similar direction, both internationally through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility’s (GBIF) Unified Model engagements, and nationally through the development of the Australian Biodiversity Information Standard (ABIS), an ontology for describing environmental data (Anonymous 2021). We embarked on a project to examine existing data standards and practices, extend our own occurrence model, and build software that could ingest event-based datasets and make them discoverable and interoperable. Initially we focused on well-structured surveys, both marine and terrestrial, to develop the system and user interface (UI). During the project, we restructured and modeled other exemplar datasets, collaborating with GBIF to develop event terms, vocabularies, and user interface components. Seeking interoperability with existing standards, we integrated concepts from both ABIS and the Ocean Biodiversity Information System’s (OBIS) ENV-DATA model (De Pooter et al. 2017) into a standardised yet flexible implementation of Event Core, navigable via a friendly user interface. The initial software release is comprised of an ingestion pipeline for events in parallel to occurrences, an index capable of handling nested data structures, and a user interface. The UI guides the user to explore and filter datasets; includes visualisations for data structures, taxonomic scope, repeat location surveys, extended measurements or facts; and links out to child occurrence records. Users can download filtered original and interpreted datasets with Digital Object Identifiers (DOI), in compressed files that comply simultaneously with Darwin Core Archive and Frictionless Data Package specifications. On release, we will present a range of datasets covering different event-based scenarios. The model has serendipitously provided the flexibility to encapsulate complex seed bank data. During the project, we developed a draft extension, which we used to service a new data portal for the Australian Seed Bank Partnership, a testament to the model’s serviceability for novel use cases. The ALA has taken innovative steps beyond simple collection of complex data types and worked with our local biodiversity informatics community to provide a navigable interface to this data. We intend to continue working with our own data providers and the international community, to realise the benefits of a more complex data model.

Effects of Crop Management Systems On Weed Abundance and Soil Seed Bank

Effects of Crop Management Systems On Weed Abundance and Soil Seed Bank

Conserving useful plants for a sustainable future: species coverage, spatial distribution, and conservation status within the Millennium Seed Bank collection

A substantially rich diversity of the world’s recorded useful plants (UPs) is captured within the Millennium Seed Bank collection hosted by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, at Wakehurst, UK with 13,598 species (34%) belonging to 3696 genera and 325 families. This constitutes just over half of the total accessions and one third of the species and covers all 9 continents, 8 realms, 14 biomes, 34 biodiversity hotspots and 175 countries. The most common beneficial use category within the captured diversity is medicinal, then species with environmental, material, and human food value. About 86% of conserved UP species have a ‘Least Concern’ conservation status but 8% are identified as globally threatened. The advantages of mutual, continued, and long-term partnership (e.g., Mexico) are showcased when conserving plants important for local communities and addressing conservation challenges beyond seed banking. However, the geographic coverage suffers from a lack of partnerships with some parts of the world. Also, a low number of accessions contributed from many countries means that insufficient native range is yet to be captured for many species. This is particularly the case for restricted or narrow distribution species from families or genera with a high incidence of recalcitrant or short-lived seeds. Future planning must tailor better to cover the spatial distribution patterns for individual species, thereby improving the number of accessions and geographical coverage for those captured. Moreover, seed biology research should characterise desiccation tolerance and develop complementary, novel conservation methods, such as cryopreservation, to strengthen conservation options for UP species.

Community seed banks: Instruments for food security or unsustainable endeavour? A case study of Mkombezi Community Seed Bank in Malawi

Community seed banks: Instruments for food security or unsustainable endeavour? A case study of Mkombezi Community Seed Bank in Malawi

Conservation of Britain’s biodiversity: rediscovery of the extinct Lake District endemic Hieracium fissuricola, Fisherplace Gill Hawkweed (Asteraceae)

Hieracium fissuricola P.D. Sell, Fisherplace Gill Hawkweed, is a rare Lake District endemic. It had not been refound at the original 1954 locality at Fisherplace Gill and was regarded as extinct. A new site was discovered on the nearby Glenridding Estate in 2021 which comprised a tiny colony of six plants. It is IUCN (2001) Threat Status ‘Critically Endangered’. Seed has been deposited in the Millennium Seed Bank.