Seed bank

 Seed Bank

A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is a characteristic of flowering plants. Seeds of many plant species remain viable for a long time when they are kept in reduced moisture and at low temperature. Cryogenic preservation is suspended liveliness at sub-freezing temperature and low moisture content.

A seed bank stores seeds as a source for planting in case seed reserves elsewhere are destroyed. It is a type of gene bank. The seeds stored may be food crops, or those of rare species to protect biodiversity. The reasons for storing seeds may be varied. In the case of food crops, many useful plants that were developed over centuries are now no longer used for commercial agricultural production and are becoming rare. Storing seeds also guards against catastrophic events like natural disasters, outbreaks of disease, or war. Seed banks can be set up at the community. national and international level Because the crops we rely for food are grown in parts of the world distant to the centres of their domestication, the sharing of genetic material across national borders for research and plant breeding is essential.

Establishment of Seed bank accomplished in the following three steps: Collection and Drying of seed sample- Collection of seeds are done after

1. testing their viability. The simplest method of viability test is to determine the percentage of seed germination. Different types of stains and tests can be used e.g. 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Size of seed sample depends on requirement of seed sample.

Seeds are dried in a conditioning room with a temperature of 16°C and a relative humidity of 14%. It can also be done by a drying agent like Silica gel or Drierite.

2. Storing- seeds are stored in a container made up of metal, glass, and plastic. Seeds are first dried (to prevent germination during storage) and stored at low temperatures to increase longevity.

3. Labeling- labeling of sample is done for identification.

An important part of the work at seed banks is to ensure the seed collection remains alive: seeds need to be periodically checked for viability and the material regenerated to replenish the collection with fresh seed and planting.

Read Also :- Gene bank