The Importance of Seed Studies for Endangered Plant Conservation

摘要

Seeds provide plants with the capability to reproduce sexually, increasing opportunities for genetic diversity. By studying what seeds require to germinate, we learn not only about the species' biology but the health of the plant population. With thisbasic understanding, we can plan our conservation efforts to help recover rare and endangered plants and their communities. The Conservation Seed Lab in Fairchild's Center for Tropical Plant Conservation (CTPC) provides a laboratory space with a varietyof equipment for processing, germinating, and storing the seeds being studied. For example, our state-of-the-art growth chamber can regulate day length, humidity and temperature—all of which influence the rate and number of seeds that germinate. In the Seed Lab, we process collected seeds by cleaning, counting and accessioning. Some are germinated for experimental studies and reintroductions, others processed for long-term storage.