scholarly journals Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s Seed Information Database (SID): A compilation of taxon-based biological seed characteristics or traits

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udayangani Liu ◽  
Tiziana Antonella Cossu ◽  
John Dickie
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Seed Traits ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Plant Seed ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Royal Botanic Gardens ◽  
Seed Characteristics ◽  
Information Database

The Seed Information Database (SID) is one of the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), Kew's strategic databases in the public domain (http://data.kew.org/sid). SID is a compilation of taxon-based information on a range of biological seed characteristics or traits for about 52,564 seed plant taxa. Assembling and mobilizing such data involved challenges in establishing data standards for specific seed traits and taxonomy and integrating data sets from different sources. Data are derived from seed collections stored at the RBG Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) and from other published and unpublished sources. Seed traits data available in SID includes (number of records in brackets): storage behaviour (24,926), seed weights (86,287) seed dispersal (5,377), germination (54, 453), oil content (4,526), protein content (3,603), morphology (599), morphology images (1,741), halophytes (1,546) and viability constants (72). Database can be searched for any, or all of these categories by clade, order, family, genus, or species. SID also offers various online tools useful for ex situ seed conservation and storage (e.g. seed viability equation to predict the proportion of seeds in a population that are viable after any period of storage in a wide range of environments). SID data has been used by a wider community (general public, researches, conservationists, policymakers, etc.) in a range of disciplines including biodiversity conservation, food security, climate change, agriculture, and seed industry across the globe for large-scale analysis, modelling, predicting, or describing plant seed traits.

scholarly journals Building a Global System for the Conservation of all Plant Diversity

2016 ◽  
pp. 5-13
Author(s):  
Paul Smith
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Professional Community ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Global System ◽  
Wide Range

Botanic gardens and arboreta offer the opportunity to conserve and manage a wide range of plant diversity ex situ, and in situ in the broader landscape. The rationale that botanic gardens have a major role to play in preventing plant species extinctions is based on the assumptions that (1) there is no technical reason why any plant species should become extinct, and (2) that, as a professional community, botanic gardens possess a unique set of skills that encompass finding, identifying, collecting, conserving and growing plant diversity across the entire taxonomic spectrum. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) is the pivotal centre of a global network of c. 2,600 botanic gardens and arboreta, which includes living collections representing at least one-third of known plant diversity; world class seed banks, glasshouses and tissue culture infrastructures; and technical knowledge networks covering all aspects of plant conservation. Following the example of the crop conservation community, BGCI is promoting the concept of a cost-effective, rational,botanic garden-centred Global System for the conservation and management of plant diversity.This system will aim to collect, conserve, characterise and cultivate samples from all of the world’s rare and threatened plants as an insurance policy against their extinction in the wild and as a source of plant material for human innovation, adaptation and resilience.

Seed and Germination Biology ofDittrichia graveolens(Stinkwort)

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel N. Brownsey ◽  
Guy B. Kyser ◽  
Joseph M. DiTomaso
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Base Temperature ◽  
Time Model ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Total Seed ◽  
Thermal Time Model ◽  
Seed Characteristics

AbstractUnderstanding seed characteristics and seedling establishment patterns is essential for the development of effective management strategies for invasive annual species.Dittrichia graveolens(stinkwort) has increased its range rapidly within California since 1995, yet its biology is not well understood, which has led to poorly timed management. In this study, seed viability, germination, longevity, and dormancy, as well as seedling emergence characteristics ofD. graveolenswere evaluated in field, greenhouse, and laboratory experiments in Davis, CA, over a 2-yr period (fall 2010 to summer 2012). In the laboratory, seed germination ofD. graveolensoccurred at a wide range of constant temperatures (12 to 34 C). Cumulative germination was comparable to total seed viability (80 to 95%) at optimal germination temperatures, indicating that primary (innate) dormancy is likely absent. The base temperature for germination was identified using a thermal time model: 6.5 C and 4 C for 2010 and 2011 seed populations, respectively. In the field, seedlings emerged from fall through spring following precipitation events. A very low percentage of seedlings (2.5%) emerged in the second year after planting. Equivalent seedling emergence was observed over a wide range of light conditions (100, 50, 27, and 9% of available sunlight) in a greenhouse experiment, indicating that seed germination is not limited by high or low light. Results from these seed experiments improve our understanding of the reproductive biology of this rapidly expanding exotic annual and provide valuable information for developing effective timing and longevity of management programs.

scholarly journals Safeguarding Wild Plant Genetic Resources of Georgia within the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Tsira Mikatadze-Panstulaia ◽  
Sandro Kolbaia ◽  
Ana Gogoladze
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Plant Genetic Resources ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Wild Plant ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Seed Collection ◽  
Royal Botanic Gardens

Working group of the Department of Plant Conservation of the National Botanical Garden of Georgia (NBGG) have been participating in the global Millennium Seed Bank Partnership, led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew since 2005. During the 2005-2018 period, within the scope of MSB-1 and MSB-2, seeds and herbarium samples of more than 1750 plant species and interspecific taxa, belonging to 107 families and 483 genera (more than 41% of Georgia’s flora) – 348 endemics of Caucasus and 151 endemics of Georgia, have been secured in the National Seed Bank of Georgia (NSB). Seed Bank data are managed in BRAHMS (Department of Plant Sciences of Oxford University). The collection of wild plant species is accompanied by the comprehensive database of geographical, botanical and habitat information. Later phase involves laboratory treatment and germination/viability testing (at least 500 seeds per species) and the long-term deposition and storage (under -20◦C temperature) at the National Seed Bank of Georgia. The duplicates of seed collection and herbarium vouchers are stored at the Millennium Seed Bank of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK. Germination capacity and viability of collections in NSB is determined before cold storage of seeds, while at the MSB already banked seeds are tested.Keywords: Seed bank; Ex-situ conservation; Plant diversity; Botanical garden; Genetic resources

scholarly journals Seed Characteristics Diversity in Sponge Gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.) Germplasms from Hatay Region in Turkey

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Kazım MAVİ ◽  
Kazim GÜNDÜZ ◽  
Dilek YILDIRIM ◽  
Fulya UZUNOĞLU
Keyword(s):  
Core Collection ◽  
Gene Pools ◽  
Seed Traits ◽  
Seed Shape ◽  
Seed Length ◽  
Mini Core Collection ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sponge Gourd ◽  
Length Width ◽  
Seed Characteristics

The objective of this study was to evaluate seed characteristics of sponge gourd, to establish a core collection of sponge gourd with the germplasm collected throughout the Hatay region. A mini-core collection was assessed for morphological performance and some seed traits. Substantial variations of seed characteristics: seed length, seed width, seed thickness (mm), seed index (length/width), seed size (length × width, mm2), seed colour, seed-coat surface, seed shape, seed wing, and 100-seed weight were investigated. Seed length, width and thickness were varied as 15.12-8.97 mm, 9.71-6.25 mm and 2.86-2.16 mm respectively. The seed sizes were determined from small (31 DÖ 06) to big (31 DE 04). Seed colours were ranged from black to white, even a brown colour like 07 MA 01. A hundred seed weights were observed as 16.43 g (31 AL 02) and 7.41 (31 DÖ 06). The results of dendrogram indicated that seed traits of the sponge gourd genotypes were separating in five groups. This collection of sponge gourds will be useful for the gene pools and a wide range of phenotypic variations to provide a good source of diversity for developing of sponge gourd cultivars in breeding programs.

scholarly journals Lower dormancy with rapid germination is an important strategy for seeds in an arid zone with unpredictable rainfall

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corrine Duncan ◽  
Nick Schultz ◽  
Wolfgang Lewandrowski ◽  
Megan Good ◽  
Simon Cook
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Adult Plant ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Seed Traits ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Diurnal Temperatures

AbstractSeed germination traits are key drivers of population dynamics, yet they are under-represented in community ecology studies, which have predominately focussed on adult plant and seed morphological traits. We studied the seed traits and germination strategy of eight woody plant species to investigate regeneration strategies in the arid zone of eastern Australia. To cope with stochastic and minimal rainfall, we predict that arid seeds will either have rapid germination across a wide range of temperatures, improved germination under cooler temperatures, or dormancy and/or longevity traits to delay or stagger germination across time. To understand how temperature affects germination responses, seeds of eight keystone arid species were germinated under laboratory conditions, and under three diurnal temperatures (30/20°C, 25/15°C and 17/7°C) for 30 days. Seeds of species in this study are currently stored for minesite restoration projects, hence we tested for decline in seed viability across 24 months in dry storage at similar storage conditions (≈20°C). Six of the eight arid species studied had non-dormant, rapidly germinating seeds, and only two species had physiological dormancy traits. Seed longevity differed widely between species, from one recalcitrant species surviving only months in storage (P50 = <3 months) and one serotinous species surviving for many years (P50 = 84 months). Our results highlight the importance of understanding the reproductive strategies of plant species in arid environments. Rapid germination, the dominant seed trait of species included in this study, allows arid species to capitalise on sporadic rainfall. However, some species also exhibit dormancy and delayed germination; this an alternative strategy which spreads the risk of germination failure over time. We highlight important seed traits and germination strategies of plants from an arid zone with stochastic rainfall and discuss the implications for their restoration.

scholarly journals Maturation of seeds of Poincianella pluviosa (Caesalpinoideae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Paulo Naldi Silva ◽  
Danilo da Cruz Centeno ◽  
Rita de Cássia Leone Figueiredo-Ribeiro ◽  
Claudio José Barbedo
Keyword(s):  
Room Temperature ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Seed Vigor ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Environmental Constraints ◽  
Maturation Process ◽  
Short Lifespan ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Viable Seeds

The persistence of viable seeds in the soil is an important way to assure plant propagation, especially for species which produce seeds with short lifespan. Poincianella pluviosa is a tree species which seeds have short to medium storability at room temperature. The comprehension of the maturation process is crucial to understand its strategy for propagation and it could provide tools to improve seed viability in ex situ conditions. Flowers were tagged in two consecutive cycles of maturation and pods were periodically harvested until dispersion. Seeds were classified based on their morpho-physiological features, capability to germinate and develop seedlings. The complete maturation process was attained 315-330 days after anthesis, a period longer than reported for seed viability at room temperature. The maximum dry mass and seed vigor were reached at the end of maturation, although elevated seedling production was obtained before physiological maturity. We suggest that the precocious ability to produce seedlings in a long maturation could be a strategy to overcome environmental constraints, as the species is distributed in a wide range of phytogeographic domains in Brazil.

scholarly journals Conserving orthodox seeds of globally threatened plants ex situ in the Millennium Seed Bank, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK: the status of seed collections

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 2901-2949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udayangani Liu ◽  
Tiziana A. Cossu ◽  
Rachael M. Davies ◽  
Félix Forest ◽  
John B. Dickie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Threatened Plants ◽  
The Status ◽  
Orthodox Seeds ◽  
Royal Botanic Gardens ◽  
Seed Collections

scholarly journals The Phosphopantetheinyl Transferase Superfamily: Phylogenetic Analysis and Functional Implications in Cyanobacteria

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 2298-2305 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. Copp ◽  
B. A. Neilan
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Acyl Carrier Protein ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Combinatorial Biosynthesis ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Phosphopantetheinyl Transferase ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Degenerate Oligonucleotide ◽  
Wide Range

ABSTRACT Phosphopantetheinyl transferases (PPTs) are a superfamily of essential enzymes required for the synthesis of a wide range of compounds including fatty acid, polyketide, and nonribosomal peptide metabolites. These enzymes activate carrier proteins in specific biosynthetic pathways by the transfer of a phosphopantetheinyl moiety to an invariant serine residue. PPTs display low levels of sequence similarity but can be classified into two major families based on several short motifs. The prototype of the first family is the broad-substrate-range PPT Sfp, which is required for biosynthesis of surfactin in Bacillus subtilis. The second family is typified by the Escherichia coli acyl carrier protein synthase (AcpS). Facilitated by the growing number of genome sequences available for analyses, large-scale phylogenetic studies were utilized in this research to reveal novel subfamily groupings, including two subfamilies within the Sfp-like family. In the present study degenerate oligonucleotide primers were designed for amplification of cyanobacterial PPT gene fragments. Subsequent phylogenetic analyses suggested a unique, function-based PPT type, defined by the PPTs involved in heterocyst differentiation. Evidence supporting this hypothesis was obtained by sequencing the region surrounding the partial Nodularia spumigena PPT gene. The ability to genetically classify PPT function is critical for the engineering of novel compounds utilizing combinatorial biosynthesis techniques. Information regarding cyanobacterial PPTs has important ramifications for the ex situ production of cyanobacterial natural products.

Electron microscopy study of reactively sputter-deposited Ti/N films on silicon

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1362-1363
Author(s):  
V. C. Kannan ◽  
A. K. Singh ◽  
R. B. Irwin ◽  
S. Chittipeddi ◽  
F. D. Nkansah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Hexagonal Phase ◽  
Microscopy Study ◽  
Electron Microscopy Study ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Tin Films ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fcc Phase ◽  
Circuits Vlsi

Titanium nitride (TiN) films have historically been used as diffusion barrier between silicon and aluminum, as an adhesion layer for tungsten deposition and as an interconnect material etc. Recently, the role of TiN films as contact barriers in very large scale silicon integrated circuits (VLSI) has been extensively studied. TiN films have resistivities on the order of 20μ Ω-cm which is much lower than that of titanium (nearly 66μ Ω-cm). Deposited TiN films show resistivities which vary from 20 to 100μ Ω-cm depending upon the type of deposition and process conditions. TiNx is known to have a NaCl type crystal structure for a wide range of compositions. Change in color from metallic luster to gold reflects the stabilization of the TiNx (FCC) phase over the close packed Ti(N) hexagonal phase. It was found that TiN (1:1) ideal composition with the FCC (NaCl-type) structure gives the best electrical property.

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