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Abstract
Long term storage of seeds at freezing temperatures is one strategy for genetic conservation of tree species. It can be used to preserve species that produce seeds that remain viable after drying to a low seed moisture content. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA FS) National Seed Laboratory (NSL) began long term seed storage for genetic conservation in 2005. The program is mostly focused on five-needle pines (Pinus) and ash (Fraxinus) species. The genetic resources of both groups of species are eroding rapidly in the wild because of attack from invasive exotic pests for which there are no effective control measures. Seeds on the other hand, once placed in a freezer, are quite safe and require comparatively little maintenance. Part of the maintenance required for long term stored seed is to know the seeds are viable and sufficiently dry going into storage and that they remain alive and dry while in storage. To gain this information it is necessary to use seed analysis. The various seed analysis methods used at the National Seed Laboratory are described.
Parent Publication
Citation
Vankus, V.G.; Karrfalt, R.P. 2017. The role of seed analysis in genetic conservation. In: Sniezko, Richard A.; Man, Gary; Hipkins, Valerie; Woeste, Keith; Gwaze, David; Kliejunas, John T.; McTeague, Brianna A., tech. cords. 2017. Gene conservation of tree species—banking on the future. Proceedings of a workshop. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-963. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 158-162.
