BioEnv seminar: “Inter- and intraspecies variation in seed longevity – implications for ex situ conservation”

Fiona Hay, from Department of Agroecology, University of Aarhus will talk about seeds and how to keep them alive.

Kort sammanfattning och presentation

Many plant species produce seeds described as having orthodox seed storage behaviour: the seeds survive drying to low moisture content and subsequent storage at sub-zero temperatures. Further, their longevity – how long the seeds can stay alive for – is extended by reducing moisture content and temperature. We take advantage of this ability when we store seeds in conservation seed banks or seed genebanks. However, seeds of different species differ in their longevity. There is also variation in longevity between different seed lots within a species – which we can manipulate to some extent. Our research seeks to better understand inter- and intra-species variation in seed longevity for improved conservation outcomes. 

Fiona Hay is a senior scientist at Aarhus University in Denmark. She previously worked at the Millennium Seed Bank, UK and the International Rice Genebank, Philippines. She leads the Seed Quality Management activities of the CGIAR Genebanks Accelerator and is involved in other projects related to plant genetic resources and seed viability, longevity and vigour. She is Chief Editor of Seed Science and Technology and President of the International Society for Seed Science.