Seed storage: maintaining seed viability and vigor for restoration use

Gibson‐Roy²,

Trivedi

et al. 2020

Self Cite

The global push to achieve ecosystem restoration targets has resulted in an increased demand for native seeds that current production systems are not able to fulfill. In many countries, seeds used in ecological restoration are often sourced from natural populations. Though providing seed that is reflective of the genetic diversity of a species, wild harvesting often cannot meet the demands for large‐scale restoration and may also result in depletion of native seed resources through over harvesting. To improve seed production and decrease seed costs, seed production systems have been established in several countries to generate native seeds based on agricultural or horticultural production methods or by managing natural populations. However, there is a need to expand these production systems which have a primary focus on herbaceous species to also include slower maturing shrub and tree seed. Here we propose that to reduce the threat of overharvest on the viability of natural populations, seed collection from natural populations should be replaced or supplemented by seed production systems. This overview of seed production systems demonstrates how to maximize production and minimize unintended selection bias so that native seed batches maintain genetic diversity and adaptability to underpin the success of ecological restoration programs.

Section: Seed Collection From Natural Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Safety, communication, and biohazard equipment are also essential—useful checklists are provided by Way and Gold () and FloraBank (). Appropriate post‐harvest management and storage are critical for maintaining seed viability, see DeVitis et al (2020) and Frischie et al (2020) for details.…”

Section: Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collection and production of native seeds for ecological restoration

Gibson‐Roy²,

Trivedi

et al. 2020

Self Cite

“…Seed handling and storage practices used immediately after harvest and during cleaning can impact seed viability, longevity, and dormancy status (Hay & Probert 2013). Specific recommendations for post‐harvest storage are provided by De Vitis et al (2020).…”

Section: Post‐collection Seed Cleaningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…dehiscent and indehiscent fruits and florets) that present a key challenge to effective and efficient cleaning of native plant seeds (Evans & Dennehy 2005; Erickson et al 2016a; Saatkamp et al 2019). While not all seeds must be removed from the dispersal unit or undergo additional cleaning, most do because seed cleaning can optimize storage capacity and duration (De Vitis et al 2020). The diversity of seed traits means that each species requires different cleaning approaches or equipment—factors that should be carefully considered to maintain genetic diversity and reduce potential damage to seeds.…”

Section: Seed Cleaningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ensuring seed quality in ecological restoration: native seed cleaning and testing

Frischie

Miller

et al. 2020

Seeds are a critical and limited resource for restoring biodiversity and ecological function to degraded and fragmented ecosystems. Cleaning and quality testing are two key steps in the native seed supply chain. Optimizing the practices used in these steps can ensure seed quality. Post‐collection handling of seeds can have a profound impact on their viability, longevity in storage, and establishment potential. The first section of this article describes seed cleaning, outlines key considerations, and details traditional and novel approaches. Despite the growth of the native seed industry and the need for seed quality standards, existing equipment and standards largely target agricultural, horticultural, and commercial forestry species. Native plant species typically have complex seed traits, making it difficult to directly transfer existing cleaning and quality standards to these species. Furthermore, in ecological restoration projects, where diversity is valued over uniformity crop standards can be unsuitable. We provide an overview and recommendations for seed quality testing (sampling, purity, viability, germinability, vigor), identity reporting, and seed transfer as well as highlight the need to implement internationally recognized standards for certification for native seeds. Novel and improved cleaning and testing methods are needed for native species from a range of ecosystems to meet the challenges and goals of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The guidelines outlined in this article along with others in the Special Issue of Restoration Ecology “Standards for Native Seeds in Ecological Restoration” can serve as a foundation for this critical work.

“…This special issue addresses that need, by presenting a series of overview articles on topics relevant to industry, restoration practitioners, and regulators. The overview articles examine each key step in the native seed supply chain: (1) seed sourcing and procurement models (Erickson et al 2020); (2) the fundamentals of native seed collection from natural populations and the establishment of seed production systems (Pedrini et al 2020); (3) established practices and protocols for cleaning, processing, and assessing the quality of native seeds (Frischie et al 2020); (4) methodologies for short‐ and long‐term seed storage, and for determining the longevity and quality of stored seed collections (De Vitis et al 2020); (5) an overview of seed dormancy classification, with examples of how dormancy alleviation techniques can be applied at scale for restoration projects (Kildisheva et al 2020); (6) how seed enhancement technologies can improve the efficiency of native seed use (Pedrini et al 2020); and (7) strategies, considerations, and current technologies in delivering seeds to site at field scales (Shaw et al 2020). The information presented in each of the overview articles then builds the framework of the final synthesis article that details the “standards” that need to be applied to native seed batches if the native seed supply chain is to achieve a level of reliability and transparency (see “Principles and Standards for Native Seed in Ecological Restoration”; Pedrini & Dixon 2020).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Foreword: International Standards for Native Seeds in Ecological Restoration

Cross

Dixon

2020

Restoration practitioners must increasingly incorporate seed procurement models and seed use planning early in project development, despite insufficient guidance about what are reasonable expectations for the sourcing and use of native seeds. This special issue presents a series of articles examining each key step in the native seed supply chain, and provides a framework for the “standards” that need to be applied to native seed batches if the native seed supply chain is to achieve the levels of reliability and transparency required. These Standards provide seed buyers, end users, and funding bodies with a level of confidence and reliability in the sourcing of quality native seeds, and a pathway toward global best practice in native seed use.