676b7f53-b671-4a17-a14d-44b8d59c4613 eng Ev-K2-CNR +39 035 3230511 +39 035 3230551 Via San Bernardino 145 Bergamo BG 24126 Italy metadata@evk2cnr.org http://www.evk2cnr.org/ 2019-12-04T19:26:24 ISO 19115:2003/19139 1.0 Seeds of alpine plants are short-lived: implications for long-term conservation 2010-10-12T00:00:00 Annals of Botany, 107: 171-179 1095-8290 Background and Aims Alpine plants are considered one of the groups of species most sensitive to the direct and indirect threats to ecosystems caused by land use and climate change. Collecting and banking seeds of plant species is recognized as an effective tool for providing propagating material to re-establish wild plant populations and for habitat repair. However, seeds from cold wet environments have been shown to be relatively short lived in storage, and therefore successful long-term seed conservation for alpine plants may be difficult. Here, the life spans of 69 seed lots representing 63 related species from alpine and lowland locations from northern Italy are compared. Methods Seeds were placed into experimental storage at 45 °C and 60 % relative humidity (RH) and regularly sampled for germination. The time taken in storage for viability to fall to 50 % (p50) was determined using probit analysis and used as a measure of relative seed longevity between seed lots. Key Results Across species, p50 at 45 °C and 60 % RH varied from 4•7 to 95•5 d. Seed lots from alpine populations/species had significantly lower p50 values compared with those from lowland populations/species; the lowland seed lots showed a slower rate of loss of germinability, higher initial seed viability, or both. Seeds were progressively longer lived with increased temperature and decreased rainfall at the collecting site. Conclusions Seeds of alpine plants are short lived in storage compared with those from lowland populations/related taxa. The lower resistance to ageing in seeds of alpine plants may arise from low selection pressure for seed resistance to ageing and/or damage incurred during seed development due to the cool wet conditions of the alpine climate. Long-term seed conservation of several alpine species using conventional seed banking methods will be problematic. Graziano Rossi Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia +39 0382984854 +39 038234240 Via S. Epifanio 14, Pavia PV 27100 graziano.rossi@unipv.it http://www-3.unipv.it/labecove Andrea Mondoni Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia +39 0382984854 +39 3405612268 Via S. Epifanio 14, Pavia PV 27100 Italy andrea.mondoni@unipv.it http://www-3.unipv.it/labecove Emanuele Vegini Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia +39 3395469218 Via S. Epifanio 14, Pavia PV 27100 Italy emanuelevegini@yahoo.it http://www-3.unipv.it/labecove Robin J. Probert Ardingly, Conservation Department, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Wakehurst Place, West Sussex Ardingly RH17 6TN United Kingdom Fiona R. Hay TT Chang Genetic Resources Center, International Rice Research Institute, DAPO Box 7777 Metro Manila Philippines f.hay@cgiar.org https://geoportal.mountaingenius.org/geonetwork/srv/eng/resources.get?uuid=676b7f53-b671-4a17-a14d-44b8d59c4613&fname=mountain_witness__s.png thumbnail png SHARE Seed longevity seed bank storage alpine plant climate eng biota 6.62397 18.5144 36.6492 47.0946 https://geoportal.mountaingenius.org/geonetwork/srv/api/records/676b7f53-b671-4a17-a14d-44b8d59c4613/attachments/Ann_Bot-2011-ContentSnapshots-i-ii.pdf WWW:DOWNLOAD-1.0-http--download Ann_Bot-2011-ContentSnapshots-i-ii.pdf Abstract:"Seeds of alpine plants are short-lived: implications for long-term conservation". https://geoportal.mountaingenius.org/geonetwork/srv/api/records/676b7f53-b671-4a17-a14d-44b8d59c4613/attachments/Ann_Bot-2011-ContentSnapshots-i-ii.pdf WWW:DOWNLOAD-1.0-http--download Ann_Bot-2011-ContentSnapshots-i-ii.pdf Full Text (HTML):"Seeds of alpine plants are short-lived: implications for long-term conservation". https://geoportal.mountaingenius.org/geonetwork/srv/eng/resources.get?id=37430&fname=Ann_Bot-2011-ContentSnapshots-i-ii.pdf&access=private WWW:DOWNLOAD-1.0-http--download Ann_Bot-2011-ContentSnapshots-i-ii.pdf Full Text(pdf):"Seeds of alpine plants are short-lived: implications for long-term conservation". "Seeds of alpine plants are short-lived: implications for long-term conservation". Annals of Botany, 107: 171-179. Mondoni, A., R.J. Probert, G. Rossi, E. Vegini & F.R. Hay. 2010