Index Catalog // Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew research repository

2019

Journal article

Assessing seed desiccation responses of native trees in the Caribbean

Native trees from the Caribbean were tested for seed desiccation responses, by adapting the “100-seed test” protocol. Ninety-seven seed lots of 91 species were collected in the Dominican Republic and tested for germination immediately after collecting, and after drying and moist storage. Seed desiccation sensitivity was assessed as a continuous...

Mattana, Efisio ; Peguero, Brígido ; Di Sacco, Alice ; Agramonte, Wilvin ; Encarnación Castillo, Wilkin Rafael …

Seed mass, Orthodox seeds, Seed moisture content, Recalcitrant seeds, Ex situ conservation, and Seed collections management

2020

Journal article

The Cryobiotechnology of Oaks: An Integration of Approaches for the Long-Term Ex Situ Conservation of Quercus Species

Conventional dry seed storage is unlikely for about one third of all tree species (and nearly half of evergreen rain forest trees) as they probably produce desiccation sensitive (recalcitrant) seeds. Consequently, international ex situ conservation targets for threatened trees will be difficult to achieve without innovation, especially in cryobiotechnology. We...

Ballesteros, Daniel ; Pritchard, Hugh W.

recalcitrant seeds, cryopreservation, pollen, embryonic axes, DOE, tree genetic resources, shoot tips, in vitro culture, and dormant buds

2020

Journal article

Seed Survival at Low Temperatures: A Potential Selecting Factor Influencing Community Level Changes in High Altitudes under Climate Change

In alpine ecosystems, imbibed seeds are often exposed to temperatures as low as −35 °C, challenging their survival in the soil. Here, we show that seeds have mechanisms to survive cold climate prevalent in alpine ecosystems and have identified three such mechanisms from existing literature, including two forms of freezing avoidance...

Jaganathan, Ganesh K. ; Dalrymple, Sarah E. ; Pritchard, Hugh W.

Boreal, supercooling, freezing tolerance, freezing avoidance, and species migration

2020

Journal article

Differential Interpretation of Mountain Temperatures by Endospermic Seeds of Three Endemic Species Impacts the Timing of In Situ Germination

Predicting seed germination in the field is a critical part of anticipating the impact of climate change on the timing of wild species regeneration. We combined thermal time and soil heat sum models of seed germination for three endemic Mediterranean mountain species with endospermic seeds and morphophysiological dormancy: Aquilegia barbaricina,...

Porceddu, Marco ; Pritchard, Hugh W. ; Mattana, Efisio ; Bacchetta, Gianluigi

soil temperature, tree canopy, Grossulariaceae, phenology, Ranunculaceae, IPCC scenarios, embryo growth, Paeoniaceae, morphophysiological dormancy, and global warming

2020

Journal article

Unlocking plant resources to support food security and promote sustainable agriculture.

Societal Impact Statement Biodiversity is essential to food security and nutrition locally and globally. By reviewing the global state of edible plants and highlighting key neglected and underutilized species (NUS), we attempt to unlock plant food resources and explore the role of fungi, which along with the wealth of traditional...