Seed Banks

Seed bank
Introduction
A seed bank (also seedbank or seeds bank) stores seeds to preserve genetic diversity; hence
it is a type of gene bank.
A seed bank is a type of gene bank where seeds of different crops and rare plant species are
stored for future use.
Seed banks are created to maintain and protect biodiversity, where samples of all species
are collected and stored. In case seed reserves elsewhere are destroyed, the seed bank is
opened to provide seeds to farmers at defined quantities for growing plants
Seed banks primarily involve in selecting, collecting, and storing seed varieties. They also
form seed exchange networks with government organizations, NGOs and community seed
banks across the world. They also form ex situ storage facilities. They help in seed
exchange, on farm conversation with experts and farmers, training and capacity building
for farmers and continuous monitoring of cultivation. The Millennium Seed Bank and
Svalbard Global Seed Vault are the largest seed banks in the world.
There are many reasons to store seeds.

One is to have available the genes that plant breeders need to increase yield, disease
resistance, drought tolerance, nutritional quality, taste, etc. of crops.
Another is to forestall loss of genetic diversity in rare or imperilled plant species in an effort
to conserve biodiversity ex situ.
Collections of seeds stored at constant low temperature and low moisture are guarded
against loss of genetic resources that are otherwise maintained in situ or in field collections.
To conserve genes of wild species, which are difficult to maintain in field collections outside
their natural habitat or under in vitro conditions.
To conserve the genes of improved varieties and breeding lines.
Germplasm maintained in seed form is principally useful as a source of genes for breeding
work and not directly as a source of varieties for the farmers, as the seeds only preserve the
genes and not the specific gene combinations that define each variety
Seed banks are considered seed libraries, containing valuable information about evolved
strategies to combat plant stress, and can be used to create genetically modified versions of
existing seeds. Most seed banks are publicly funded, and seeds are usually available for
research that benefits the public.
SURVIVAL
Seeds are living creatures and keeping them viable over the long term requires adjusting
storage moisture and temperature appropriately. As they mature on the mother plant,
many seeds attain an innate ability to survive drying. Survival of these so-called 'orthodox'
seeds can be extended by dry, low temperature storage. The level of dryness and coldness
depends mostly on the longevity. Seeds may be viable for hundreds and even thousands of
years. The oldest CARBON 14-dated seed that has grown into a viable plant was a Judain
palm date seed about 2,000 years old .
FUTURE USE OF SEED BANKS

Conservation efforts such as seed banks are expected to play a greater role as climate
change progresses. Seed banks offer communities a source of climate-resilient seeds to
withstand changing local climates. As challenges arise from climate change, community-
based seed banks can improve access to a diverse selection of locally adapted crops while
also enhancing indigenous understandings of plant management such as seed selection,
treatment, storage, and distribution.
SEED BANKS IN INDIA

The Indian government established the National Seeds Corporation in 1963 both at the
national level and in every state. Working under the Ministry of Agriculture, NSC
undertakes production, processing and marketing of agricultural seeds. It is also involved in
formulation of seed certification standards done through seed testing laboratories by
checking the compatibility of different seeds. State agricultural universities and the Indian
Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) are involved in seed production and distribution.
For each region or village there are community seed banks available for exchanging seeds.
Navdanya is a leading NGO advocating for biodiversity conservation through a large
network of seed keepers and organic producers.
Annadana Seed and Soil Savers led by Sangita Sharma works toward conserving food plant
diversity and support sustainable natural farming. The Annadana Seed Bank conserves and
distributes 101 varieties of organic open-pollinated vegetable seeds.
Green Foundation is a community based organization started in 1996, which works on
conserving local seed diversity and promoting biodiversity-based ecological agriculture. It
has a network of farmer associations spread across 109 villages in Karnataka and
Tamilnadu for preserving and promoting agro-biodiversity through community seed banks.
BY
GAZI ABDULLAH
MSC BOTANY AMU

Seed Banks

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Seed bank

There are many reasons to store seeds.

FUTURE USE OF SEED BANKS

SEED BANKS IN INDIA

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