Testing the viability of seeds from old herbarium specimens for conservation purposes

Abstract

Plant collections in herbaria are potentially valuable seed sources for conservation and recovery. This paper explores the feasibility of "resurrecting" 26 extinct taxa from the Belgian flora by analysing the viability of seeds from old herbarium specimens that had been stored for 23 to 158 years. Seed viability was estimated by performing germination tests according to standard procedures. Germination was achieved for eight seeds from three herbarium specimens of a single species, Bupleurum tenuissimum, aged 101, 125 and 144 years. Seed maturity, storage conditions and seed senescence were the main factors influencing the viability of the investigated seeds.

Ex situ collections and their potential for the restoration of extinct plants

“…Similar to natural systems, high seedling mortality can negatively affect a conservation translocation by rapidly depleting the plant stocks. To overcome this, several reintroduction guidelines suggest growing plants in a controlled environment before their release as adult or subadult plants (Godefroid et al 2011b;Maschinski & Albrecht 2017). In this case, propagation and ongoing care should be undertaken in such a way as to minimize detrimental impacts of cultivation discussed in the previous section.…”

“…Germination is often reported at radicle emergence (tip of the root tissue penetrates the seed coat). However, Godefroid et al (2011b) observed radicle emergence in seeds of Bupleurum tenuissimum that were >100 years old without any further development of shoots; this further complicates the accurate reporting of germination from herbariumsourced propagules.…”

“…Low viability of herbarium propagules may also be due to pest-control treatments, including the application of chemicals and heat treatments (Godefroid et al 2011b(Godefroid et al , 2017. Modern curators avoid the use of chemicals where possible by using sealed containers and periodic freezing (RBGE 2017).…”

Contribution à la connaissance de la diversité et endémisme des Rubiaceae du Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega à l’Est de la R.D. Congo

“…Une Vogel, 1987 ;Lachenaud et al, 2013). Les fleurs et les fruits de certaines espèces ont été réhydratés dans l'alcool dilué jusqu'à 2% puis disséqués et observés à la loupe binoculaire afin de confirmer ou de corriger l'ancienne identification (Godefroid et al, 2011) et classé selon APG III, 2009. Enfin, l'ouvrage de Lebrun et Stork (1997) a été aussi utilisé pour la vérification et l'actualisation des noms scientifiques des espèces.…”

“…Les programmes de conservation de la biodiversité ont été orientés dans ces zones de haute diversité appelées le plus souvent «hotspots» (Myers et al, 2000 ;Lachenaud et al, 2013). Celles-ci sont déterminées en fonction de la richesse spécifique, du taux d'endémisme et du degré de vulnérabilité de l'habitat (Godefroid et al, 2011).…”