Herbaria are an important source of data and material useful in many fields, including plant conservation. Seeds preserved inherbarium specimens may have the potential to germinate, although few studies focused on this topic. Here, the first systematic assessmentof six techniques, including priming techniques and melatonin application, aimed at improving the germination of seeds from herbariumspecimens is presented. Seed germination of 26 species common in Europe, some of which congeneric to extinct species, collected in her-baria and in the wild (20,549 seeds in total, including 19,509 from 297 herbarium specimens from 8 different herbaria) was tested with thefollowing treatments: exogenous melatonin addition to the germination medium, priming with melatonin, osmopriming, hydropriming for24 and 48 hours, standard soil, heat sterilization and gibberellins addition. More than 85% of the fresh seeds and 1% of the seeds collectedin herbaria germinated, including seeds older than 50 years. Data show that treatment with exogenous melatonin had a positive effect onthe germination of fresh seeds, but a negative effect on the germination of herbarium-derived seeds. Furthermore, osmopriming treatmenthad a slightly positive effect on the germination of herbarium-derived seeds. Osmopriming and exogenous melatonin addition seem to bepromising techniques that need further investigation and improvement and might be useful for the development of an optimal germinationprotocol for old and herbarium-derived seeds. The germination of seeds from herbaria could be an important tool in plant conservation,with the aim of reversing the extinction trend of many species through de-extinction, safeguarding biodiversity, and genetic variability.This study provides preliminary data for the development of germination protocols, especially for old seeds of species of conservationinterest, to maximise the chance of recovering lost genetic diversity and leading to the first de-extinction ever.
Testing seed germination from herbaria: Application of seed quality enhancement techniques and implication for plant resurrection and conservation
Brancaleoni L.;
2024
Abstract
Herbaria are an important source of data and material useful in many fields, including plant conservation. Seeds preserved inherbarium specimens may have the potential to germinate, although few studies focused on this topic. Here, the first systematic assessmentof six techniques, including priming techniques and melatonin application, aimed at improving the germination of seeds from herbariumspecimens is presented. Seed germination of 26 species common in Europe, some of which congeneric to extinct species, collected in her-baria and in the wild (20,549 seeds in total, including 19,509 from 297 herbarium specimens from 8 different herbaria) was tested with thefollowing treatments: exogenous melatonin addition to the germination medium, priming with melatonin, osmopriming, hydropriming for24 and 48 hours, standard soil, heat sterilization and gibberellins addition. More than 85% of the fresh seeds and 1% of the seeds collectedin herbaria germinated, including seeds older than 50 years. Data show that treatment with exogenous melatonin had a positive effect onthe germination of fresh seeds, but a negative effect on the germination of herbarium-derived seeds. Furthermore, osmopriming treatmenthad a slightly positive effect on the germination of herbarium-derived seeds. Osmopriming and exogenous melatonin addition seem to bepromising techniques that need further investigation and improvement and might be useful for the development of an optimal germinationprotocol for old and herbarium-derived seeds. The germination of seeds from herbaria could be an important tool in plant conservation,with the aim of reversing the extinction trend of many species through de-extinction, safeguarding biodiversity, and genetic variability.This study provides preliminary data for the development of germination protocols, especially for old seeds of species of conservationinterest, to maximise the chance of recovering lost genetic diversity and leading to the first de-extinction ever.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
