Improving the identification, handling and storage of âdifficultâ seeds ...

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have been used for germination tests, since there were limited numbers of seeds. These results cannot be analysed statistically, but they can help the gene bank manager to make relevant decisions on the seed lot. The seeds showing germination below 75% are rejuvenated. Before a germination test is conducted on the dry seeds extracted from cold storage, they are left in open air at room temperature over night to slowly warm up and absorb moisture from the atmosphere. This helps reduce imbibition injuries on the seeds. Two germination test techniques have been adopted by the NPGRC. These are the ‘water agar technique’ for smaller seeds and the ‘between paper technique’ for larger seeds. With the agar technique, the seeds are sown on 1% water agar in a Petri dish, which is placed in an incubator set to the right temperature. The between the paper technique was adopted from the national seeds testing laboratory in Botswana. The right size of the paper is identified and moistened with water. The paper is put on a flat surface and seeds arranged on the paper. The seeds are then covered with another moistened paper. The two sheets are rolled up with the seeds between them. The roll is tied and tagged with the accession number of the accession being tested. The rolled-up papers are put in plastic bags or boxes, then placed in an upright position in a growth chamber set to the right temperature. Germination is then recorded weekly until there is no more germination, discarding the seeds recorded as germinated. The seeds are recorded as germinated seeds if there is at least 2mm protrusion of the radicle. Improvement in germination percentage after specific pretreatments Berchemia discolor Euclea undulate Orbeopsis sp. Citrullus lanatus var citroides Grewia flava Pappea capensis Corchorus olitorius Harpagophytum procumbens Phoenix reclinata Corchorus tridens Hoodia gordonii Senna italica Cucumis africanus Mimusops zeyheri Stomatostemma monteiroae Euclea divinorum High percentage at storage Hoodia curorii ssp lurgadii Rhygozium brevispinosum Old seeds giving high germination percentages when tested or planted Corchorus olitorius Myrothamnus flabellifolius Constraints (question 5.10) and possible solutions ▪ Lack of botanical expertise Botswana generally lacks the trained staff in the field of botany especially in the field of taxonomy and systematics. This is the reason why there is a problem of generating more reference material e.g. floras, botanical publications, guide books, inventories etc. These people are vital in planning and implementing the conservation strategies. Both formal and informal training are important and have to be planned strategically to solve the prevailing problems. ▪ Academic support and training with local university and postgraduate research There is no formal working relationship between the various local institutions and the local training institutions to train relevant people locally. Most postgraduates train in the temperate regions, mainly Europe and North America. This has proved to be a weakness as people are trained in a totally different environment and when they get back they have to start to adjust first with limited guidance. If postgraduates are trained locally, they can make an immediate impact, as the information they generate will be relevant to the local environment allowing continuity. Training institutions need to plan their academic programs to target the local market, especially in researchbased postgraduate studies. ▪ Poor linkages between stakeholders This has lead to fragmentation in implementing and developing conservation strategies. It has also lead to duplication of efforts and waste of resources, with little success. The government has
ecently released a biodiversity strategy and action plan, in which institutions were identified and allocated specific activities to undertake. ▪ Limited staff numbers This is a main concern as it limits the activities of the institution. In the 2000 national workshop on plant genetic resources it was recommended that the NPGRC be made autonomous so that it can directly address conservation issues with a deliberate program. This will mean staffing will be planned according to needs and determined by the strategy of the institution. The other strategy is to involve other institutions for generating conservation information, e.g. universities for developing germination protocols and storage conditions etc. This will reduce work-load for the limited NPGRC staff. This is only possible if there is formal networking relationship between the institutions. ▪ Genebank operating under Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) If the NPGRC has to look at the wider picture of conservation then it has to be an autonomous body that can make decisions for conservation. Currently the NPGRC, operating under the DAR, depends mainly on the mandate, program and resources of DAR. This may be the main reason why there is limited staff in the NPGRC all the times. It has to be noted that DAR’s primary mandate is to generate technology for improving the Agriculture sub sector. This therefore has to be reflected in all its sections, including the NPGRC.
Page 1 and 2: Improving the identification, handl
Page 3 and 4: Improving the identification, handl
Page 5 and 6: 1. Project background Supported by
Page 7 and 8: 1.2. Workshop programme The worksho
Page 9 and 10: 1.3. FAO presentation International
Page 11 and 12: Activity Areas on Institutions and
Page 13 and 14: Through the Seed and Plant Genetic
Page 15 and 16: GSPC /ITPGRFA). Purpose: improved i
Page 17 and 18: Orthodox but dormant Although less
Page 19 and 20: 2. Country report summaries Support
Page 21: 2.2. BOTSWANA presentation Botswana
Page 25 and 26: follows: ▪ Selection of good seed
Page 27 and 28: - Low Constant temperature oven met
Page 29 and 30: ▪ ▪ ▪ Blotting paper in Petri
Page 31 and 32: The second problem associated with
Page 33 and 34: inadequate seed numbers such as end
Page 35 and 36: 2.7. LESOTHO presentation Lesotho N
Page 37 and 38: 2.8. LIBYA presentation The Nationa
Page 39 and 40: 2.9. MALAWI presentation Malawi Pla
Page 41 and 42: Species that demonstrate low levels
Page 43 and 44: 2.10. MOZAMBIQUE presentation Agric
Page 45 and 46: Measuring seed moisture status ▪
Page 47 and 48: 2.13. SEYCHELLES presentation Minis
Page 49 and 50: Crops to be considered for conserva
Page 51 and 52: Drying facilities/methods The proto
Page 53 and 54: 2.14. SOUTH AFRICA presentation Sou
Page 55 and 56: Legume forages Grass forages back,
Page 57 and 58: which the viability seemed to be de
Page 59 and 60: amount of moisture in that sample.
Page 61 and 62: ▪ Encourage and promote the conse
Page 63 and 64: efore the NPGRC acquired storage fa
Page 65 and 66: perennial wetland, as the field gen
Page 67 and 68: 3. Other stakeholders’ presentati
Page 69 and 70: IPGRI’s Vision People today and i
Page 71 and 72: ▪ ▪ ▪ Mali - Traditional seed
Page 73 and 74:
▪ Support services - development
Page 75 and 76:
3.3. SPGRC presentation Gene Bank M
Page 77 and 78:
▪ To fully operationalize SPGRC h
Page 79 and 80:
▪ have achieved the desk study an
Page 81 and 82:
Mexican marigold and leaves of neem
Page 83 and 84:
4. RBG Kew species analysis Support
Page 85 and 86:
Table 1. Families with greatest num
Page 87 and 88:
Table 5. Completed tests and propor
Page 89 and 90:
investigated were found to be recal
Page 91 and 92:
5.1. Format of group sessions Outpu
Page 93 and 94:
2. Most urgent training needs Main
Page 95 and 96:
5.3. GROUP 2 report Group members
Page 97 and 98:
Top 5 equipment needs for group:
Page 99 and 100:
esculentus Lycopersicon ▪ problem
Page 101 and 102:
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Page 103 and 104:
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Ethiopia - hygromet
Page 105 and 106:
6. Plenary Supported by Also suppor
Page 107 and 108:
- South Africa - direct new project
Page 109 and 110:
7. Annexe Supported by Also support
Page 111 and 112:
Mr. José de Menezes Ministry of Ag
Page 113 and 114:
7.2. Questionnaires (for reports) T
Page 115 and 116:
7.3. List of “difficult to conser
Page 117 and 118:
EBENACEAE Euclea undulate Improveme
Page 119 and 120:
POACEAE Sorghum bicolor Low viabili
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