plant conservation pack 11

Question 1

important roles of seed banks - storage

Answer 1

storage of many seeds from each plant species to help conserve endangered species, conserve genetic diversity within each species and protect plants. seeds may contain alleles for characteristics which are useful in the future such as drought or disease resistance

Question 2

important roles of seed banks- research

Answer 2

to conduct research into seed storage and germination conditions

Question 3

important roles of a seed bank - safeguarding threatened habitats

Answer 3

to work with governments to safeguard threatened habitats. sees banks rely on local knowledge/ expertise to identify and collect seeds and store them locally before transfer to the seed bank

Question 4

important roles of a seed bank - education

Answer 4

education of people about importance of conserving plants

Question 5

how seeds are prepared for storage and stored

Answer 5

• cleaned and dried
• sterilised to kill microorganisms which could cause decay
• x-rated to make sure they contain a fully developed embryo (are viable)
• stored in cold (-20°c) and dry conditions to extend the life span
• subjected to germination checks every 10 years

Question 6

advantages of storing seeds rather than plants

Answer 6

• seeds are more likely to survive for longer
• seeds can be frozen but plants can’t
• seeds are smaller so take up more space and more seeds can be stored than plants so greater genetic diversity
• seeds need less maintenance so it’s cheaper to store them as plants