SEED BANK

Introduction

The extinction of many plant species as a result of natural and man made hazards poses a severe
threat to our world. Two out of every 5 plant species are endangered. Inorder to ensure that our
future is as ecologically rich as today we must think of saving plants just like saving our valuables and
resources. Here comes the importance of seed bank.

Importance of seed bank

Seed bank is a facility that stores and preserves seeds to safeguard plant bio diversity, hence it is a
type of gene bank.

It plays a crucial role in conservation by preserving genetic diversity, ensuring food security and
supporting research.

Seed bank aim to protect seed from extinction due to environmental changes, natural disasters, or
human activities. Thus we can produce disease, flood and pest resistant plant.

Seed banks are considered as seed libraries and it can be used to create genetically modified version
of existing seed.

Regular monitoring and testing are essential to maintain seed viability

Eg: Indian Seed Vault seed bank at Ladak (Second largest seed bank in world) and Millenium seed
bank in UK

Challenges

1) Selection- They mustn’t duplicate material which is already in collection

2) Keeping seed alive for hundreds of years is the next challenge
3) Some seeds cannot keep alive in storage

Seed bank classification

1)Assistentialist seed bank- Aim to support small scale farmers

2)Productivist seed bank-Aim to support Commercial farming

3)Preservationist seed bank- Aim to conserve genetic diversity