T: <B>Native seed germination at the Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank</B>
A: Gabriel Campbell-Martínez, Roxy Olsson, April Hersey, Stephanie Meikle, and Kris Freitag
Vol. 73, Pages 390-398

<B>Abstract</B>A study at the Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank in Portland, Oregon, conducted 187 seed-germination trials on 154 species native to the Pacific Northwest. Seeds, stored for 0.1 to 34 years, underwent various treatments, including cold stratification and gibberellic acid soaking. Results showed 51% germination across trials, with notable improvements for specific taxa. Light conditions influenced germination outcomes, and gibberellic acid overcame light or dark requirements for certain species. Long-term storage trials (14 to 38 years) revealed that 52% of taxa maintained viability, indicating orthodoxy of many native plant species for seed bank storage. This research provides valuable insights into the germination and storage potential of Pacific Northwest plant seeds, contributing to biodiversity-conservation efforts.
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<BR><I>Keywords:</I>native seeds, germination trial, seed bank, ex situ conservation