Training
Trainees at the Millennium Seed Bank.
We
offer a range of training to suit the needs of partners and collaborators. We
aim to teach the science involved in seed conservation and at the same rime provide
practical guidance to help seed collectors, seed bank staff, and those working
in seed research.
For example:
| Science | Practical application |
|---|---|
| GIS | Targeting priority species |
| Seed storage behaviour | Assessing likely seed storage characteristics |
| Distribution of genetic diversity in populations of wild plants | Selecting appropriate sampling strategies |
| Relationship between seed maturity and storability | Collecting seeds at natural dispersal. After-ripening immature seeds |
| Seed and fruit morphology | Avoiding physical damage during processing |
| Seed moisture relations | Monitoring seed moisture status to aid decision-making |
| Seed storage and longevity | Storing seeds in cool, dry conditions |
| Seed germination requirements | Selecting appropriate germination conditions and dormancy breaking methods |
DEFRA has recently funded us to deliver a capacity-building project, 'Improving the Identification, Handling and Storage of 'Difficult' Seeds'.
Implemented in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in support of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the project aims to improve the identification, handling and storage of 'difficult' and recalcitrant seeds by seed banks, community level NGOs and other stakeholders.