Probert, Robin
Job TitleHead of Conservation & Technology Section
DepartmentSeed Conservation
SectionConservation & Technology
Science Teams:
Joined Kew: 1976
Qualifications & Appointments
BSc (Hons), CNAA, 1976.
PhD, CNAA, 1983.
Former member of the Editorial Board of Seed Science Research and trustee of the International Society for Seed Science (ISSS).
Member of scientific programme committees for International Seed Testing Association (ISTA).
Reviewer of research grant applications for Austrian and South African funding agencies.
Role
Management of Conservation & Technology Section, Member of Seed Conservation Department Senior Management Team and Chair of UK Native Seed Hub Steering Group.
To provide leadership and management for a multi-functional section comprising 22 staff and volunteers responsible for all aspects of the processing, banking, viability monitoring and distribution of seeds from the Millennium Seed Bank. Mainly applied research into the removal of constraints to seed conservation with a particular focus on improving seed quality and overcoming seed dormancy. Delivering technical support to the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership (MSBP) and technology transfer and training to MSB partners.
Projects
- UK Bloomers Valley: A Species-Based Approach to Mesotrophic Grassland Restoration
- Maternal Environment and Provenance Effects on Seed Longevity (Project completed 2011)
- Improving the Identification, Handling and Storage of ‘Difficult’ Seeds
- Development of Predictive Tool of Germination Requirements for MSB Collections
- Solving Seed Germination Problems in Conservation Collections
- Role of 'Underdeveloped' Embryos in Germination / Dormancy Problems
- MSB Programme in Australia
- Millennium Seed Bank China Programme
- Comparative Longevity (Orthodox Seeds)
- Seeds for Life
- UK Native Seed Hub
Selected Recent Publications
Kochanek, J., Steadman, K.J., Probert, R.J. & Adkins, S.W. (2011). Parental effects modulate seed longevity: exploring parental and offspring phenotypes to elucidate pre-zygotic environmental influences. New Phytologist 191(1): 223-233.
Mondoni, A., Probert, R.J., Rossi, G., Vegini, E. & Hay F.R. (2011). Seeds of alpine plants are short lived: implications for long-term conservation. Annals of Botany 107: 171–179.
Crawford, A.D., Plummer, J.A., Probert, R.J. & Steadman, K.J. (2011). The influence of cone age on the relative longevity of Banksia seeds. Annals of Botany 107: 303–309.
Carraso, V., Hay, F.R., Probert, R.J. & Mucciarelli M. (2011). Temperature control of seed germination in Fritillaria tubiformis subsp. moggridgei (Liliaceae) a rare endemic of the South-west Alps. Seed Science Research 21(1): 33-38.
Smith, P., Dickie, J., Linington, S., Probert, R. & Way, M. (2011). Making the case for plant diversity. Seed Science Research 21(1): 1-4.
Probert, R.J., Daws, M.I. & Hay, F.R. (2009). Ecological correlates of ex situ seed longevity: a comparative study on 195 species. Annals of Botany 104 (1): 57–69.
Selected Earlier Publications
Mondoni, A., Probert, R., Rossi, G., Hay, F. & Bonomi, C. (2008). Habitat-correlated seed germination behaviour in populations of wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa L.) from Northern Italy. Seed Science Research 18(4): 213-222.
Hay, F., Adams, J., Manger, K. & Probert, R. (2008). The use of non-saturated lithium chloride solutions for experimental control of seed water content. Seed Science and Technology 36: 737-745.
Long, R.L., Panetta, F.D., Steadman, K.J., Probert, R., Bekker, R.M., Brooks, S. & Adkins, S.W. (2008). Seed persistence in the field may be predicted by laboratory-controlled aging. Weed Science 56(4): 523-528.
Probert, R., Adams, J., Coneybeer, J., Crawford, A. & Hay, F. (2007). Seed quality for conservation is critically affected by pre-storage factors. Australian Journal of Botany 55: 326-335.
Ali, N.S., Probert, R.J., Hay, F.R., Davies, H. & Stuppy, W. (2007). Post-dispersal embryo growth and acquisition of desiccation tolerance in Anemone nemorosa L. seeds. Seed Science Research 17(3): 155-165.
Crawford, A.D., Steadman, K.J., Plummer, J.A., Cochrane, A. & Probert, R.J. (2007). Analysis of seed bank data confirms suitability of international seed storage standards for the Australian flora. Australian Journal of Botany 55: 18-29.
