People
Newton, Rosemary
| Job Title | Seed Longevity Specialist |
|---|---|
| Department | Seed Conservation |
| Section | Technology & Training |
| Science Teams |
Millennium Seed Bank Project |
| Joined Kew | 2005 |
| Foreign Language(s) | Afrikaans |
Qualifications & Appointments
BSc, Univ. Witwatersrand
BSc (Hons), Univ. Cape Town
MSc, Univ. Cape Town
Role
Research into aspects of seed longevity, post-harvest treatment and storage methods; seed dormancy and germination experiments relating to ecology.
Current interests include seed longevity and improving post-harvest and storage methods with the aim of removing constraints to seed storage. Research concentrates on families that are thought to be short-lived in the seed bank, as well as seeds with underdeveloped embryos. Presently investigating seed dormancy, storage behaviour and longevity in members of the Amaryllidaceae in Europe, Chile and South Africa. Also interested in seed dormancy and germination, particularly from an ecological and eco-physiological perspective. Translating theoretical knowledge into practical outcomes, such as conservation and habitat restoration in the UK and partner countries, is something that I would like to become increasingly involved in.
Projects
Comparative Longevity (Orthodox Seeds)
Development of Predictive Tool of Germination Requirements for MSB Collections
Salsola nollothensis - Habitat Restoration in the Sperrgebiet on the Namibian Coast
Maternal Environment and Provenance Effects on Seed Longevity (Project completed)
Maximising Seed Quality: Maturity and Post-harvest Studies
Role of ‘Underdeveloped’ Embryos in Germination/ Dormancy Problems
Solving Seed Germination Problems in Conservation Collections
Theme: Climate and Reproductive Biology
Theme: Diagnosis of Viability and Germination
Theme: Ecophysiology and Morphology
Theme: Post-Harvest Technology
Theme: Preservation Technology
Selected Recent Publications
February, E.C., Bond, W., Taylor, R. & Newton, R. (2004). Will water abstraction from the Table Mountain Aquifer threaten endemic species? A case study at Cape Point, Cape Town. South African Journal of Science 100: 253-255.
Holmes, P.M. & Newton, R.J. (2004). Patterns of seed persistence in South African fynbos. Plant Ecology 172:143-158.
Newton, R.J., Bond, W.J. & Farrant, J.M. (2002). Seed development, morphology and quality testing in selected species of the nut-fruited Restionaceae. South African Journal of Botany 68:226-230.
Selected Earlier Publications
Musil, C.F., Newton, R.J. & Farrant, J.M. (1998). Ultraviolet irradiation effects on serotinous Leucadendron laureolum seeds: altered seed physiology and ultrastructure, and seedling performance. Plant Ecology 139: 25-34.
