Seed Terminology
Seed Collecting
- Why is it problematic to use common names of plants in collection data? What if I don’t know the scientific names of some species?
- How can I determine the optimal harvest time?
- Can I predict how much fruit a plant can produce in the next season?
- How can I collect seeds of ‘explosive’ fruits with a short time window between ripening and dispersal?
- Can I collect unripe fruits?
- What if no seed zones exist for my area?
Seed Processing
- How do I deal with static that makes small seeds difficult to manage?
- What if I need help troubleshooting problems with collections that come into my seed bank?
- What can I do if my seed collection is infested by insects?
- How do I process fruits that are difficult to open?
- What can I do if my seeds or fruits are infested by fungi prior to storage?
Seed Drying
Seed Storage Behavior
Germination, Viability Testing, & Dormancy
- Why isn’t seed dormancy covered in TFA’s online seed banking course?
- What is a Tetrazolium test? Shall I do it on my seeds?
- If my seeds do not germinate, does it mean they are not viable?
- What can I do if my seeds look moldy (covered by fungi) during germination testing?
- I did a cut test on some seeds to check for viability, and they look very different from the textbook diagram — why is that?
Managing a Seed Bank
- How do I choose a refrigerator for storing my seeds?
- Does my backup generator really need to have an automatic start?
- How long could a seed bank be without power before damaging the seeds?
- Does my seed bank need a fume hood?
- In the Foundations of Seed Banking course, you mention that seed banking can start small and build up incrementally, but the course is pretty technical and focused on a larger seed bank. Why is that?
Alternative Seed Conservation Methods
- Can I use Seed Production Areas (farming native seeds) for species with recalcitrant seeds, or species with seeds that are difficult to collect in the wild?
- If I work with a species that has recalcitrant seeds and cannot be stored in a seed bank, are there any other options besides propagating all seeds right after they are collected?