A seed is the foundation of life. Through regeneration and plant establishment, it is due to seeds, the world is full of biodiversity and how the chain of ecosystems is co-ordinating itself. Crop status largely depends on the seed material used for sowing. Quality seed alone leads to an increase of 15-20% in the production. The seed, a basis for life is viable for hundreds of years and can be used to regenerate life and this leads to the concept of seed bank. A seed bank is a place where seeds are stored in order to preserve genetic diversity – and so it is a type of gene bank. Seed banks are like saving accounts where seeds are deposited into secure storage and where we can withdraw them in the future when needed. Seed banks provide conditions that are important for seed longevity. Seeds are stored at low temperature that keep seeds dormant till they are needed for replanting. Seeds are dried to optimum moisture content, evaluated for quality and genetic purity and sealed in moisture proof containers. For short term storage seeds are dried and placed in a sealed container at 5°c. They are stored at temperature below freezing for long term preservation (0°F or -20°C). Since seeds are small and thus occupy minimal space, it is easy for plants to be stored in their seed form. This also makes it possible to store a huge variety of seeds.
One of the primary reasons to store seed is to preserve the genes that plant breeders need to increase yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance, nutritional quality, taste etc of the plants used in agriculture. Another one is to prevent loss of genetic diversity in rare and imperilled plant species in order to preserve biodiversity ex situ and in situ. Seed banks are mainly involved in the selection, collection and storage of seed varieties. Many plants used by humans centuries ago are now less commonly used and the seed bank is a way to maintain its historical and cultural value. Seed banks are also considered to be seed libraries and provide useful knowledge on advanced techniques for fighting plant related problems as well as developing novel products.
Seed bank is vital to solve the seed crisis. Preservation of crop diversity is one of the most important reasons for the storage of seed. Increasing the diversity of varieties of crops in a farmer’s field improves the chances that the crop will cope better with insects, disease or environmental stresses such as drought, heat or floods. Crop diversity enables farmers and plant breeders to develop higher yielding, more productive varieties that have the improved quality characteristics. This directly helps to solve the seed crisis. Crop diversity helps to ensure sustainable agriculture which is very important at the present scenario of COVID 19 pandemic. This helps to increase the adaptability of local landraces. Farmers are using locally available indigenous varieties as the import of exotic varieties is difficult due to pandemic and this ensures sustainable agriculture. Crop diversity, centre to food security, can be achieved through preservation of seeds in the seed bank.
Protection of crop from climate change is another important reason why we need to store seeds. The planet has experienced radical climate change due to various human activities. Crops are prone to extinction with such drastic change. The chance of complete extinction is reduced if seeds are deposited in seed banks. Seed banks also help to protect crops from natural disasters like flood, drought etc. Natural disasters play major role in crop loss which leads to shortage of seed. To shield crops from such annihilation, seeds are stored in seed banks. Storage of seed in seed banks also helps us obtain disease resistant crop. Crop disease is extremely infectious and can be lethal. It causes huge loss in crop yield. Seed banks ensure that diseases are detected at early stage and removed. Availability of disease resistant variety is very essential to ensure sustainable agriculture.
Seed banks provide seed material for research. A scientist or researcher easily get necessary seeds from a seed bank especially if such research could lead to improvement of crop production. Crop can be ruined by disaster like war and other man-made blunders. Seed banks ensure that crops are safe from such human disasters. Seed banks also form seed exchange networks with government organizations, NGOs and community seed banks across the world. Seeds will remain viable for decades and even centuries if stored correctly. This ultimately helps to prevent shortage of seed and reduced seed crisis
Seed storage is fundamental to agricultural growth. It helps to ensure not only a stable and sustainable supply of sufficient quantities of food but also plays a major role in ensuring its quality. Seed banks improve the local access to quality seed and planting materials of traditional crops and varieties. This leads to improved access, availability and use of local varieties. Seed storage helps in good crop production by providing quality seeds to farmers when needed. For higher yield and good crop production, a seed bank is essential. Seeds must be stored in seed banks so that it helps us to prevent such seed crises. Seed bank mainly community seed bank plays an effective role for preservation of local landraces and their proper utilization in near future to maintain food security.
