Aging and longevity in decades-old genebanked seeds from U.S. endangered plant species: Assessments using survival and RNA integrity assays.

Key Points

• The research aims to assess the longevity of seeds from endangered plant species in genebanks using survival and RNA integrity assays.
• Analyzed seeds from wild and domesticated endangered plant species
• Conducted survival and RNA integrity assays
• Compared germination rates between wild and domesticated seeds
• Monitored the decline in RNA integrity values over time
• Longevity in seeds is similar for wild and domesticated species
• Wild seeds show slower and asynchronous germination
• RIN values decrease before any loss of seed viability is detected
• Early RIN testing can effectively predict seed longevity

Abstract