Seed banks are vital repositories of plant genetic resources, playing a crucial role in safeguarding global biodiversity. With increasing threats from climate change, habitat loss, and agricultural intensification, the preservation of plant genetic diversity is paramount for food security and ecosystem resilience. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, often referred to as the "Doomsday Vault," in Norway exemplifies the global commitment to seed conservation. These facilities collect, preserve, and distribute seeds of various plant species, ensuring their availability for future generations and research. This response will outline the types, functions, and challenges associated with seed banks. What are Seed Banks? Seed banks, also known as gene banks, are facilities designed to preserve plant genetic resources. They store seeds under controlled conditions – typically low temperature and humidity – to maintain their viability for long periods. The primary objective is to conserve plant diversity, which is essential for food security, crop improvement, and ecological stability. Types of Seed Banks Seed banks can be broadly categorized into different types based on their operational methods and storage conditions: Gene Banks (Ex-situ Conservation): These are the most common type, storing seeds in controlled environments. Field Gene Banks (In-situ Conservation): These involve maintaining living collections of plants in natural habitats or cultivated fields. The Indira Gandhi National Forest Ecosystem Centre (IGNFEC) in India manages several field gene banks. Svalbard Global Seed Vault: A secure facility designed to store duplicates of seeds from gene banks worldwide, acting as a backup in case of global catastrophes. National and International Collections: Many countries have national seed banks (e.g., National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources - NBPGR, India) and international collaborations like the Millennium Seed Partnership. Functions of Seed Banks Seed banks perform several critical functions: Conservation of Biodiversity: Preserving genetic resources of wild relatives of crops and endangered plant species. Crop Improvement: Providing genetic material for breeding new and improved crop varieties. Research: Supporting scientific research on plant genetics, physiology, and evolution. Food Security: Ensuring access to diverse genetic resources to enhance food production and resilience to climate change. Challenges in Seed Bank Management Maintaining seed banks effectively faces several challenges: Seed Viability: Seed longevity varies significantly among species. Regular testing and regeneration are required. Funding: Establishing and maintaining seed banks requires substantial financial resources. Genetic Erosion: Maintaining genetic diversity within seed collections requires careful management and monitoring. Biosecurity: Preventing the introduction and spread of pests and diseases. Climate Change Impact: Rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns can affect seed viability and storage conditions. Importance in the Indian Context India, a megadiverse country, faces significant challenges related to agricultural biodiversity and climate change. The NBPGR plays a crucial role in conserving plant genetic resources. The National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) promotes conservation efforts including ex-situ conservation through seed banks. Type of Seed Bank Description Gene Bank Seeds stored in controlled environments (low temp, humidity) Field Gene Bank Living collections of plants in natural habitats Svalbard Global Seed Vault Backup facility for gene bank duplicates Seed banks are indispensable for safeguarding plant genetic diversity and ensuring future food security. While challenges related to seed viability, funding, and biosecurity persist, continued investment and innovation are crucial for maintaining these vital repositories. The increasing threats posed by climate change underscore the urgent need to strengthen seed bank infrastructure and expand conservation efforts globally, particularly in biodiversity hotspots like India. Collaborative efforts at national and international levels are vital for long-term success.

Seed Bank: Importance & Function | UPSC Mains AGRICULTURE-PAPER-II 2021

Seed Bank

How to Approach

This question requires a concise explanation of seed banks, their significance, types, and challenges. The approach should begin by defining seed banks and highlighting their role in conserving biodiversity. The answer must cover the different types (gene banks, field gene banks, etc.) and briefly discuss the operational challenges like long-term viability and funding. Finally, the importance of seed banks in the context of climate change and food security should be emphasized. A structured response with clear headings is crucial within the word limit.

What are Seed Banks?

Seed banks, also known as gene banks, are facilities designed to preserve plant genetic resources. They store seeds under controlled conditions – typically low temperature and humidity – to maintain their viability for long periods. The primary objective is to conserve plant diversity, which is essential for food security, crop improvement, and ecological stability.

Types of Seed Banks

Seed banks can be broadly categorized into different types based on their operational methods and storage conditions:

Gene Banks (Ex-situ Conservation): These are the most common type, storing seeds in controlled environments.
Field Gene Banks (In-situ Conservation): These involve maintaining living collections of plants in natural habitats or cultivated fields. The Indira Gandhi National Forest Ecosystem Centre (IGNFEC) in India manages several field gene banks.
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: A secure facility designed to store duplicates of seeds from gene banks worldwide, acting as a backup in case of global catastrophes.
National and International Collections: Many countries have national seed banks (e.g., National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources - NBPGR, India) and international collaborations like the Millennium Seed Partnership.

Functions of Seed Banks

Seed banks perform several critical functions:

Conservation of Biodiversity: Preserving genetic resources of wild relatives of crops and endangered plant species.
Crop Improvement: Providing genetic material for breeding new and improved crop varieties.
Research: Supporting scientific research on plant genetics, physiology, and evolution.
Food Security: Ensuring access to diverse genetic resources to enhance food production and resilience to climate change.

Challenges in Seed Bank Management

Maintaining seed banks effectively faces several challenges:

Seed Viability: Seed longevity varies significantly among species. Regular testing and regeneration are required.
Funding: Establishing and maintaining seed banks requires substantial financial resources.
Genetic Erosion: Maintaining genetic diversity within seed collections requires careful management and monitoring.
Biosecurity: Preventing the introduction and spread of pests and diseases.
Climate Change Impact: Rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns can affect seed viability and storage conditions.

Importance in the Indian Context

India, a megadiverse country, faces significant challenges related to agricultural biodiversity and climate change. The NBPGR plays a crucial role in conserving plant genetic resources. The National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) promotes conservation efforts including ex-situ conservation through seed banks.

Type of Seed Bank	Description
Gene Bank	Seeds stored in controlled environments (low temp, humidity)
Field Gene Bank	Living collections of plants in natural habitats
Svalbard Global Seed Vault	Backup facility for gene bank duplicates

Additional Resources

Key Definitions

Ex-situ Conservation

Conservation of biological material outside of its natural habitat, like in seed banks or zoos.

In-situ Conservation

Conservation of an organism in its natural habitat.

Key Statistics

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault holds over 1.2 million seed samples from all over the world.

Source: The Global Seed Vault Website

The NBPGR, India, currently conserves over 1,700,000 accessions of plants.

Source: NBPGR Website (knowledge cutoff)

Examples

National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR)

The NBPGR in India is a leading institution for the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources. It maintains a large collection of seeds, including many traditional crop varieties.

Millennium Seed Partnership

A global partnership working to collect and conserve seeds from 75,000 plant species by 2020, with a focus on threatened species.

Frequently Asked Questions

▶Why are seeds stored at low temperatures?

Low temperatures significantly slow down metabolic processes in seeds, extending their viability and preserving their genetic material.