From Banking to Propagation: Expanding the Roles of a Seed Bank in a Changing Climate
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Published In
Oregon Department of Agriculture Conservation Symposium
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
2025
Subjects
Endangered plants -- United States, Conservation biology, Plant conservation, Plant ecology
Creative Commons License or Rights Statement
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Abstract
The Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank at Portland State University is dedicated to preserving Oregon native plant genetic diversity, with an emphasis on rare species. It houses one of the nation's oldest rare native seed collections which includes 28,000 accessions representing 800 taxa and millions of seeds. A conservation seed bank is intended to serve as a safeguard against the extinction of rare plant species by curating collected seeds from populations along maternal lines in long-term cold storage. The goal is to utilize the seed for reintroduction projects. However, in a changing climate, the question of how to reintroduce species with limited or absent germination knowledge becomes a paramount. To begin addressing this issue, the Rae Selling Berry has initiated a Native Plant Propagation Program which provides the community with supporting knowledge for conservation success of rare (and common) species. Since its inception in 2022, the Native Plant Propagation Program has conducted approximately 767 propagation trials on 564 species. Trials have tested various seed pretreatments (such as cold stratification or hormones) and have recorded the time required to produce plants in 4-inch containers. Seed bank staff have propagated 494 species using seeds, cuttings, or divisions and successfully produced 451 species in 4-inch containers; this is approximately 15% of Oregon's native vascular plant flora. Plants propagated during trials were distributed to the public, including nearly 4,000 plants in 4-inch containers provided to 16 community groups. Here we discuss highlights from germination trials and provide recommendations on how to use the data.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44427
Citation Details
Campbell-Martinez, G. and R. Olsson. 2025. From Banking to Propagation: Expanding the roles of a seed bank in a changing climate. Oregon Department of Agriculture Conservation Symposium. Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank, Portland State University.
Description
These slides were presented at the ODA Conservation Symposium on December 9th, 2025.
Note: The video has no sound/audio.