Comprehensive evaluation of germinabilities of seeds of herbarium specimens based on multi storage facilities and exhaustive taxon sampling.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H00620
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03070:Museology-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Shiga Takashi 新潟大学, 人文社会科学系, 准教授 (60435881)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 伊東 拓朗 東北大学, 学術資源研究公開センター, 助教 (10827132) ; 首藤 光太郎 北海道大学, 総合博物館, 助教 (60803723)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 植物標本 / 種子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Specimen seeds obtained from various herbariums were assessed for germination and viability. In previous studies, we evaluated 206 specimens from 121 families. Germination was observed in 90 specimens (15.5%) from 32 species in 24 families, while viability was confirmed in 402 specimens (49.5%) from 102 species in 61 families. Although germinated specimens were generally less than 45 years old, viable seeds were also found in specimens over 60 years old. A relationship between life history traits and specimen age was observed. Additionally, germination and tetrazolium staining tests were conducted on seeds of 12 species stored under eight different preparation treatments. The results revealed that drying temperature during specimen preparation and subsequent storage temperature significantly influenced seed survival.

Free Research Field

植物系統分類学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果の学術的独自性と意義は、植物の保全や育種などに対して標本を直接活用することができることを示し、博物館標本に対して生きた生物試料としての新たな価値を与えたことである。また、これからの博物館標本の採集方法、管理方法についても新しい提言を行った。これまで、博物館の標本を用いた研究は、標本からその種の分布および形態的、生理学的、分子生物学的、生態学的情報を読み取るものであった。
また、研究成果に関する企画展・講演会を複数回実施することによって、生物標本に対する市民の意識の向上に努めた。