Question

Read the following statements related to seed banks and select the incorrect statement.

• A. Seeds are stored in dried form in seed banks
• B. Temperature, light and moisture levels are strictly regulated for the storage of seeds in seed banks
• C. Seed banks are one of the in situ strategies for the conservation of biodiversity
• D. Seeds of different genetic strains of commercially important crops are stored in seed banks

Answer 1

The correct option is C Seed banks are one of the in situ strategies for the conservation of biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of organisms and ecosystems found in a geographical area.

The rapid reduction in the number of individuals in a species or extinction of any species results in biodiversity loss which can disturb the ecological balance of the entire biosphere of this planet Earth. Thus conservation of biodiversity is essential and is done using two different approaches as follows :

• In situ (on site) conservation - Conserving life forms in their natural habitat.
• Ex situ (off site) conservation - Conserving life forms in controlled environments.

Ex situ conservation is done when a particular species is endangered (seriously at risk of extinction) or threatened (vulnerable to endangerment in the near future). It is a desirable approach when a particular species requires urgent measures to save it from extinction.

Seed banks are one of the strategies for ex situ conservation of seeds that can be stored for a long period of time. Thus, the statement in option c is incorrect.

The seeds are dried and stored under controlled conditions of strictly regulated levels of temperature, light and moisture in seed banks. Hence statements in option a and b are correct.

Seed banks generally store seeds of threatened, endangered or genetically diverse strains of commercially important crop plants. So the statement in option d is correct.

Seed banks help to protect the genetic diversity of crops which can later be used to generate improved crop varieties (with increased yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance, etc.,) by plant breeding techniques.

Figure : Seed bank