The seed bank is one of the programs for preserving the seeds of plants and the genetic resources of native Jordanian plants outside their natural habitats. It was established as a short-term bank, where seeds are stored for ten years, and it serves as a nucleus for a long-term seed bank.
The initiative began with the collection of plant seeds in 2009, where the collection took place at the site of the garden and the surrounding areas where plants grow naturally. These plants represent more than one-third of the total species in Jordan. In the following years, the scope of seed collection expanded to include all regions of Jordan based on specific studies and protocols being followed.
- To preserve Jordan's native plants, focusing on those facing the risk of extinction.
- To conserve selected plants for the development of the Royal Botanic Garden and its external work sites.
- To preserve the genetic resources of plants.
- To provide the Royal Botanic Garden nurseries with the necessary seeds for habitat rehabilitation.
- To secure seeds for use in scientific research related to Jordanian plants.
- The botanical experts at the Royal Botanic Garden develop an annual plan for expeditions, during which the plants targeted for collection are identified as well as the locations of these plants;
- Field visits are coordinated to collect plants from different parts of the Kingdom using the best procedures and tools, while adhering to high standards that include preserving the quality and diversity of the collected samples according to a prepared plan and to the plant’s viability;
- Accurate data is recorded on each plant collected, which is essential to enhance the possibility of using the samples for scientific research and habitat cultivation for restoration or rehabilitation purposes.
- Internationally approved protocols are followed in the collection and preservation operations.
- The Royal Botanic Garden's seed bank covers about 23% of the national plant genetic origins, especially those threatened with extinction.
- The total number of seed accessions in the Seed Bank is more than (1700) samples representing approximately (600) species.
- The seeds are stored in a seed cooling room to ensure they can be used within the next five to ten years, primarily for the cultivation of habitats with the purpose of restoration or rehabilitation;
- In addition to providing storage space for thousands of seed samples, the Royal Botanic Garden's Seed Bank contains seed treatment facilities;
- Seed Bank professionals receive hands-on training at the Millennium Seed Bank; the world's largest off-site program focused on global plant life facing extinction, and the most used plants of the future;
- The seed bank at the Garden’s site is operated in accordance with seed collection policies, processing and storing to create the best-preserved seed collections.
- They are kept for a period in an incubator before being stored in a seed bank refrigerator.
- For short-term plant preservation, all seeds are kept in the freezer at temperatures between 0°C and 4°C;
- As for the future plan, it is to establish a long-term seed bank, which is done at cooler temperatures of up to (-18) degrees Celsius, where the seed stock is tested annually to ensure its suitability through a germination test;
- Seed stocks are continuously updated with fresh seeds.
It is worth noting that, in general, most seeds are dry and do not require special treatment before storage.
