Seed bank design in Tasmania, Australia
Newly constructed drying room at TTSC Seed Store
The MSBP is working with the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens (RTBG), to collect and store seed from 800 species of wild plants at the new Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre (TSCC).
The MSBP provided part funding and technical advice to allow RTBG to convert an existing nursery building into a well-equiped, fully functional, purpose designed facility, housing the TSCC seed store. Conservation collections are stored at -20°C in commercial ice cream freezers, modified for seed bank use, and located in the dry room. Insulation and temperature control of the dry room (temperature is maintained at 15°C and relative humidity at 15%) is undoubtedly a costly expenditure, but essential if adequate drying is to be achieved.
Ice cream freezers for storage of conservation collections
A small seed cleaning room is fitted with a dust extraction unit and an air conditioning system. Cleaning equipment includes a zig zag seed cleaning aspirator and sieves. Collections are stored in foil bags. A high-quality heat sealer ensures there are no leaks. The laboratory at the centre of the building contains microscopes and incubators, so that germination tests can be carried out.
James Wood, previously a Team Supervisor in the Curation Section of the MSB, has relocated to Tasmania to become Seed Bank Coordinator at TTSC. His skills and experience in seed processing and collection curation have been passed on to TSCC staff and volunteers.