VIABILITY OF AVENA-SATIVA L. SEEDS AFTER 10 YEARS OF STORAGE IN BASE COLLECTION

Seed viability of 61 Avena accessions from the Spanish Crop Genetic Re source Conservation Centre, including valuable endangered landraces, h as been evaluated after 10 years of storage. Preservation of seed samp les has been conducted under low moisture content (6-7%) and at low te mperatures (-10 degrees C to -15 degrees C). No differences were detec ted between the results obtained in the germination assays conducted i n 1986 and those obtained in 1996. The maintenance of seed viability d uring seed storage is due to stable conditions of temperature and, mai nly, moisture content; the latter, owing to the air-tight containers u sed. The determination of the maximum storage periods for each materia l under local seed storage conditions and integration of compiled info rmation, in the seedbanks, over long periods to time, is encouraged in order to improve the management of Plant Genetic Resource Conservatio n Centres. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.