Seeds frozen to save orchids from extinction

Scientists from around the world gathered in Costa Rica this month to exchange ideas on ways to make sure orchids, among the world’s most popular flowers, will still be around for the next generation to enjoy.

Many of the orchids of the future, mere seeds today, are in a deep slumber inside glass vials in sub-zero temperature cared for by botanists with a group that has an acronym that sounds like a secret spy group: OSSSU, or Orchid Seed Stores for Sustainable Use.

Hugh Pritchard, a British scientist with the Millennium Seed Bank Project – an international plant conservation project coordinated by Britain’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – said that OSSSU hopes to build a network of seed banks around the world to preserve orchid seeds.

The initial focus will be on the 250 species of the 35,000 orchid species in danger of extinction, remarked Mr Pritchard.

“One of the factors is over-exploitation of species in the forests with commercial ends; another is climate change that is expected to accelerate the extinction of many species over the next 40 years,” Mr Pritchard said.

The project encourages scientists in each country to freeze large amounts of seeds of their native species at temperatures of -20C.

“The seeds will serve in the future for species re-introduction projects, habitat restoration and other sustainable uses,” added Mr Pritchard.