Role of Seed Banks in the Conservation of Plant Diversity and Ecological Restoration

The numerous significant traits of plant species are improved by the incorporation of desired genes from germplasm. This germplasm is pronounced by several terms such as plant genetic resource, genetic resource, gene pool, and genetic stock. Therefore, conservation as well as preservation of these useful genetic stocks is a very important task in crop improvement programmes. However, the chief losses of this genetic material such as germplasm are possible because of gradual loss in it. The meaning of genetic erosion is the reduction of genetic diversity from various crop species, wild species, and wild relative in gene banks as well as seed banks. The conservation of germplasm or crop genetic resources is achieved mainly by two processes, viz. in situ conservation and ex situ conservation. A convenient procedure for conservation of a particular germplasm or crop genetic resource is a seed bank because of its significance. Seed bank is a place where plants are conserved as seeds known as seed bank. A seed bank comes under the classification of gene bank; consequently, the major role of a seed bank is to preserve genetic diversity to maintain ecological balance. The preservation of germplasm or crop genetic resources are appropriate in the form of seed because it requires smaller area than storage in the form of whole plant. There are currently more than a thousand seed banks that exist all over the world, depending on their type and size. The main objective for maintaining the seed bank is successful sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity through plant breeders developing disease-resistant, nutritional, drought-tolerant varieties in various crop species. Consequently, seed banks and gene bank have played a dynamic approach to the supporting in conservation as well as sustainable use of plants. This book chapter discusses every aspect related to storage of seed in gene bank or seed banks for the appropriate execution of genetic diversity and sustains biological balance.