Mung beans may outlast other crops in doomsday seed banks
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Researchers in Australia tested the viability of seeds stored at the Australian Grains Genebank (AGG), a large seed bank containing hundreds of thousands of crop types. They examined 3,861 batches of six tropical crops, sorghum, common bean, mung bean, soybean, pigeon pea, and adzuki bean, some dating back to the 1960s, to determine how long the seeds could remain able to germinate.
The team found that mung beans (Vigna radiata) and common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) retained high germination rates for decades, with 90 percent of a mung bean batch still germinating after 45 years in storage. Pigeon peas showed the lowest germination rates, with only a few batches exceeding 85 percent viability after an average of 36 years, indicating a need for replenishment.
The study revealed that predicted seed longevity, previously estimated in the hundreds or thousands of years, is far shorter than previously thought. For example, older models suggested that sorghum seeds would only need to be checked for germination every 2,901 years, but the new data suggests more frequent monitoring is necessary. The scientists emphasize that while germination is measured as an indicator of viability, it doesn’t guarantee a seed will grow into a mature plant.
They hope continued data collection and collaboration among genebanks, including the ‘Doomsday Vault’ in Norway, will improve predictions of seed longevity and strengthen global efforts to conserve plant genetic resources.
