Schriften zu Genetischen Ressourcen - Genres

A Species Compendium for Plant Genetic Resources Conservation
haviour (ESSB) Compendium, first in a DOS environment and then also as a Windows
version. The DOS based version was released in 1997. In August 1997 already
more than 100 copies had been distributed and requests continued to arrive on a
weekly basis. The Windows version is available, since January 1999, for download
from IPGRI’s web site at http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/system/page.asp?theme=1. During
the months July 2000 to February 2001, the database was downloaded 49 times
from IPGRI’s web site, this equals about 7 downloads per month. Both DOS and
Windows versions of the database are also available on floppy disk from IPGRI. The
aim is to ensure that this publication is available to all those who need it and to make
it easier for users to retrieve species-specific information on seed storage behaviour.
The Compendium is also available as hardcopy from Kew Gardens who published it
with IPGRI’s agreement in 1998 (HONG et al. 1998). The information is an integral
part of Kew’s Seed Information Database. The first module of that database is now
available online at http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/data/sid/ and contains all of the storage
behaviour data in a searchable format.
The Compendium consists of two sections. Part I summarises progress made over
the past two decades in the understanding seed physiology in relation to seed storage
and longevity for genetic resources conservation. Part II of the publication, i.e.
the part that has been configured as searchable database, is a summary of the literature
on seed storage behaviour for over 7.000 species from 251 families. Species
are listed alphabetically by family and genus and are systematically classified into
one of eight categories of seed storage behaviour (see Fig. 2). For each species, a
brief summary of the storage conditions that have been reported and/or studied is
given, including citations of key references to the literature. The references cited in
the Compendium form an extensive bibliographic database that includes more than
1.200 entries. In addition, basic information on the geographic distribution and the
thousand-seed-weight (TSW) are summarised for each species. Where available,
vernacular names and botanical synonyms are also listed.
The ESSB can be searched by family, genus, species, common name, storage behaviour,
references and notes from a simple search screen as well as from a complex
search screen (Fig. 3). Drop down menus are available for all searchable fields
except the notes and reference fields. For these fields, a wildcard operator is used
which means that the user is required to enter the criteria as a “string” or word pattern
that the software will then search for. This operation is available also for the common
name field, in addition to the drop down menu. All drop down lists are alphabetised.
The note field allows the user to add personal notes and information to the database.
The information contained in the Compendium is of “dynamic” nature. New findings
complement existing information and/or disprove the findings of previous studies.
There are a number of species for which seed storage behaviour classification is
controversial and others for which seed storage characteristics have yet to be deter-
38