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This study was the first to investigate the direct effects of anomalous concentrations of ozone mediated by summer heat waves on seed germination in alpine plants. During germination, the seeds were exposed to three peaks of O3concentration (125 ppb for 5 and 10 days; 185 ppb for 5 days), derived from measurements taken close to the species growing site. High O3concentration delayed the first germination time, increased the mean germination time, and reduced the germination percentage during and immediately after the treatment, but, in most cases, effects were weak and had almost vanished three weeks after the treatments. In few cases, chronic exposure to O3(125 for 10 days’ treatment) enhanced seed germination compared to the control, suggesting that ozone may induce antioxidant and DNA-repair mechanisms or dormancy-breaking effects in hydrated seeds. Although seed mortality increased during O3treatments in four species, the effect of O3on seed germination is mostly limited to the period of exposure, indicating that it is unlikely to produce permanent negative effects on seeds, during the germination phase. Our results show that the direct effect of O3on seeds of alpine plants may have minor impacts on plant reproductive performance during seed germination. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Festucas.l. is a crucial group of Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) genera, globally employed as fodder, lawn grasses and for habitat restoration. Lists elaborated strictly on the basis of a taxonomic approach are urgently needed to be used to find gaps in existingex situcollections, to assess the conservation status of taxa of ascertained utility and include them in national Red Lists and to identify the most valuable taxa to be included in “preservation mixtures”, as per Commission Directive 2010/60/EU. As an example, the first taxonomically based priority list of Italian CWRs ofFestucas.l. is here provided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With the increased loss of plant biodiversity, theex situseed conservation has become of strategic importance. International treaties and conventions encourage more developed countries to cooperate in providing financial and other supports for the establishment and maintenance ofex situconservation facilities in developing countries. In this regard, the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (Nepal) and the Ev-K2-CNR (Italy) set up the Himalayan Seed Bank, with the goal of establishingex situseed conservation facility of rare, endemic and endangered plants in Nepal. Here, we discuss the importance of training on seed curation, management and research for the seed bank operators in developing countries. Particular attention is given to the procedures for providing power supply and for optimizing seed longevity in dry storage. Finally, the importance of duplicates in high-standard international seed banks is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of human-assisted colonization for species affected by climate change is now being adopted by some conservationists but remains controversial. In order to deter extreme translocation actions, a decision framework is proposed that incorporates a biogeographical approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]