seeds

Clues into evolution of first flowers

harminka — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:33:46 -0500

Approximately 120-130 million years ago, one of the most significant events in the history of the Earth occurred: the first flowering plants, or angiosperms, arose. In the late 1800s, Darwin referred to their development as an "abominable mystery." To this day, scientists are still challenged by this "mystery" of how angiosperms originated, rapidly diversified, and rose to dominance.

Mango seeds may protect against food bacteria

harminka — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:38:52 -0500

Life in the fruit bowl is no longer the pits, thanks to a University of Alberta researcher.

Scientists propose creation of new type of seed bank

harminka — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:17:37 -0500

While an international seed bank in a Norwegian island has been gathering news about its agricultural collection, a group of U.S. scientists has just published an article outlining a different kind of seed bank, one that proposes the gathering of wild species –– at intervals in the future –– effectively capturing evolution in action.

Using electrons to treat organic seeds

harminka — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:11:07 -0500

Sales of organic products are booming: Consumers want their food to be untainted. To avoid the use of fungicides yet nevertheless protect plants from disease, researchers have developed a method that involves bombarding seeds with electrons to kill fungal spores and viruses.

Arctic seed vault opens doors for 100 million seeds

harminka — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:09:56 -0600

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault opened today on a remote island in the Arctic Circle, receiving inaugural shipments of 100 million seeds that originated in over 100 countries.

African seed collection first to arrive in Norway on route to Arctic seed vault

harminka — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:42:12 -0600

Twenty-one boxes filled with 7,000 unique seed samples from more than 36 African nations were shipped to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a facility being built on a remote island in the Arctic Circle as a repository of last resort for humanity’s agricultural heritage.