IPGRI SPECIES COMPENDIUM

About the IPGRI Species Compendium Database

Table of contents

  Seed storage behaviour dataset
  Dormancy and germination requirements’ dataset
  Reproductive biology dataset
  Taxonomy and nomenclature
  Abbreviations/glossary
  How to search the database
  How to cite the database
  Feedback
  Useful links
  Back to the IPGRI Species Compendium Homepage

Seed storage behaviour dataset

The information about seed survival during storage and seed storage behaviour categories is based on the IPGRI Handbook for genebanks No. 4, “Seed storage behaviour: a Compendium”, which was compiled by T.D. Hong, S. Linington and R.H. Ellis, and published in 1996.
Data for about 7150 species from more than 2000 genera belonging to 251 families is provided. Each species is systematically classified into one of 8 categories of seed storage behaviour, and a brief summary of the storage conditions that have been applied and/or studied is given including citations of key references to the literature. It is frequently referred to IPGRI preferred conditions of long-term storage. These have been documented in the genebank standards (FAO/IPGRI, 1994), available as PDF.
The first part of the original publication contained an introduction to seed storage behaviour. This is now available for download as PDF. It provides the classification of seed storage behaviour, characteristics of orthodox, recalcitrant and intermediate seeds, factors leading to the misinterpretation of seed storage behaviour and approaches to predict seed storage behaviour.
An additional publication that might be used in conjunction with the data on seed storage behaviour retrieved from the Species Compendium database is “The IPGRI Technical Bulletin No. 1, a protocol to determine seed storage behaviour", available as PDF.

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Dormancy and germination requirements’ dataset

The data is based on the “Compendium of information on the dormancy and germination of seeds of selected trees and shrubs” compiled for IPGRI by T.D. Hong and R.H. Ellis in 1996/97.
Information about evidence of dormancy, successful dormancy-breaking treatments, and germination regimes for non-dormant seeds and nursery practices for about 1150 species from more than 400 genera belonging to 102 families is provided.
The families included comprise those which are major sources of edible fruits and nuts, resins and oils, fuel wood, construction materials, and timber, i.e. those species used mostly in agroforestry, forestry, and soil conservation.
Information on germination can be found also in the Compendium of specific germination information and test recommendations (html version), volume II of the Handbook of seed technology for genebanks, by Ellis, R.H., Hong, T.D. and Roberts, E.H., published in 1985 by IBPGR (International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, now IPGRI).
This publication provides information, family by family (a total of 58 families), on the germination of individual species of crop plants and sometimes their wild relatives as well as general approaches, guidance and, where available, prescriptions for removing dormancy and germinating the seeds.

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Reproductive biology dataset

The reproductive biology dataset provides information for ca. 300 crop species. These species include all crops listed in Annex I of the International Treaty for PGRFA (IT), and ca. 250 additional species, that had been suggested as important for consideration during the discussions of the IT. Information is provided about:

These data were collated for IPGRI in 2004 by G. Gebremariam (ILRI, International Livestock Research Institute, Ethiopia) from various resources such as books, monographs, journal articles and to some extent online sources.

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Taxonomy and Nomenclature

The taxonomic classification of families and genera is that given in Brummitt (1992).
An exception has been made for the following eight alternate family names. They are common and acceptable substitutes for the families indicated in brackets but lack the standard “-aceae” ending. The alternate names are used by Brummitt, while we are using the standard names:

The GRIN taxonomy was adopted as standard reference for nomenclature and species synonymy as it is the most extensive, current and accurate plant database existing, and in addition also free available on the internet. The GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) database is maintained by the National Plant Germplasm System NPGS of the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture ARS/USDA  for the management of and as a source of information on its 435,000 germplasm accessions. The taxonomic portion of GRIN provides the classification and nomenclature for these genetic resources and many other economic plants on a worldwide basis.
The GRIN taxonomy includes scientific names for 18,200 genera (14,400 accepted) and 61,100 species or infraspecies (38,300 accepted) of vascular plants from throughout the world, with a focus on plants important to agriculture or other commerce.
A discussion of content, data standards, and taxonomic philosophy for GRIN taxonomy can be accessed here.
The spelling of all genera and those taxa in the Species Compendium, which are also included in GRIN (give percentage), has been made consistent with GRIN. For these taxa the GRIN status of “accepted” or “synonym” has been adopted, and all synonyms provided in GRIN for the accepted taxa have been included in the Species Compendium. For those taxa not contained in GRIN the epithets are written as provided by the original authors of the compendia and the species names and synonyms provided by the compendia authors are retained.
The spelling of genus and taxon names is checked using the taxonomic nomenclature checker developed by IPGRI in collaboration with GRIN. This tool allows a quick and convenient checking of large numbers of scientific names against the GRIN taxonomy.

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Abbreviations and glossary

Abbreviations used in the database and explanation of scientific terms occurring in the database can be searched at the abbreviations or glossary pages to which links are provided from the search results pages.

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How to search the database

You can search the Species Compendium in two ways:

taxon search: The taxon search requires that you type in the genus and/or the species epithet of the taxon, you want to get information about.
hierarchic search: The hierarchical search offers the possibility to select a family, within the family a genus and within the genus a species.

If you know only the common name and have to search for the scientific name, see a list of links to databases below, that allow to execute this search.

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How to cite the database

Thormann, I.; Metz, T.; Engels, J.M.M. 2004. IPGRI Species Compendium (release 1.0; November 2004)
http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/themes/exsitu/IPGRISpeciesCompendium/default.asp

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Feedback welcome

This database is built upon the conversion of publications into database format and contributions from various people and errors of fact or transcription might exist. While efforts are made to ensure that errors are kept to a minimum, you can help, by notifying us of any you come across.
We welcome all constructive criticism and other feedback. We invite all users, that can offer data, or pointers to potential data sources, to provide these. We will give them full consideration and they will appropriately acknowledged.

Please send your comments and feedback to Imke Thormann.

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Useful links

References:

Bibliography of References Related to Seed Dormancy and/or Germination in Higher Plants.
An update of Nikolaeva’s seed dormancy classification system and its relevance to the ecology, physiology, biogeography and phylogenetic relationships of seed dormancy and germination.

Common names search:

Germplam Resources Information Network GRIN - USDA
Mansfeld's world database of agricultural and horticultural crops
Australian new crops
Crop index of the Purdue University new crop resource online program (NewCROP)
Plant Resources of Tropical Africa PROTA
Species 2000 Catalogue of Life 2004

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References cited

Brummitt, R.K. 1992. Vascular plant families and genera. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
FAO/IPGRI. 1994. Genebank standards. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States, Rome; International Plant

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