Orthodox seeds are

seed A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiosper ...

s which will survive drying and/or freezing during ex-situ conservation, as opposed to

recalcitrant seed Recalcitrant seeds are seeds that do not survive drying and freezing during ex-situ conservation. By and large, these seeds cannot resist the effects of drying or temperatures less than 10 °C (50 °F); thus, they cannot be stored for long period ...

s, which will not. According to information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there is variation in the ability of orthodox seeds to withstand drying and storage, with some seeds being more sensitive than others. Thus some seeds are considered intermediate in their storage capability while others are fully orthodox. One notable example of a long-lived orthodox seed which survived accidental storage followed by controlled germination is the case of the 2,000-year-old Judean date palm (cultivar of ''

Phoenix dactylifera ''Phoenix dactylifera'', commonly known as date or date palm, is a flowering plant species in the palm family, Arecaceae, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit called dates. The species is widely cultivated across northern Africa, the Middle Ea ...

'') seed which successfully sprouted in 2005. This particular seed is reputed to be the

oldest viable seed There have been several seeds known at different times as the oldest viable seed. Dormancy allows seeds to survive for extended periods, which can aid in seed dispersal and spread out the growth and establishment of seedlings, increasing the lik ...

, but the upper survival time limit of properly stored seeds remains unknown.

Notes

External links

Woody Plant Seed Manual - USDA FS Agriculture Handbook 727

How long can a seed remain alive?
Plant reproduction Seeds {{botany-stub

See also

Notes

External links