In the Philippines, there are different community seed banks. In fact, the Philippines is considered among the country-pioneers of community seed banks for grains, legumes and spices due to the traditional and cultural importance of this practice in the Cordilleras region [6,8]. There is also a government-sponsored community seed bank in North Cotabato and an academic community seed bank under Bohol Island University in Tagbilaran City, Bohol [9]. Additionally, an organic seed bank for farmers in the northern regions of the country is also in the process of establishment [10].

Can we still see it bloom?

With its novelty, and uniqueness, there is a need to preserve Rafflesia (Rafflesia mixta) for future generations. Rafflesia mixta is a newly discovered species in Surigao del Norte and one of five Philippine Rafflesia species. Its flowers grow larger than 35 cm in diameter. Unlike most plants, it is a parasite wherein it thrives from the nutrients of Tetrastigma vine. However, rampant mining activities in the Caraga region pose a major threat and it is now critically endangered [11,12]. 

 

Preservation of Narra (Pterocarpus indicus) is crucial as a representation of our country, its characteristics, and numerous benefits. Narra is the Philippine national tree which grows up to 30–40 m tall and 2 m diameter wide. Planting of Narra is advantageous with its rapid growth, ease of reproduction, adaptation to stress, and limited potential in invading other plant communities [13,14]. Moreover, it is notable for its traditional medicinal uses including but not limited to the treatment of boils, headaches, diarrhea, mouth ulcer, and cuts and woods [15]. Unfortunately, narra is now endangered due to its historical and continual overexploitation for timber. [16]

We need to preserve this ecologically and industrially significant Almagica (Agathis philippinensis) tree. Almagica is a Philippine native tree located in the mountains. It is widely known globally for its high-quality timber and resin (Manila copal) for the manufacture of varnish, linoleum, lacquer, and ink. Currently, it is vulnerable to become endangered due to land-use change, illegal logging and destruction by resin trapping [17-18]. 

There is an urgency for a blazing heart to protect the ecologically important Puso-puso (Actinodaphne multiflora) tree. Puso-puso is a Philippine native tree and has been used for native tree planting activity in Ayala City, Makati with its limited potential in invading other plant communities. Furthermore, it has been considered as vulnerable due to the increasing habitat loss by shifting cultivation and logging [19-20]. 

 

How can we taste the Kamagong fruit, when it's gone? Kamagong is a native Philippine tree 10-15 meters tall. Its fruit is edible and its wood is used as furniture and other wood products. However, its population is nearly threatened due to excessive deforestation, urbanization, and habitat loss. It was recorded that 461,967 hectares of tree cover were lost from Kamagong (2001 to 2018) [21]. 

Let’s preserve the Mangkono (Xanthostemon verdugonianus) with its underlying endemicity and exceptional hardness. Mangkono is an endemic Philippine tree characterized as the hardest of Philippine timbers which yields high-quality furniture for industrial use. Although, it is vulnerable to endangerment due to mining activities [22]. 

 

Conservation of the Dao (Dracontomelon dao) tree is critical due to its various uses. Dao is a large (up to 50 m) and branchless indigenous Philippine tree.The kernel of seeds, and mature fruit is edible while its flowers and leaves are consumed as vegetables. This also has medicinal use with its treatment against dysentery [23]. Moreover, this is a typhoon-resilient tree including Narra, Almagica, Puso-puso, Kamagong, Mangkono and Lauan which can withstand ferocious wind and is crucial to the most storm-exposed country on Earth, Philippines. Unfortunately, due to widespread logging activities with its wood employed in light construction, firewood, and timber, it is now endangered [24]. 

 

By its rich folkloric history and traditional medicinal use, Balete tree desires a continuous proliferation. Balete (Ficus balete) is an endemic Philippine rubber tree with a strange folkloric background. This has ornamental and traditional medicinal use for Surigao in the treatment of bone fractures with its bark [24]. Although it is of least concern for now, it is expected to have a decrease in population due to habitat loss [25]. 

 

Kaong (Arenga pinnata) must be conserved due to its economic and ecological benefits. Kaong is a native palm plant of the Philippines with economic use as a major producer of sugar palm in the world. This is also substantial as food for various endangered species including cloud rats (Phloeomys sp.) [24]. 

 

The high-quality timber of Red Lauan (Shorea negrosensis) must be preserved with its potential medicinal importance. Red Lauan is a Philippine endemic tree with industrial importance as a good-quality timber and traditional medicinal use of tumor inhibition. However, there is now a reduction in population through kaingin and illegal logging [26]. 

Inactivity, sleeping phase, rest mode - yes these are what seeds do best and this is called SEED DORMANCY. During seed dormancy, completion of germination of a seed is blocked because of unfavorable conditions. Thus, seed dormancy ensures that when a seed germinates, the seedling will survive. It also occurs for seed dispersal over long distances. However, it is important to note the difference between dormant seeds and quiescent seeds wherein the latter needs to be rehydrated to germinate as opposed to dormant seeds that require other signals and treatments aside from water. Thus, different types of seed dormancy are observed and are classified based on the timing of dormancy onset: primary dormancy, secondary dormancy, coat-imposed dormancy, and embryo dormancy.

We've completed the sleeping process of the plants, and now it's time for them to awaken - SEED GERMINATION. 
This is the fascinating transformation from a seed into a plant. As water is substantial, germination is divided into three phases in line with water uptake.

[2] Ellis, R. H., Hong, T. D., & Roberts, E. H. (1985). Handbook of seed technology for genebanks Volume II. Compendium of specific germination information and test recommendations. International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, Rome, 221-237.

[3] Leck, M. A. (Ed.). (2012). Ecology of soil seed banks. Elsevier.

[4] Fenner, M. (2017). Ecology of seed banks. In Seed development and germination (pp. 507-528). Routledge.

[5] Thompson, K. (1987). Seeds and seed banks. New Phytologist, 106, 23-34

[6] Bengyawan, M. A. (2020). Philippine indigenous NGO seed banking for food security – OpEd. Eurasia Review. Retrieved from https://www.eurasiareview.com/10122020-philippine-indigenous-ngo-seed-banking-for-food-security-oped/ 

[7] Merritt, D. J., & Dixon, K. W. (2011). Restoration seed banks—a matter of scale. Science, 332(6028), 424-425.

[8] Mayuga, J. L. (2019, January 28). Community seed banks create tomorrow’s biodiversity Edens. Business Mirror. Retrieved from https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/01/28/community-seed-banks-create-tomorrows-biodiversity-edens/ 

[9] Views, Experiences and Best Practices as an example of possible options for the national implementation of Article 9 of the International Treaty. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/ca8198en/ca8198en.pdf

[10] Global Seed Savers. (2021). Organic Seed Bank Establishment in the Philippines. Retrieved from https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/organic-seed-bank-establishment-in-philippines/
[11] Barcelona, J. F., Pelser, P. B., & Manting, M. M. E. (2014). Rafflesia mixta (Rafflesiaceae), a new species from Surigao del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines. Phytotaxa Phytotaxa, 174(5), 272-278. 

[12] Fernando, E.S., Co, L.L., Lagunsad, D.A., Gruezo, W.S.M., Barcelona, J.F., Madulid, D.A., Lapiz, A.B., Texon, G.I., Manila, A.C. & Zamora, P.M. (2008) Threatened plants of the Philippines. Asia Life Sciences Supplement 3: 1–52. 

[13] Reyes, M. T. D., Magpantay, G., Cagalawan, A., Lapis, A., & Calinawan, N. (2016). Assessment of genetic diversity of narra (Pterocarpus indicus Willd.) populations from various seed sources in the Philippines using RAPD. Journal of Environmental Science and Management, 19(2). 

[14] Thomson, L. A. (2006). Pterocarpus indicus (narra). Species Profiles for Pasific Island Agroforestry, ver, 2. 

[15] Senthilkumar, N., Shalini, T. B., Lenora, L. M., & Divya, G. (2020). Pterocarpus indicus Willd: A Lesser Known Tree Species of Medicinal Importance. Asian Journal of Research in Botany, 20-32. 

[16] Barstow, M. 2018. Pterocarpus indicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T33241A2835450. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T33241A2835450.en. Downloaded on 21 May 2021. 

[17] Jose, E. D. (2018). Saving Almaciga (Agathis philippinensis): means of cultural preservation and species rehabilitation in Palawan, Philippines. PALAWAN SCIENTIST, 10, 69-83. 

[18] Farjon, A. 2013. Agathis dammara. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T202906A2757847. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202906A2757847.en. Downloaded on 22 May 2021.

[19]https://www.asiaresearchnews.com/html/article.php/aid/6814/cid/2/research/science/university_of_the_philippines_diliman/up_dilliman_launches_washington_sycip_garden_of_native_trees.html   

[20] World Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1998. Neolitsea vidalii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1998: e.T33353A9779179. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T33353A9779179.en. Downloaded on 22 May 2021.

[21] Energy Development Corporation (EDC) . 2020. Diospyros philippinensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T31381A2805796. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T31381A2805796.en. Downloaded on 22 May 2021. 

[22] Energy Development Corporation (EDC) . 2018. Xanthostemon verdugonianus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T33338A125945052. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T33338A125945052.en. Downloaded on 22 May 2021.

[23]Ragasa, C. Y., Batarra, T. C., Vivar, J. L. A., Mariquit, M., & Shen, C. C. (2017). Chemical Constituents of Dracontomelon dao (Blanco) Merr. et Rolfe. Pharmacognosy Journal, 9(5). 

[24]Demetillo, M. T., Lador, R. P., & Seronay, R. A. (2016). Floral Assessment in Lake Mainit Watershed, Caraga Region, Mindanao Philippines. Annals of Studies in Science and Humanities, 1(2), 12-28. 

[25] Energy Development Corporation (EDC) . 2020. Ficus balete. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T153834547A153890020. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T153834547A153890020.en. Downloaded on 22 May 2021. 

[26] Energy Development Corporation (EDC) . 2020. Shorea negrosensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T33144A68074543. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T33144A68074543.en. Downloaded on 22 May 2021.  

Temperature and other environmental pressures influence ABA:GA ratios. During dormancy, there is synthesis of ABA while GA is broken down (catabolism). Opposite scenario is observed during germination. Genes which are the key targets of ABA and GA are shown in parentheses. The cascade of the shown pathway from the genetic level up to the seed response shows whether a seed will enter dormancy or germination. 

A usual seed encompasses a seed coat, cotyledons (embryonic leaf), an embryo and endosperm (provides nutrition to the embryo). The development of the embryo happens via embryogenesis. Moreover, flowering plants are divided into two groups: eudicots and monocots based on their cotyledons having two seed leaves and one seed leaf respectively. Thus, embryogenesis differs with eudicots and monocots and these involve numerous stages. 

The establishment of the apical-basal polarity is a common feature of all developing embryos of seed plants. This ensures arrangement of the tissues along the axis which extends from the shoot apical meristem (SAM) to the root apical meristem (RAM). Structurally, the embryonic basal end contains large central vacuoles while its apical end is densely cytoplasmic. 

After the first mitotic division of the zygote, the two daughter cells are distinguished based on their fates - apical and basal daughter cells (Note: The entire embryo is derived from the apical cell). The apical cell divides longitudinally twice followed by transverse divisions which eventually form the newly synthesized cell walls perpendicular to the apical-basal axis. This series of divisions results in an eight-celled globular embryo at the top. On the other hand, after several transverse divisions, the basal cell gives rise to the suspensor, an attaching organ between the embryo and the vascular tissues of the parent plant, and the hypophysis, the only structure to be incorporated into the embryo itself. The hypophysis then gives rise to some of the essential parts of RAM (columella, associated root cap tissues and quiescent center). 

Now, remember the eight-celled embryo at the top? It will all undergo periclinal division where parallel arrangement between newly formed cell walls and tissue surfaces is observed and this forms the protoderm (the precursor for epidermis). The protoderm then divides anticlinally where new cell walls are perpendicular to the tissue surface and to widen the area of the one-celled tissue layer. The embryo then enters the globular stage where distinct fates of cells can now be enumerated as shown in the table below (click it to see in full resolution).

Starch is the primary storage material in seeds and it is stored in amyloplasts (special cells) in cereals. Following the imbibition stage, we need again the hormone gibberellin which is produced in the scutellum (seed leaf). This is transported to the aleurone layer (the outer and secretory layer of endosperm). In this layer, gibberellin triggers the production of enzymes including α-amylase that degrade the starch and other molecules. The starch is converted to sugars; the endosperm solutes are then transported to the embryo. 

Lipids are stored in oil bodies, specialized structures found in the endosperm and cotyledons. Triacylglycerides are the typical type of lipids which are broken down to small molecules of glycerol and free fatty acids. The free fatty acids are transported to glyoxysome (a special structure for oil-storing seeds) following the conversion of the fatty acids to organic acids. The sugar sucrose is the final product, which is a nutrient for the developing embryo. 

Proteins like humans are also needed by seedlings. These are stored in protein bodies. The enzyme phytase is needed to break down phytin for the release of phosphate and other nutrients for use by the seedlings. 

 A hormone is again in action! The auxin. This involves lateral distribution to the plant for it to display gravitropism.  From an experiment, the coleoptile tip (protective covering of the emerging shoot) of the horizontally oriented oat seedlings bend upward in response to gravity. This tip is able to detect gravity and redistribute auxin to the lower side. From the two agar blocks, auxin is allowed to diffuse from the upper and lower half. Thus, more auxin diffuses from the lower half as supported by its observed curvature. Most root auxin is derived from the shoot. Furthermore, auxin moves shootward or root word in the plant (polarization) which is gravity independent and necessitates energy. 

In the roots, the root cap acts in gravity perception. This prompts auxin redirection and differential inhibition of the elongation in the root bending. This also houses the gravity sensors, statoliths in the statocytes enabling balance and orientation. From studies, pH and calcium ions (Ca2+) can act as second messengers of gravitropism signalling.