OverviewDue to the large-scale conversion of lands in the San Joaquin Valley, local sources of native plant seed are exceeding scarce (click here to view an online PowerPoint presentation about this topic). In response to this lack of native seed availability, the Valley Flora Propagation Center (VFPC) was established in order to serve a variety of essential functions:
Seed production activities were conducted at a native plant field nursery (Figure 1), located approximately 4.8 kilometers (3 mi) southwest of Tranquillity, California, and a seed processing facility located in Fresno, California. Seeds of native species were collected from numerous sites in the western San Joaquin Valley and planted in the nursery for seven consecutive growing seasons (2001-2008), in order to increase available seed supplies through field propagation. |
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The number of species in cultivation at the nursery rose steadily over the first four growing seasons. Eighteen species were cultivated during the first year, 31 species in 2002-03, 67 species in 2003-04, and 84 species in 2004-05. The peak number of species (85) planted was during the 2005-06 growing season. Due to changes in funding and allocation of staff time, 50 species were cultivated during the 2006-07 growing season and 63 species during the 2007-08 growing season. Seed CollectingSeed collecting activities (Figure 2) expanded dramatically over the course of the project. In the first year of seed collection (2000-01) seed was collected from just 7 locations. In subsequent years, a significant amount of effort was expended on locating additional seed collecting sites. By 2007, we had identified 41 local collecting sites (i.e., within 80.5 km (50 mi) of the nursery) that support a total of 158 native species, and we have collected seed from 125 of the species. A list of the species that we have documented within an 80.5 km radius of the nursery is available here. Seed ProcessingIn order to be able to accommodate (i.e., dry, clean, and store) the seed from the nursery and from additional seed collecting, an approximately 140 square meter (1500 sq ft) facility was leased from 2003 through 2008. A variety of seed processing equipment was purchased and/or constructed, and a dust collection system was installed. |
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Page created: February 1, 2005; Last updated: July 29, 2009