Climate warming in mountain areas is increasing faster than the global average, threatening alpine plants. Climate affects many traits including seeds, the longevity of which is important for conservation, facilitating genebank storage. Seeds of alpine species are considered short-lived in storage, but their longevity increases when produced under a warmer parental environment. Consequently, with climate warming, seeds of alpine species may have increased fitness and be longer-lived in genebank storage. We assessed seed longevity under artificial ageing in 10 accessions of the arctic-alpine species Viscaria alpina stored under genebank conditions for different time periods over the last 20 years. The seed collection site was in the northern Apennines, where above average warming and variable precipitation has been recorded. The time taken for viability to fall to 50% (p₅₀) was estimated using probit analysis; correlation and general linear regression were used to investigate the effects of length of time in storage, seed mass and climate under which seeds were produced on seed longevity. p₅₀ varied between 7.77 and 18.49 days. There was no relationship between length of time in storage or seed mass on seed longevity. p₅₀ was higher in years with increased temperature and lower precipitation during the growing season, with precipitation having more impact than temperature. The results suggest that seeds of alpine species are suitable for genebank storage, and inter-annual variation in precipitation induces a plastic response in seed longevity. Using genebank stored seeds provides insights into how alpine species may respond to future climate changes and could have implications for genebank storage.

山区气候变暖的速度快于全球平均水平，威胁着高山植物。气候影响包括种子在内的许多性状，种子的寿命对于保护和促进基因库储存很重要。高山物种的种子在储存时被认为是短命的，但在温暖的亲本环境下生产时，它们的寿命会增加。因此，随着气候变暖，高山物种的种子可能具有更高的适应性，并且在基因库储存中的寿命更长。我们评估了 10 个北极高山物种Viscaria alpina在人工老化下的种子寿命在过去 20 年中，在基因库条件下储存了不同时间段。种子收集点位于亚平宁山脉北部，那里记录了高于平均水平的变暖和多变的降水。使用概率分析估计生存能力下降到 50% ( p ₅₀ ) 所需的时间；相关性和一般线性回归用于研究储存时间长短、种子质量和产生种子的气候对种子寿命的影响。p ₅₀在 7.77 和 18.49 天之间变化。储存时间长短或种子质量与种子寿命没有关系。第_50页在生长季节温度升高和降水减少的年份中较高，降水比温度的影响更大。结果表明，高山物种的种子适合基因库储存，降水的年际变化诱导种子寿命的塑性反应。使用基因库储存的种子可以深入了解高山物种如何应对未来的气候变化，并可能对基因库储存产生影响。