The effect of shock loading on the survival of plant seeds

► Seeds have been subjected to shock loading using the plate-impact technique. ► Seeds were sealed in a capsule and 100% of shocked samples were recovered. ► Positive seed viability was seen up to peak pressures of 0.8 GPa. ► Seed kill radii on Earth calculated using pressure wave decay techniques. ► Calculations show potential survival in asteroid collision, where ν ⩽ 45 km s−1.