Seed enhancement technologies such as seed priming and seed coating, developed by the agricultural seed industry, are standard procedures for the majority of crop and horticultural seeds. However, such technologies are only just being evaluated for native plant seeds despite the potential benefits of such treatments for improving restoration effectiveness. Key approaches applicable to native seed include: (1) seed priming, where seeds are hydrated under controlled conditions, and (2) seed coating, in which external materials and compounds are applied onto seeds through a diversity of treatments. These technologies are commonly employed to accelerate and synchronize germination and to improve seed vigor, seedling emergence, establishment, and to facilitate mechanized seed delivery to site, through standardizing seed size and shape. Seed enhancement technologies have now been tested on native seeds to overcome logistical and ecological barriers in restoration. However, further research is needed to extend the application of seed enhancements to a broader array of species, ecosystems, and regions as well as to evaluate new and innovative approaches such as the incorporation of beneficial soil microorganisms and plant growth regulators in the coatings. As techniques in native seed enhancement develop, these approaches need to be capable of being scaled‐up to provide the tonnages of seed required for global restoration.

The potential impact of herbicide-tolerant winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) on future herbicide use was investigated with a simulation model. The model uses a sigmoid function to simulate the growth of crops and weeds that compete for a maximum yield potential. Thresholds for weed control are based upon critical levels of weed biomass. The dynamics of the weed population are determined by the ecacy of representative herbicides on individual weed species and by seedbank parameters. Herbicide ecacy is determined by a log-logistic dose±response curve for each species. Simulation of a rotation with winter oilseed rape/wheat/wheat/barley showed contradictory predictions of herbicide use, because herbicide use in a rotation with either glyphosate-or glufosinate-tolerant oilseed rape was not reduced in the amount of kg a.i. ha ±1 compared with a traditional treatment, whereas the treatment frequency (number of standard recommended doses per unit area) decreased. PrerequisitesThe model (Fig. 1) is empirical and based on alleged relationships, comparative studies between transgenic and non-transgenic crops, and practical experience from current crop rotations. The model requires few growth-related parameters and does not take climatic and soil conditions into 96 K. H. Madsen et al.