Germination of selected Australian native grass species, with potential for minesite rehabilitation

Farley, G. J.; Bellairs, Sean M.; Adkins, S. W.

doi:10.1071/bt12258

Cited by 24 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…palea and lemma) were removed, with four species germinating greater than 70%. Although technically challenging to remove the covering structures without damaging the embryo, this approach can been adapted for the propagation of large numbers of Triodia , as in other Poaceae (Adkins et al ; Meissner ; Wells & Dixon ; Gallart et al ; Ma et al ; Farley et al ). It is most likely that the covering floret structures inhibit germination though restricting the growth of the embryo.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the timing of collection can affect the quality of seed batches Wells et al 2000), which in turn impacts on the depth of seed dormancy, the germination capacity, and the storage life (Probert et al 2007). Hence, the proportions of filled florets, seed viability, and the germination capacity of Triodia seeds vary significantly between published studies (Jacobs 1973;Westoby et al 1988;Adkins et al 1999;Meissner 1999;Wells et al 2000;Farley et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Overcoming physiological dormancy in seeds of Triodia (Poaceae) to improve restoration in the arid zone

Erickson

Shackelford

Dixon

et al. 2016

Restoration Ecology

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Reinstating dominant Triodia grassland communities following disturbance has been a focus of arid land restoration practitioners for decades in Australia. Yet, seed quality and variable seed germination have seriously hindered the reestablishment potential of Triodia species to date. This study set out to examine diaspore quality, germination requirements, and seed dormancy in seven Triodia species to identify first, then resolve, germination impediments. Freshly collected florets from all species were cleaned to ensure that each floret contained a viable seed and then evaluated for their initial germination capacity. Very low germination from florets (<10%) indicated the presence of physiological seed dormancy (PD) in all species. However, germination was significantly improved (up to 57%) with the use of 0.67 m karrikinolide (KAR 1 ), and to a lesser degree with 289 m gibberellic acid (GA 3 ). When the covering floret structures (i.e. lemma and palea) were removed, germination increased up to 59%, which was further enhanced after exposure to GA 3 (up to 66%) and KAR 1 (up to 92%). Optimal germination temperatures varied from 20 to 35 ∘ C and were species specific. Dry after-ripening (DAR −30 ∘ C and 50% relative humidity [RH]) of florets and seeds promoted the progressive loss of PD over 12-24 months storage for most species. Germination, dormancy level, and response to incubation temperature differed amongst species, experimental units (florets and seeds), DAR treatments, and after exposure to germination stimulants (GA 3 and KAR 1 ). For use in restoration seeding programs, careful consideration of seed pre-treatments is necessary to improve germination in Triodia species. Implications for Practice• Many seed-based restoration programs fail to consider all aspects of seed quality, handling, and use. • Correctly processing and storing seeds under optimized conditions will maximize seed viability. Higher germination and establishment potential can then be achieved by correctly identifying the presence of dormancy mechanisms and applying specific pre-treatments prior to sowing. • Like many grasses, seeds of Triodia species are physiologically dormant. When seeds are removed from covering floret structures, dry after-ripened at 30 ∘ C and 50% RH for 12-24 months, and/or treated with karrikinolide or gibberellic acid, significant improvements in germination are achieved. • Implementing these key steps at larger scales will ensure that seeds are used more efficiently and plant establishment becomes much more predictable.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overcoming physiological dormancy in seeds of Triodia (Poaceae) to improve restoration in the arid zone

Erickson

Shackelford

Dixon

et al. 2016

Restoration Ecology

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“…Possible connections between genetic factors such as ploidy and poor seed viability and low seed fill (Farley et al . ) should be investigated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Turning up the heat on the provenance debate: Testing the ‘local is best’ paradigm under heatwave conditions

Hancock

Hughes

2014

Austral Ecology

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A key aspect of successful restoration projects is the sourcing of propagation material suited to the environmental and biotic conditions of the proposed planting site. Traditionally, the use of propagules collected locally has been advocated for revegetation on the assumption that this material is better adapted to local conditions. A rapidly changing climate, however, is challenging the assumption that the use of local genetic stock will provide the best restoration outcome in the long term. We tested the 'local is best' paradigm using open top chambers to simulate the predicted summer temperatures for 2050 in western Sydney, Australia. We compared the establishment success of Eucalyptus tereticornis and Themeda australis, dominant species in Cumberland Plain Woodland, grown from local versus non-local seed. All plants survived an exceptional summer heatwave and few differences between temperature treatments were found. No evidence of local superiority was found for survival or growth of non-reproductive tissues of either species. However, local provenance plants of E. tereticornis suffered significantly greater herbivory in the ambient temperature treatment than one non-local provenance, and local provenance plants of T. australis demonstrated significant superiority to most non-local provenances in all categories of reproductive growth. For both species, the provenances from warmer climates demonstrated comparable, and often better, growth performance than the local provenance plants.

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“…; Farley et al . ; Erickson et al . ) and also affects germination speed by controlling oxygen and water uptake into the seed (Huarte et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimising seed processing techniques to improve germination and sowability of native grasses for ecological restoration

et al. 2018

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Grasslands across the globe are undergoing expansive degradation due to human impacts and climate change. If restoration of degraded native grassland is to be achieved at the scale now required, cost-effective means for seed-based establishment of grass species is crucial. However, grass seeds present numerous challenges associated with handling and germination performance that must be overcome to improve the efficiency of seeding. Previous research has demonstrated that complete removal of the palea and lemma (husk) maximises germination performance, hence we investigated the effects of complete husk removal on seed handling and germination of four temperate Australian grass species. Three techniques were tested to remove the husk - manual cleaning, flaming or acid digestion (the latter two followed by a manual cleaning step); these techniques were refined and adapted to the selected species, and germination responses were compared. The complete removal of the husk improved seed handling and sowability for all species. Germination was improved in Microlaena stipoides by 19% and in Rytidosperma geniculatum by 11%. Of the husk removal methods tested, flaming was detrimental to seed germination and fatal for one species (R. geniculatum). Compared to manual cleaning, sulphuric acid improved the overall efficacy of the cleaning procedure and increased germination speed (T50) in Austrostipa scabra, Chloris truncata and M. stipoides, and improved final germination in R. geniculatum by 13%. The seed processing methods developed and tested in the present study can be applied to grass species that present similar handling and germination performance impediments. These and other technological developments (seed coating and precision sowing) will facilitate more efficient grassland restoration at large scale.

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Germination of selected Australian native grass species, with potential for minesite rehabilitation

Cited by 24 publications

References 33 publications

Overcoming physiological dormancy in seeds of Triodia (Poaceae) to improve restoration in the arid zone

Overcoming physiological dormancy in seeds of Triodia (Poaceae) to improve restoration in the arid zone

Turning up the heat on the provenance debate: Testing the ‘local is best’ paradigm under heatwave conditions

Optimising seed processing techniques to improve germination and sowability of native grasses for ecological restoration

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