Smoke Germination of Australian Plants” Publication No
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Smoke Germination of Australian Plants A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation by T Vigilante, K Dixon, I Sieler, S Roche, and A Tieu October 1998 RIRDC Publication No 98/108 RIRDC Project No KPW-1A © 1998 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 0 642 57855 9 ISSN 1440-6845 "Smoke germination of Australian plants” Publication no. 98/108 Project no. KPW-1A The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Communications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Dr Kingsley Dixon Kings Park and Botanic Garden Plant Science Division West Perth, WA, 6005 Phone: 08 9480 3640 Fax: 08 9480 3641 RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4539 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in October 1998 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by the DPIE Copy Centre ii Foreword Understorey species provide critical components in most landscapes in Australia, yet methods to propagate, restore and manage are often limited by inadequate knowledge of the methods for species recruitment from seed. The discovery that smoke plays a critical role in germinating seeds of Australian native species has opened up new opportunities for restoring, managing and growing our native plants. This publication details the development and application of smoke for nursery propagation with opportunities for the use of smoke as a tool for land rehabilitation and management. Until now, no simple process or method, other than the use of fire with concomitant deleterious environmental effects has been as universal as smoke in eliciting a widespread and uniform germination response in native species. This report forms part of RIRDC’s Wildflowers & Native Plants R&D program, which aims to improve the profitability, productivity and sustainability of the Australian wildflower and native plant industry. Peter Core Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgments Shauna Roche provided inspiration throughout the project while many nursery persons, wildflower farmers, seed merchants and wildflower enthusiasts were instrumental in assisting with provision of field sites, seeds and support. Bob Dixon provided outstanding horticultural advice and guidance throughout the project. Keran Keys and horticultural support staff of the Division of Living Collections and Natural Heritage provided practical support in maintenance of the research materials used in this study. Anle Tieu and Ingrid Sieler must also be acknowledged as key supporters throughout this project. iv Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................ IX CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Seed germination and dormancy .......................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 A role for smoke mediated germination in horticulture ....................................................................................... 5 1.4 Bioassay species................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.5 Overall objective ................................................................................................................................................ 11 SECTION 1 REFINING SMOKE STIMULATION OF TARGET SPECIES AND OVERCOMING DORMANCY IN SPECIES INITIALLY UNRESPONSIVE TO SMOKE. ........................................................................................ 14 CHAPTER 2. SEED AGEING AND SMOKE: PARTNER CUES IN THE AMELIORATION OF SEED DORMANCY IN SELECTED AUSTRALIAN NATIVE SPECIES.................................................................................................... 15 2.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................ 15 2.2 Methods.............................................................................................................................................................. 16 2.3 Results................................................................................................................................................................ 19 2.4 Discussion .......................................................................................................................................................... 30 CHAPTER 3. SITES OF ACTION OF SMOKE IN BREAKING SEED DORMANCY.............................................. 44 3.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................ 45 3.2 Materials and methods ....................................................................................................................................... 46 3.3 Results................................................................................................................................................................ 49 3.4 Discussion .......................................................................................................................................................... 52 CHAPTER 4. OVERCOMING GERMINATION DIFFICULTIES IN BORONIA MEGASTIGMA NEES EX BARTLING................................................................................................................................................................... 56 4.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................ 56 4.2 Methods.............................................................................................................................................................. 58 4.3 Results................................................................................................................................................................ 60 4.4 Discussion .......................................................................................................................................................... 64 SECTION 2 REFINING METHODS FOR SMOKE APPLICATION FOR NURSERY PROPAGATION AND FIELD SOWING. ..................................................................................................................................................................... 68 CHAPTER 5. METHODS FOR APPLYING SMOKE FOR GERMINATION ........................................................... 69 CHAPTER 6. DEVELOPMENT OF DIRECT IMBIBITION, OSMOCONDITIONING AND INFUSION METHODS FOR PREPRIMING SEEDS WITH AQUEOUS SUSPENSIONS OF SMOKE FOR NURSERY SOWING.............. 74 6.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................ 74 6.2 Methods and materials ....................................................................................................................................... 75 6.3 Results................................................................................................................................................................ 79 6.4 Discussion .......................................................................................................................................................... 86 CHAPTER 7. FINAL DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................ 89 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................................................. 96 v List of Figures FIG. 1.1 GERMINATION LEVELS FOR LYSINEMA CILIATUM AND STYLIDIUM AFFINE SEED WITH DILUTIONS OF SMOKE WATER ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 FIG. 1.2 GERMINATION LEVELS FOR GRAND RAPIDS LETTUCE SEED WITH DILUTIONS OF SMOKE WATER................. 11 FIG. 2.1 GERMINATION OF ORTHROSANTHUS LAXUS IN RESPONSE TO SMOKE AND SOIL STORAGE.............................. 32 FIG. 2.2 VIABILITY AND GERMINABILITY OF MONOCOT, DICOT, SEEDER AND RESPROUTER SPECIES AT COMMENCEMENT OF EXPERIMENT AND AFTER ONE YEAR SOIL STORAGE. ................................................... 34 FIG. 2.3 GERMINATION OF MONOCOT, DICOT, SEEDER AND RESPROUTER SPECIES IN RESPONSE TO SMOKE AND SOIL STORAGE....................................................................................................................................................