Seed ecology of Lepidosperma scabrum (Cyperaceae), a dryland sedge from Western Australia with physiological seed dormancy
S. R. Turner
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia, and School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. Email: shane.turner@bgpa.wa.gov.au
Australian Journal of Botany 61(8) 643-653 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT13137
Submitted: 9 April 2013 Accepted: 28 January 2014 Published: 21 March 2014
Abstract
Lepidosperma scabrum is a common understorey species currently required for urban bushland restoration, although its propagation has been highly problematic. In this context, the overall aims of the present study were to (1) document key characteristics for seed-dormancy classification; (2) assess the effectiveness of different germination-promoting treatments; and (3) quantify changes in nutlet fill, dormancy and germination following soil storage under natural and nursery conditions. Initial investigations found that naturally shed nutlets (the natural germination unit) have high seed fill and viability (>90.0%) and a small (~468 µm) capitate embryo that readily grew (>95.0%) when extracted and cultured in vitro. Intact nutlets also imbibed moisture to a similar percentage (15.0 ± 1.4%) as nicked nutlets (18.0 ± 1.8%). Fresh nutlets germinated only in response to heat shock (100°C for 10 min), which was enhanced with additional treatment with 2.89 mM gibberellic acid (13.3%), 10% v/v smoke water (16. 6%) or a combination of both (23.3%). Nutlets placed into a burial trial maintained viability for 3 years and started to germinate (19.9 ± 9.5%) in response to smoke water by the third winter season. Heat shock was also found to significantly improve germination (81.1 ± 4.2%) for soil-aged nutlets. The present study is the first report of high germination from intact nutlets of any Lepidosperma spp. and provides practical techniques for the large-scale production of plants for horticulture and restoration.
Additional keywords: germination, heat shock, karrikinolide, nutlet, smoke.
References
Baker KS, Steadman KJ, Plummer JA, Dixon KW (2005a) Seed dormancy and germination responses of nine Australian fire ephemerals. Plant and Soil 277, 345–358.| Seed dormancy and germination responses of nine Australian fire ephemerals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baker KS, Steadman KJ, Plummer JA, Merritt DJ, Dixon KW (2005b) Dormancy release in Australian fire ephemeral seeds during burial increases germination response to smoke water or heat. Seed Science Research 15, 339–348.
| Dormancy release in Australian fire ephemeral seeds during burial increases germination response to smoke water or heat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barrett RL (2013) Ecological importance of sedges: a survey of the Australasian Cyperaceae genus Lepidosperma. Annals of Botany 111, 499–529.
| Ecological importance of sedges: a survey of the Australasian Cyperaceae genus Lepidosperma.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23378523PubMed |
Barrett RL, Tay EP (2005) ‘Perth Plants: a field guide to the bushland and coastal flora of Kings Park and Bold Park, Perth, Western Australia.’ (Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority: Perth)
Barrett RL, Wilson KL (2012) A review of the genus Lepidosperma Labill. (Cyperaceae: Schoeneae). Australian Systematic Botany 25, 225–294.
| A review of the genus Lepidosperma Labill. (Cyperaceae: Schoeneae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baskin CC, Baskin JM (2003a) When breaking seed dormancy is a problem try a move-along experiment. Native Plants Journal 4, 17–21.
Baskin JM, Baskin CC (2003b) Classification, biogeography and phylogenetic relationships of seed dormancy. In ‘Seed conservation – turning science into practice’. (Eds R Smith, J Dickie, S Linnington, HW Pritchard, R Probert) pp. 517–544. (The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: London)
Baskin JM, Baskin CC (2004) A classification system for seed dormancy. Seed Science Research 14, 1–16.
| A classification system for seed dormancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baskin JM, Davis BH, Baskin CC, Gleason SM, Cordell S (2004) Physical dormancy in seeds of Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindales, Sapindaceae) from Hawaii. Seed Science Research 14, 81–90.
| Physical dormancy in seeds of Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindales, Sapindaceae) from Hawaii.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baskin JM, Baskin CC, Dixon KW (2006) Physical dormancy in the endemic Australian genus Stylobasium, a first report for the family Surianaceae (Fabales). Seed Science Research 16, 229–232.
| Physical dormancy in the endemic Australian genus Stylobasium, a first report for the family Surianaceae (Fabales).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bell DT, Plummer JA, Taylor SK (1993) Seed germination ecology in southwestern Western Australia. Botanical Review 59, 24–73.
| Seed germination ecology in southwestern Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chiwocha SDS, Dixon KW, Flematti GR, Ghisalberti EL, Merritt DJ, Nelson DC, Riseborough J-AM, Smith SM, Stevens JC (2009) Karrikins: a new family of plant growth regulators in smoke. Plant Science 177, 252–256.
| Karrikins: a new family of plant growth regulators in smoke.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clarke S, French K (2005) Germination response to heat and smoke of 22 Poaceae species from grassy woodlands. Australian Journal of Botany 53, 445–454.
| Germination response to heat and smoke of 22 Poaceae species from grassy woodlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Downes KS, Light ME, Pošta M, Kohout L, van Staden J (2013) Comparison of germination responses of Anigozanthos flavidus (Haemodoraceae), Gyrostemon racemiger and Gyrostemon ramulosus (Gyrostemonaceae) to smoke-water and the smoke-derived compounds karrikinolide (KAR1) and glyceronitrile. Annals of Botany 111, 489–497.
| Comparison of germination responses of Anigozanthos flavidus (Haemodoraceae), Gyrostemon racemiger and Gyrostemon ramulosus (Gyrostemonaceae) to smoke-water and the smoke-derived compounds karrikinolide (KAR1) and glyceronitrile.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23299994PubMed |
Enright NJ, Goldblum D, Ata P, Ashton DH (1997) The independent effects of heat, smoke and ash on emergence of seedlings from the soil seed bank of a healthy Eucalyptus woodland in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, western Victoria. Australian Journal of Ecology 22, 81–88.
| The independent effects of heat, smoke and ash on emergence of seedlings from the soil seed bank of a healthy Eucalyptus woodland in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, western Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Flematti GR, Ghisalberti EL, Dixon KW, Trengove RD (2004) A compound in smoke that promotes seed germination. Science 305, 977
| A compound in smoke that promotes seed germination.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15247439PubMed |
Flematti GR, Ghisalberti EL, Dixon KW, Trengove RD (2005) Synthesis of the seed germination stimulant 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one. Tetrahedron Letters 46, 5719–5721.
| Synthesis of the seed germination stimulant 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Flematti GR, Merritt DJ, Piggott MJ, Trengove RD, Smith SM, Dixon KW, Ghisalberti EL (2011) Burning vegetation produces cyanohydrins that liberate cyanide and stimulate seed germination. Nature Communications 2,
| Burning vegetation produces cyanohydrins that liberate cyanide and stimulate seed germination.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21694708PubMed |
Galatowitch S (2012) ‘Ecological restoration.’ (Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA)
Hidayati SN, Walck JL, Merritt DJ, Turner SR, Turner DW, Dixon KW (2012) Sympatric species of Hibbertia (Dilleniaceae) vary in dormancy break and germination requirements: implications for classifying morphophysiological dormancy in Mediterranean biomes. Annals of Botany 109, 1111–1123.
| Sympatric species of Hibbertia (Dilleniaceae) vary in dormancy break and germination requirements: implications for classifying morphophysiological dormancy in Mediterranean biomes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22362661PubMed |
International Seed Testing Association (1999) International rules for seed testing. Seed Science and Technology 27, 1–335.
Koch JM (2007a) Alcoa’s mining and restoration process in south western Australia. Restoration Ecology 15, S11–S16.
| Alcoa’s mining and restoration process in south western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Koch JM (2007b) Restoring a jarrah forest understorey vegetation after bauxite mining in Western Australia. Restoration Ecology 15, S26–S39.
| Restoring a jarrah forest understorey vegetation after bauxite mining in Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kodym A, Turner S, Delpratt J (2010) In situ seed development and in vitro regeneration of three difficult-to-propagate Lepidosperma species (Cyperaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 58, 107–114.
| In situ seed development and in vitro regeneration of three difficult-to-propagate Lepidosperma species (Cyperaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kodym A, Temsch EM, Bunn E, Delpratt J (2012) Ploidy stability of somatic embryo-derived plants in two ecological keystone sedge species (Lepidosperma laterale and L. concavum, Cyperaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 60, 396–404.
| Ploidy stability of somatic embryo-derived plants in two ecological keystone sedge species (Lepidosperma laterale and L. concavum, Cyperaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lakon G (1949) The topographical tetrazolium method for determining the germinating capacity of seeds. Plant Physiology 24, 389–394.
| The topographical tetrazolium method for determining the germinating capacity of seeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16654232PubMed |
Li X, Baskin JM, Baskin CC (1999) Seed morphology and physical dormancy of several North American Rhus species (Anacardiaceae). Seed Science Research 9, 247–258.
Long RL, Williams K, Griffiths EM, Flematti GR, Merritt DJ, Stevens JC, Turner SR, Powles SB, Dixon KW (2010) Prior hydration of Brassica tournefortii seeds reduces the stimulatory effect of karrikinolide on germination and increases seed sensitivity to abscisic acid. Annals of Botany 105, 1063–1070.
| Prior hydration of Brassica tournefortii seeds reduces the stimulatory effect of karrikinolide on germination and increases seed sensitivity to abscisic acid.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20348089PubMed |
Long RL, Stevens JC, Griffiths EM, Adamek M, Powles SB, Merritt DJ (2011) Detecting karrikinolide responses in seeds of the Poaceae. Australian Journal of Botany 59, 610–620.
| Detecting karrikinolide responses in seeds of the Poaceae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mahadevan N, Jayasuriya KMGG (2013) Water-impermeable fruits of the parasitic angiosperm Cassytha filiformis (Lauraceae): confirmation of physical dormancy in Magnoliidae and evolutionary considerations. Australian Journal of Botany 61, 322–329.
| Water-impermeable fruits of the parasitic angiosperm Cassytha filiformis (Lauraceae): confirmation of physical dormancy in Magnoliidae and evolutionary considerations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marchant NG, Wheeler JR, Rye BL, Bennett EM, Lander NS, McFarlane TD (1987) ‘Flora of the Perth region part two.’ (Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia: Perth)
Martin AC (1946) The comparative internal morphology of seeds. American Midland Naturalist 36, 513–660.
| The comparative internal morphology of seeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Meney KA, Dixon KW (1995) In vitro propagation of Western Australian rushes (Restionaceae and related families) by embryo culture. Part 1. In vitro embryo growth. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 41, 107–113.
| In vitro propagation of Western Australian rushes (Restionaceae and related families) by embryo culture. Part 1. In vitro embryo growth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Merritt DJ, Turner SR, Clarke S, Dixon KW (2007) Seed dormancy and germination stimulation syndromes for Australian temperate species. Australian Journal of Botany 55, 336–344.
| Seed dormancy and germination stimulation syndromes for Australian temperate species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moore RP (1972) Tetrazolium staining for assessing seed quality. In ‘Seed ecology: proceedings of the nineteenth Easter school in agricultural science’. (Ed. W Heydecker) pp. 347–366. (Butterworths: London)
Morris EC (2000) Germination response of seven east Australian Grevillea species (Proteaceae) to smoke, heat exposure and scarification. Australian Journal of Botany 48, 179–189.
| Germination response of seven east Australian Grevillea species (Proteaceae) to smoke, heat exposure and scarification.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Murashige T, Skoog F (1962) A revised medium for rapid growth and biol. assays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiologia Plantarum 15, 473–497.
| A revised medium for rapid growth and biol. assays with tobacco tissue cultures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nelson DC, Riseborough J-A, Flematti GR, Stevens J, Ghisalberti EL, Dixon KW, Smith SM (2009) Karrikins discovered in smoke trigger Arabidopsis seed germination by a mechanism requiring gibberellic acid synthesis and light. Plant Physiology 149, 863–873.
| Karrikins discovered in smoke trigger Arabidopsis seed germination by a mechanism requiring gibberellic acid synthesis and light.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19074625PubMed |
Panaia M, Bunn E, Turner S, McComb J (2009) Incubation temperature critical to successful stimulation of in vitro zygotic embryo growth in four Australian native Cyperaceae species. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 97, 197–202.
| Incubation temperature critical to successful stimulation of in vitro zygotic embryo growth in four Australian native Cyperaceae species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Panaia M, Bunn E, McComb J (2011) Primary and repetitive secondary somatic embryogenesis of Lepidosperma drummondii (Cyperaceae) and Baloskion tetraphyllum (Restionaceae) for land restoration and horticulture. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology. Plant 47, 379–386.
| Primary and repetitive secondary somatic embryogenesis of Lepidosperma drummondii (Cyperaceae) and Baloskion tetraphyllum (Restionaceae) for land restoration and horticulture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Penman TD, Binns DL, Allen RM, Shiels RJ, Plummer SH (2008) Germination responses of a dry sclerophyll forest soil-stored seedbank to fire related cues. Cunninghamia 10, 547–555.
Roche S, Dixon KW, Pate JS (1997) Seed ageing and smoke: partner cues in the amelioration of seed dormancy in selected Australian native species. Australian Journal of Botany 45, 783–815.
| Seed ageing and smoke: partner cues in the amelioration of seed dormancy in selected Australian native species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Swarts ND, Dixon KW (2009) Terrestrial orchid conservation in the age of extinction. Annals of Botany 104, 543–556.
| Terrestrial orchid conservation in the age of extinction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19218582PubMed |
Thanos CA, Rundel PW (1995) Fire-followers in chaparral: nitrogenous compounds trigger seed germination. Journal of Ecology 83, 207–216.
| Fire-followers in chaparral: nitrogenous compounds trigger seed germination.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomas PB, Morris EC, Auld TD (2003) Interactive effects of heat shock and smoke on germination of nine species forming soil seed banks within the Sydney region. Austral Ecology 28, 674–683.
| Interactive effects of heat shock and smoke on germination of nine species forming soil seed banks within the Sydney region.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tieu A, Dixon KW, Meney KA, Sivasithamparam K (2001) The interaction of heat and smoke in the release of seed dormancy in seven species from southwestern Western Australia. Annals of Botany 88, 259–265.
| The interaction of heat and smoke in the release of seed dormancy in seven species from southwestern Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Turner SR, Merritt DJ, Baskin CC, Dixon KW, Baskin JM (2005) Physical dormancy in seeds of six genera of Australian Rhamnaceae. Seed Science Research 15, 51–58.
| Physical dormancy in seeds of six genera of Australian Rhamnaceae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Turner SR, Merritt DJ, Renton MS, Dixon KW (2009) Seed moisture content affects afterripening and smoke responsiveness in three sympatric Australian native species from fire-prone environments. Austral Ecology 34, 866–877.
| Seed moisture content affects afterripening and smoke responsiveness in three sympatric Australian native species from fire-prone environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vleeshouwers LM, Bouwmeester HJ, Karssen CM (1995) Redefining seed dormancy: an attempt to integrate physiology and ecology. Journal of Ecology 83, 1031–1037.
| Redefining seed dormancy: an attempt to integrate physiology and ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wills TJ, Read J (2002) Effects of heat and smoke on germination of soil-stored seed in a south-eastern Australian sand heathland. Australian Journal of Botany 50, 197–206.
| Effects of heat and smoke on germination of soil-stored seed in a south-eastern Australian sand heathland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Willyams D (2005) Tissue culture of geophytic rush and sedge species for revegetation of bauxite mine sites in the northern jarrah forest of Western Australia. In ‘Contributing to a sustainable future. Proceedings of the Australian Branch of the IAPTC & B’, 21–24 September 2005, Perth, Western Australia. (Eds IJ Bennett, E Bunn, H Clarke, JA McComb) pp. 226–241. (Australasian Plant Breeding Association)
Winston P, Bates D (1960) Saturated solutions for the control of humidity in biological research. Ecology 41, 232–237.
| Saturated solutions for the control of humidity in biological research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zar JH (1984) ‘Biostatistical analysis.’ 2nd edn. (Prentice-Hall of Australia: Sydney)
