Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > AN > EA04107
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(3)

Seed production of Australian native grass cultivars: an overview of current information and future research needs

I. A. Cole A C and W. H. Johnston B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A NSW Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 445, Cowra, NSW 2794, Australia.

B NSW Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 189, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: ian.cole@dnr.nsw.gov.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(3) 361-373 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA04107
Submitted: 28 May 2004  Accepted: 17 February 2005   Published: 28 March 2006

Abstract

Cultivars of Australian native grasses released in the 1990s are potentially useful for improving the composition of degraded pastures, roadside revegetation and sowing in low-care amenity situations. Over 20 selections or cultivars have been identified and progressed to the stage of commercial seed increase. This review focuses on the challenge of producing high-yielding seed crops for this range of promising Australian native grasses with the aim of fostering commercial-scale seed production operations. Commercialisation of the current suite of native grass cultivars has been difficult, which is often the case for new herbage species. There are a variety of reasons for this including: (i) that experience gained in breeder’s nurseries was not directly transferable to commercial seed growers; (ii) that knowledge of the biology of many species was incomplete; (iii) a lack of basic management information for these new species; and (iv) failure to rigorously apply what is known about the seed increase of new species.

Success of new cultivars as seed crops depends on addressing seed production issues as part of the overall cultivar development program, and on breeders maintaining close links with innovative commercial seed growers until the major seed production barriers are overcome and commercial seed becomes available.

Additional keywords: cultivar development, domestication, herbage seed, plant breeding.


References


Anon. (1994) ‘Forage seed-increase.’ (International Livestock Centre for Africa: Addis Ababa)

Bean EW (1978) Principles of herbage seed-increase — technical bulletin No. 1. 2nd edn. Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Plas Gogerddan

Bell DT (1999) Turner review No. 1. The process of germination in Australian species. Australian Journal of Botany 47, 475–517.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | (verified 22 February 2006).

Cole IA , Metcalfe J (2004) The effects of herbicides on Australian native grasses, a database of published literature. (Department of Infrastructure, planning and Natural Resources: Sydney) Available at www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au/nativeveg/pdf/reference_database.pdf (verified 22 February 2006).

Cole IA , Waters C (1997) Harvesting and sowing native grasses. In ‘Proceedings of the NSW Grassland Society 12th annual conference’. (Eds A Bowman, D Michalk) pp. 95–103. (Grassland Society of NSW Inc.: Orange)

Cole IA, Koen T, Metcalfe J, Johnston W, Mitchell M (2003) Tolerance of Austrodanthonia fulva, Microlaena stipoides and Elymus scaber seedlings to nine herbicides. Plant Protection Quarterly 18, 18–22. open url image1

Cole IA, Metcalfe J, Koen T (2004) The effect of removing caryopses from florets on germination and field establishment in an accession of Austrodanthonia fulva. Ecological Management and Restoration 5, 134–136.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Coolbear P , Hill MJ , Win P (1997) Maturation of grass and legume seed. In ‘Forage seed production. Vol. 1: Temperate species’. (Eds DT Fairey, JG Hampton) pp. 181–217. (CABI publishing: Wallingford)

Corkill L , Rumball W (1980) The problems of amenity grass seed-increase in New Zealand. In ‘Herbage seed production. Grasslands research and practice series No. 1’. (Ed. IA Lancashire) pp. 26–30. (New Zealand Grassland Association: Palmerston North)

Crane CF, Carman JG (1984) The nature and distribution of apomixis in Elymus rectisetus from eastern Australia. Agronomy Abstracts , 60. open url image1

Evans LT, Knox RB (1969) Environmental control of reproduction in Themeda australis. Australian Journal of Botany 17, 375–389.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Fairey DT , Hampton JG 1997 Temperate forage seeds: an introduction. In ‘Forage seed production. Vol. 1: Temperate species’. (Eds DT Fairey, JG Hampton) pp. 1–7. (CABI Publishing: Wallingford)

Ferguson JE , de Andride RP (1999) Andropogon gayanus in Latin America. In ‘Forage seed production. Vol. 2: Tropical and sub-tropical species’. (Eds DS Loch, JE Ferguson) pp. 381–386. (CABI Publishing: Wallingford)

Ferguson JE , Loch DS (1999) Tropical and subtropical forage seed production: Looking back and to future horizons. In ‘Forage seed production. Vol. 2: Tropical and sub-tropical species’. (Eds DS Loch, JE Ferguson) pp. 445–457. (CABI Publishing: Wallingford)

Groves RH, Keraitis K, Moore CWE (1973) Relative growth of Themeda australis and Poa Labillardieri in pots in response to phosphorus and nitrogen. Australian Journal of Botany 21, 1–11.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Groves RH, Austin MP, Kaye PE (2003) Competition between Australian native and introduced grasses along a nutrient gradient. Austral Ecology 28, 491–498.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Hagon MW (1976) Germination and dormancy of Themeda australis, Danthonia spp., Stipa bigeniculata and Bothriochloa macra. Australian Journal of Botany 24, 319–327.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Hagon MW, Groves RH (1977) Some factors affecting the establishment of four native grasses. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 17, 90–96.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Hampton JG, Hill MJ (1990) Herbage seed lots: are germination data sufficient? Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 52, 59–64. open url image1

Hampton JG , Rowarth JS (1998) Ryegrass. In ‘Practical herbage seedcrop management’. (Ed. J Rowarth) pp. 67–74. (Lincoln University Press: Canterbury)

Hare MD (1998) Fine fescue. In ‘Practical herbage seedcrop management’. (Ed. J Rowarth) pp. 49–55. (Lincoln University Press: Canterbury)

Hare MD , Hampton JG (1998) Bromus species. In ‘Practical herbage seedcrop management’. (Ed. J Rowarth) pp. 25–34. (Lincoln University Press: Canterbury)

Harty RL, McDonald HC (1972) Germination behaviour in beach spinifex (Spinifex hirsutus Labill.). Australian Journal of Botany 20, 241–251.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Hill MJ (1985) Persistence of temperate perennial grasses in cutting trials on the central slopes of New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 25, 832–839.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Hill MJ (1998) Yorkshire fog. In ‘Practical herbage seedcrop management’. (Ed. J Rowarth) pp. 99–104. (Lincoln University Press: Canterbury)

Hill MJ , Hampton JG , Hill KA (1997) Seed quality of grasses and legumes: an introduction. In ‘Forage seed production. Vol. 1: Temperate species’. (Eds DT Fairey, JG Hampton) pp. 219–242. (CABI Publishing: Wallingford)

Humphreys LR (1967) Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) in Australia. Tropical Grasslands 1, 123–134. open url image1

Hutton EM (1971) Plant improvement for increased animal production. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 37, 212–225. open url image1

Huxtable CHA (1999) Rehabilitation of open-cut coal mines using native grasses. Final report project C6004. Australian Coal Association Research Program.

Johnston WH, Shoemark VF (1997) Establishment and persistence of palatable taxa of Eragrostis curvula complex in southern New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 37, 55–65.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Johnston WH , Clifton CA , Cole IA , Koen TB , Mitchell ML , Waterhouse DB (1998) Native perennial grasses for productive sustainable pastures in southern Australia. Final report project SCS10 Land and Water Resources Research and Development Resources Project. Research and Development Corporation Canberra, NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Johnston WH, Mitchell M, Koen TB, Mulham WE, Waterhouse DB (2001) LIGULE: an evaluation of indigenous perennial grasses for dryland salinity management in south eastern Australia 1. A base germplasm collection. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 52, 343–350.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Johnston WH, Garden DL, Rancic A, Koen TB, Dassanayake KB , et al. (2003) The impact of pasture development and grazing on water-yielding catchments in the Murray Darling Basin in south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, 817–841.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Jozwik FX (1969) Some systematic aspects of Mitchell grasses (Astrebla F. Muell.). Australian Journal of Botany 17, 359–374.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Keys MJ (1996) ‘Prime pastures program — pasture establishment field guide.’ (NSW Agriculture: Queanbeyan)

Langer RHM (1980) Growth of the grass plant in relation to seed-increase In ‘Herbage seed production. Grasslands research and practice series No. 1’. (Ed. IA Lancashire) pp. 6–11. (New Zealand Grassland Association: Palmerston North)

Loch DS , Harvey GL (1997) Developing herbicide strategies for tropical herbage seed crops. In ‘Proceedings of the 1st Australian new crops conference, new crops, new products: new opportunities for Australian agriculture’. RIRDC Research Paper No. 97/21 pp. 273–282. (The University of Queensland: Gatton)

Loch DS , deSouza FHD (1999) Seed harvesting and drying: grasses. In ‘Forage seed production. Vol. 2: Tropical and sub-tropical species’. (Eds DS Loch, JE Ferguson) pp. 381–386. (CABI Publishing: Wallingford)

Loch DS , Cook SJ , Harvey GL (1999 a) Crop establishment. In ‘Forage seed production. Vol. 2: Tropical and sub-tropical species’. (Eds DS Loch, JE Ferguson) pp.141–157. (CABI Publishing: Wallingford)

Loch DS , Ramirez Aviles L , Harvey GL (1999 b) Crop management: grasses. In ‘Forage seed production. Vol. 2: Tropical and sub-tropical species’. (Eds DS Loch, JE Ferguson) pp. 159–176. (CABI Publishing: Wallingford)

Lodder MS, Groves RH, Müller WJ (1994) Early seedling growth of three species of Danthonia as affected by depth of sowing and nutrient supply. Australian Journal of Botany 42, 543–554.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lodge GM (1981) Establishment of warm- and cool-season native perennial grasses on the north-west slopes of NSW. II. Establishment and seedling survival in the field. Australian Journal of Botany 29, 121–133.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lodge GM (1996) Temperate native Australian grass improvement by selection. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 39, 487–497. open url image1

Lodge GM (2002) Studies of seed-increase in two Austrodanthonia grass cultivars. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 1197–1202.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lodge GM, McMillan MG (1994) Effects of herbicides on wallaby grass (Danthonia spp.). 2. Established plants. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 34, 759–764.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lodge GM, Schipp AJ (1993) The domestication of the native grasses Danthonia richardsonii Cashmore and Danthonia linkii Kunth for agricultural use. II. Agronomic and morphologic variation. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44, 79–88.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lodge GM, Whalley RDB (1981) Establishment of warm- and cool-season native perennial grasses on the north-west slopes of New South Wales. I. Dormancy and germination. Australian Journal of Botany 29, 111–119.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lodge GM, McMillan MG, Schipp AJ, Cook AS (1994) Effects of herbicides on wallaby grass (Danthonia spp.). 1. Establishment. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 34, 753–757.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Maze KM, Koen TB, Watt LA (1993) Factors influencing the germination of six perennial grasses of central New South Wales. Australian Journal of Botany 41, 79–90.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Mitchell M, Koen TB, Johnston WH, Waterhouse DB (2001) LIGULE: an evaluation of indigenous perennial grasses for dryland salinity management in south eastern Australia 2: field performance and the selection of promising ecotypes. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 52, 351–365.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Mott JJ (1972) Germination studies on some annual species from an arid region of Western Australia. Journal of Ecology 60, 293–304. open url image1

Oram R, Culvenor R (1994) Phalaris improvement in Australia. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 37, 329–339. open url image1

Oram R, Lodge G (2003) Trends in temperate Australian grass breeding and selection. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 54, 211–241.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Osborne TGB (1931) On the autecology of Stipa nitida, a study of a fodder grass in arid Australia. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 56, 299–324. open url image1

Prober SM, Lunt ID, Thiele KR (2002) Determining reference conditions for management and restoration of temperate grassy woodlands: relationships among trees, topsoils and understorey flora in little grazed remnants. Australian Journal of Botany 50, 687–697.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Read TR, Bellairs SM (1999) Smoke affects the germination of native grasses of New South Wales. Australian Journal of Botany 47, 563–576.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Reddy K , Rolston MP (1998) Phalaris. In ‘Practical herbage seedcrop management’. (Ed. J Rowarth) pp. 61–66. (Lincoln University Press: Canterbury)

Rolston MP (1980) Recent developments in seed production in Oregon, USA. In ‘Herbage seed production. Grasslands research and practice series No. 1’. (Ed. IA Lancashire) pp. 15–16. (New Zealand Grassland Association: Palmerston North)

Rolston MP , Brown KR , Hare MD , Young KA (1985) Grass seed-increase: weeds, herbicides and fertilisers. In ‘Grasslands research and practice series No. 2. Producing herbage seeds’. (Eds MD Hare, JL Brock) pp. 15–22. (Lincoln College: Canterbury)

Rolston MP , Rowarth JS , Young WC III , Mueller-Warrant GW (1997) Grass seed crop management. In ‘Forage seed production. Vol. 1: Temperate species’. (Eds DT Fairey, JG Hampton) pp.105–126. (CABI Publishing: Wallingford)

Rowarth JS (1998 a) ‘Practical herbage seedcrop management.’ (Lincoln University Press: Canterbury)

Rowarth JS (1998 b) Browntop. In ‘Practical herbage seedcrop management’. (Ed. J Rowarth) pp. 37–40. (Lincoln University Press: Canterbury)

Silcock RG, Williams LM, Smith FT (1990) Quality and storage characteristics of the seeds of important native pasture species in south-west Queensland. Australian Rangeland Journal 12, 14–20.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Simon U , Hare MD , Kjaersgaard B , Clifford PTP , Hampton JG , Hill MJ (1997) Harvest and post harvest management of forage seed crops. In ‘Forage seed production. Vol. 1: Temperate species’. (Eds DT Fairey, JG Hampton) pp. 181–217. (CABI Publishing: Wallingford)

Sindel BM , Groves RH (1990) Seed-increase potential and domestication of kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra). In ‘Native grass workshop proceedings’. (Eds PM Dowling, DL Garden) pp. 171–172. (Australian Wool Corporation: Melbourne)

Sindel BM, Davidson SJ, Kilby MJ, Groves RH (1993) Germination and establishment of Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) as affected by soil and seed characteristics. Australian Journal of Botany 41, 105–117.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Smith SR Jr , Smith S (1997) ‘Native grass seed-increase manual.’ (US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Manitoba Forage Seed Association, University of Manitoba: Manitoba)

Southwood O , Cregan PD , Dellow JJ , Walker RB (1981) ‘Pasture establishment.’ (NSW Agriculture: Orange)

Waters C , Whalley W , Huxtable C (2001) ‘Grassed up. Guidelines for revegetating with Australian native grasses.’ (NSW Agriculture: Orange)

Watt L (1974) The effect of water potential on the germination behaviour of several warm season grass species with special reference to cracking black clay soils. Journal of the Soil Conservation Service of NSW 30, 28–41. open url image1

Whalley RDB (1970) Exotic or native species – the orientation of pasture research in Australia. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 36, 111–118. open url image1

Whalley RDB , Jones CE (1996) Commercialisation of the Australian native grass Microlaena stipoides for turf, amenity and forage purposes. Final report project UNE 35A. Department of Botany University of New England, Armidale, NSW.

Wills B , Trainer KD (1998) Tall oatgrass. In ‘Practical herbage seedcrop management.’ (Ed. J Rowarth) pp. 85–90. (Lincoln University Press: Canterbury)

Yodder C (2000) Creeping red fescue seed-increase in the Peace River region, Alberta. Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development BC. Agdex 127/15-1.

Yule DF (1998) Controlled traffic farming – the future. In ‘Proceedings of the 2nd national controlled traffic conference’. (Eds JN Tullberg, DF Yule) pp. 6–12. (The University of Queensland: Gatton)