Register      Login
Australian Journal of Botany Australian Journal of Botany Society
Southern hemisphere botanical ecosystems
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > BT > BT07175
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 56(6)

The effect of in situ seed burial on dormancy break in three woody-fruited species (Ericaceae and Proteaceae) endemic to Western Australia

Melanie A. Norman A and John M. Koch A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Alcoa World Alumina Australia, PO Box 172, Pinjarra, WA 6208, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: john.koch@alcoa.com.au

Australian Journal of Botany 56(6) 493-500 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT07175
Submitted: 20 September 2007  Accepted: 1 May 2008   Published: 16 September 2008

Abstract

The woody-fruited species Leucopogon propinquus R.Br., Styphelia tenuiflora Lindl. (Ericaceae) and Persoonia longifolia R.Br. (Proteaceae) need to be returned to restored mines in Western Australia. All species have physiological seed dormancy, however germination has been observed following the application of smoke to native habitats. We recorded seed viability, permeability to water, endocarp strength, morphology and germination ± gibberellic acid (GA3) every 3 months for 24 months of in-situ burial in the jarrah forest to determine the time of dormancy release and corresponding seed changes. The term ‘seed’ refers to the woody endocarp, plus the true seed. Persoonia longifolia reached 37% germination after burial in soil for 21 months, followed by chipping the endocarp and GA3 application. A minimum of 15 months soil burial was necessary for unchipped seeds to germinate; 22% germination was achieved after 18 months burial in soil followed by GA3 application. Viability of fresh seeds of all three species was 96–100% and remained unchanged for P. longifolia, but declined to 5 and 0% following 24 months of soil burial for L. propinquus and S. tenuiflora, respectively. Germination of the two Ericaceae species was negligible, despite the presence of viable seeds (30–63%, depending on the species) after 12 months of soil burial and substantial deterioration of the endocarp. To germinate large quantities of P. longifolia, for use in land restoration, drupes should be buried in-situ in forest soil for 18 months immediately following seed fall (early spring) and GA3 treated, following exhumation.


Acknowledgements

We thank Dr David Merritt from Kings Park and Botanic Gardens for assistance with data analysis and manuscript review. Three anonymous reviewers undertook comprehensive reviews to improve the manuscript. Professor Brendan Griffin and Sharon Platten at the University of Western Australia (UWA) Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis (CMCA) provided valuable assistance during microscopy sessions. Esther Cromer, Alex Noble and Dave Willyams at Alcoa’s Marrinup Nursery assisted with experimental work. We thank Greg Mullins at Marrinup Nursery for suggestions regarding the experimental design. The UWA Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences provided use of the penetrometer. Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd contributed financial support.


References


Abbott I, Van Heurck P (1988) Widespread regeneration failure of Persoonia elliptica (Proteaceae) in the northern jarrah forest of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 71, 15–22. open url image1

Allan SM, Adkins SW, Preston CA, Bellairs SM (2004) Improved germination of the Australian natives: Hibbertia commutata, Hibbertia amplexicaulis (Dilleniaceae), Chameascilla corymbosa (Liliaceae) and Leucopogon nutans (Epacridaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 52, 345–351.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (2003) An update of the angiosperm phylogeny group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG II. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 141, 399–436.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Baker KS, Steadman KJ, Plummer JA, Merritt DJ, Dixon KW (2005a) Dormancy release in Australian fire ephemeral seeds during burial increases germination response to smoke water or heat. Seed Science Research 15, 339–348.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Baker KS, Steadman KJ, Plummer JA, Merritt DJ, Dixon KW (2005b) The changing window of conditions that promotes germination of two fire ephemerals, Actinotus leucocephalus (Apiaceae) and Tersonia cyathiflora (Gyrostemonaceae). Annals of Botany 96, 1225–1236.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Baskin CC , Baskin JM (1998) ‘Seeds – ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy and germination.’ (Academic Press: San Diago, CA)

Baskin JM, Baskin CC (2004) A classification system for seed dormancy. Seed Science Research 14, 1–16. open url image1

Baskin CC, Zachrisson O, Baskin JM (2002) Role of warm stratification in promoting seed germination of seeds of Empetrum hermaphroditum (Empetraceae), a circumboreal species with a stony endocarp. American Journal of Botany 89, 486–493.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Baskin CC, Baskin JM, Yoshinaga A, Thompson K (2005) Germination of drupelets in multi-seeded drupes of the shrub Leptecophylla tameiameiae (Ericaceae) from Hawaii: a case for deep physiological dormancy broken by high temperatures. Seed Science Research 15, 349–356.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Bauer LM, Johnston ME, Williams RR (2004) Fruit processing, seed viability and dormancy mechanisms of Persoonia sericea A. Cunn. Ex R. Br. and P. virgata R. Br. (Proteaceae). Seed Science and Technology 32, 663–670. open url image1

Bell DT, Plummer JA, Taylor SK (1993) Seed germination ecology in southwestern Western Australia. Botanical Review 59, 24–73.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Cromer E (2007) Seed germination and research records from Alcoa’s Marrinup Nursery. Environmental Department Research Note No. 27. (Alcoa World Alumina Australia: Perth)

DEC (2007) FloraBase: the Western Australian Flora. Available at http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au.

Dixon KW , Nielsson G (1992) ‘Post mining re-establishment of native heaths (Epacridaceae).’ Report Number 94. (Minerals and Energy Research Institute of Western Australia: Perth)

Dixon KW, Roche S, Pate JS (1995) The promotive effect of smoke derived from burnt native vegetation on seed germination of Western Australian plants. Oecologia 101, 185–192.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Griffin BJ (2006) Chamber gas luminescence in the VPSEM and optimisation of a gas luminescence VPSE detector. Microscopy and Microanalysis 12, 166–167.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Hopkins AJ , Koch JM , Ward SC (2000) Multiple treatments improve germination of selected recalcitrant plant species from the northern jarrah forest of Western Australia. In ‘Proceedings of the 3rd national workshop on native seed biology for revegetation.’ (Australian Centre for Mining Environmental Research: Perth)

Ketelhohn LM , Johnston ME , Gage J (1994) Propagation of Persoonia species by seeds and cuttings. In ‘Combined proceedings of the international plant propagators’ society.’ (Ed. CW Heuser) Vol. 44 pp. 72–76. (The International Plant Propagators’ Society: USA)

Koch JM, Ward SC (1994) Establishment of understorey vegetation for rehabilitation of bauxite-mined areas in the jarrah forest of Western Australia. Journal of Environmental Management 41, 1–15.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

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.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Mullins RG , Koch JM (2001) ‘Field establishment of 40 jarrah forest species in response to gibberellic acid and smoke treatment.’ Environmental Department Research Bulletin No. 30. (Alcoa World Alumina Australia: Perth)

Mullins RG, Koch JM, Ward SC (2002) Practical method of germination for a key jarrah forest species: snottygobble (Persoonia longifolia). Ecological Management & Restoration 3, 97–103.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

O’Brien SD, Johnston ME (2004) Seed viability and dormancy mechanisms of Leucopogon melaleucoides Cunn. Ex DC. (Epacridaceae). Seed Science and Technology 32, 5–10. open url image1

Ooi MKJ, Auld TD, Whelan RJ (2004a) Delayed post-fire seedling emergence linked to season: a case study with Leucopogon species (Epacridaceae). Plant Ecology 174, 183–196.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Ooi MKJ, Auld T, Whelan R (2004b) Comparison of the cut and tetrazolium tests for assessing seed viability: a case study using Australian native Leucopogon species. Ecological Management & Restoration 5, 141–143. open url image1

Ooi MKJ, Auld TD, Whelan RJ (2006) Dormancy and the fire-centric focus: germination of three Leucopogon species (Ericaceae) from south-eastern Australia. Annals of Botany 98, 421–430.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Paczkowska G , Chapman AR (2000) ‘The Western Australian flora: a descriptive catalogue.’ (Wildflower Society of Western Australia Inc.: Nedlands)

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.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Tieu A, Egerton-Warburton LM (2000) Contrasting seed morphology dynamics in relation to the alleviation of dormancy with soil storage. Canadian Journal of Botany 78, 1187–1198.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Tieu A , Dixon K , Egerton-Warburton L (2001 a) Dormancy mechanisms of Australian native plant species. In “Proceedings of the fourth Australian workshop on native seed biology for revegetation.’ (Eds SW Adkins, SM Bellairs, LC Bell) pp. 71–79. (Australian Centre for Mining Environmental Research: Brisbane)

Tieu A, Dixon KW, Meney KA, Sivasithamparam K (2001b) Interaction of soil burial and smoke on germination patterns in seeds of selected Australian native plants. Seed Science Research 11, 69–76. open url image1