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Southern hemisphere botanical ecosystems
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 56(4)

Seed germination of Solanum spp. (Solanaceae) for use in rehabilitation and commercial industries

L. E. Commander A B E , D. J. Merritt A B , D. P. Rokich A B C , G. R. Flematti D and K. W. Dixon A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia.

B School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

C School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.

D School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: lucy.commander@bgpa.wa.gov.au

Australian Journal of Botany 56(4) 333-341 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT07209
Submitted: 19 November 2007  Accepted: 25 March 2008   Published: 16 June 2008

Abstract

Effective methods for propagation of native Solanum species are required for mine rehabilitation and the native food industry in Australia. This study investigated seed germination of eight native Solanum species with respect to incubation temperature and the efficacy of germination-promoting compounds gibberellic acid (GA3), the butenolide isolated from smoke (karrikinolide, KAR1) and smoke water (SW). Seeds of all species were tested under a temperature regime of 26/13°C or 33/18°C. In these conditions, seeds of only two species, S. cunninghamii Benth. and S. phlomoides Benth. germinated to high levels without treatment. Of the remaining six species, GA3 alone promoted germination in S. chippendalei Symon, S. diversiflorum F.Muell. and S. sturtianum F.Muell., whereas GA3, KAR1 and SW were effective at promoting germination of S. centrale J.M.Black, S. dioicum W.Fitzg. and S. orbiculatum Dunal ex Poir. to varying degrees. Additional incubation temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C) were examined for S. centrale and S. orbiculatum. For both species, broadly similar patterns were noted in the response of seeds to GA3, KAR1 and SW across all temperatures. However, for S. centrale seeds, germination percentages were higher at 26/13°C than at any of the constant temperatures, and there was a trend of increasing germination with increasing constant temperature for S. orbiculatum seeds. Analysis of seed embryo type and imbibition characteristics and consideration of the subsequent germination results indicates that dormant Solanum seeds possess physiological dormancy.


Acknowledgements

Seed of S. centrale was kindly donated by Alice Springs Desert Park and seed of S. chippendalei was kindly donated by Kim Courtenay of Broome TAFE. Thanks go to Jeff Walck for his comments to improve the manuscript. Thanks also go to Bronwynne York for technical support. Funding for this research was provided by Shark Bay Salt whose staff also provided logistical support for the collection of some seeds used in this study. In addition, L. Commander received a post-graduate scholarship from the Minerals and Energy Research Institute of Western Australia.


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