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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 55(3)

Seed dormancy and germination stimulation syndromes for Australian temperate species

D. J. Merritt A B C , S. R. Turner A B , S. Clarke A B 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 Corresponding author. Email: dmerritt@bgpa.wa.gov.au

Australian Journal of Botany 55(3) 336-344 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT06106
Submitted: 26 May 2006  Accepted: 8 January 2007   Published: 18 May 2007

Abstract

Understanding seed germination biology and the dynamics of seed dormancy is essential to developing reliable germination techniques. This paper presents some new data and reviews recent findings from germination studies on Australian species, with respect to the role of temperature and moisture in the control of dormancy and germination. A seed-burial experiment was conducted over a 1-year period (January–December) with seeds of Acanthocarpus preissii Lehm., Astroloma xerophyllum (DC.) Sond., Gahnia grandis (Labill.) S.T.Blake, Goodenia scaevolina F.Muell. and Tersonia cyathiflora (Fenzl) J.W.Green to determine the fluctuations in temperature and moisture seeds naturally experience in the buried environment. All seeds became hydrated during autumn (March) while soil temperatures were >15°C, suggestive of a period of warm stratification before the onset of cooler winter temperatures appropriate for germination. Evidence of rapid wetting and drying of seeds in the soil environment was also present. Laboratory experiments testing stratification as a means for dormancy loss showed that several weeks of warm stratification at 26/13°C or 33/18°C promoted germination of Lomandra preissii (Endl.) Ewart, Marianthus bicolor (Putt.) F.Muell. and Xyris lanata R.Br. seeds. X. lanata seeds also responded to several weeks of cold stratification at 5°C. By integrating this new data with other published data on germination of Australian species, diagrammatic models of germination timing, dormancy syndromes and propagation strategies for temperate Australian species are presented as working hypotheses to help direct future research.


Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr Robin Probert and two anonymous reviewers for their comments and insights to improve the manuscript. This research was supported by the Australian Research Council’s Linkage Projects funding scheme LP0455415 (DJM) and LP0349302 (SRT).


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