Native Grass Restoration in the Australian Capital Territory Water Catchment

Maximising Seed Germination

A Natural Heritage Trust project final report, prepared for ACTEW and the ACT Government

by

Iain Dawson and Susan Winder

November 1999

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The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this report are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the persons consulted. The Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole, or in part, on the contents of this report unless authorised in writing by the Director of ANBG.

This publication is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research, study, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without the prior written permission from the copyright holders.


Project objectives

Major Recommendations

Summary of results and recommendations

Seed testing in vitro

Seed supply and quality

Storage temperature

Physical pre-treatment

Chemical pre-treatment

Field trials

Austrodanthonia caespitosa

Austrostipa scabra

Bothriochloa macra

Ehrharta stipoides

Joycea pallida

Poa labillardierei

Themeda triandra

Background

General methods

Definitions

Germination tests in vitro

Control of pathogens

Germination temperature

Summary

Species selection, seed supply and seed quality

Plant materials

Effect of provenance on germination

Seed quality/quantity

Summary

Optimising storage temperature of seed to control dormancy and allow flexibility in planting time and synchronise germination

Austrodanthonia caespitosa

Austrostipa scabra

Bothriochloa macra

Ehrharta stipoides

Joycea pallida

Poa labillardierei

Themeda triandra

Summary

Physical pre-treatment of seed to increase synchronicity, rate and speed of germination

Removal of awns and /or removal or damage of seed coats

Austrodanthonia caespitosa

Austrostipa scabra

Bothriochloa macra

Ehrharta stipoides

Joycea pallida

Poa labillardierei

Themeda triandra

Effect of light on germination

Light

Ultra violet light

Other physical treatments

Vernalisation

Wet and dry cycles

Heat

Orientation

Summary

Chemical pre-treatment of seed to increase synchronicity, rate and speed of germination

Smoke effects and application methods

Austrodanthonia caespitosa

Austrostipa scabra

Bothriochloa macra

Ehrharta stipoides

Joycea pallida

Poa labillardierei

Themeda triandra

Other nutrients/hormones

Boron

Trichopel

PPM

Gibberellin

Potassium nitrate

Germination on tissue culture medium

Hydrochloric acid

Summary

Field Trials

Predation

Germination under field conditions

Summary

References

Acknowledgements


Researcher Contact Details

Iain Dawson
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Clunies Ross Street
ACTON ACT 2601

GPO Box 1777
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Phone: 02 6250 9450
Fax: 02 6250 9599
email: idawson@anbg.gov.au
Internet: http://www.anbg.gov.au

Susan Winder
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Clunies Ross Street
ACTON ACT 2601

GPO Box 1777
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Phone: 02 6250 9462
Fax: 02 6250 9599
email: swinder@anbg.gov.au
Internet: http://www.anbg.gov.au

Acknowledgments

Many people have made valuable contributions to this project, including:

Harold Adams ("Melrose Valley"), Odile Armin (ACT Govt.), John Betts ("Cowridge"), Richard Carne and other colleagues at ANBG, Ian Cole (NSW Govt), John Dymke (ACTEW), Richard Groves (CSIRO), Leon Horsnell (Native Nooks), Matthew O’Neill ("Miowera"), Jim Ryan ("Driscolls Hill"), Julie Taylor (ANBG), Clive Thomas (Community Grasses Project), Tony Wilson ("Glendale"), Michael Shanahan ("Tidbinbilla"), Sarah Sharp (ACT Govt.)

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