Abstract
High standards in managing the seed-supply chain, emphasizing sourcing and seed storage, are crucial to maintaining seed viability and ultimately to meeting restoration goals. The germination of 40 plant species was investigated in response to difficulties experienced by restoration practitioners in propagating them from seed in nurseries and in direct seeding. The species were from a biodiversity hotspot in inland eastern Australia and spanned a range of life-forms. The initial constraint identified was poor seed viability, which varied widely within and between species but was < 50% in at least one seedlot of 36 species. Low seed viability was indicated by poor seed storage and processing practices, manifest in excessive storage time, herbivory, fungal infection, and inadequate seed collection and processing (e.g. collection of immature seed and overcleaning). The main reason for low germination of viable species was seed dormancy. Dormancy was identified in 16 species: pre-sowing treatments in these species were effective in relieving dormancy or increasing germination percentage by two to three-fold. The most frequent pre-sowing treatment required was scarification. Stratification, de-husking and leaching also increased germination in some species. Temperature conditions for high germination were also investigated. Seasonal temperature treatments affected germination in 22 species. The results emphasize the necessity for (1) testing seed before use; (2) identifying temperature ranges to achieve maximum germination; (3) identifying species with germination constraints, and (4) using suitable pre-sowing treatments for plant propagation in nurseries and potentially in the field.
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Data, code and specific records will be available upon reasonable request via contact with LRT.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Ian Simpson for his advice in preparing experiments; Carol Baskin, Sean Bellairs and Per Milberg for their comments on an early version of the manuscript; Steve and Ben Field, Andrew Gardiner, Ivan Lackay and John Mailler for providing seeds and advice, and to Rhiannon Smith for suggesting and providing references.
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LRT was financially supported by a scholarship from the Northern Tablelands Local Land Services and the North West Local Land Services, NSW, as part of the Brigalow–Nandewar Biolinks Project funded by the Australian Government Biodiversity Fund (Projects LSP-991865-1429 and LSP-944752-1076), and by a scholarship from the Mexican Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT). Operating funds were provided by the School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, and BioBank Seed.
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All authors contributed ideas; LRT, NR, RDBW designed the methodology; DC, NR secured research funding and biological materials; NR, CG secured equipment and working space; LRT implemented the experiments, collected and analyzed the data. LRT, NR led the writing. All authors contributed to the drafts and approved the final manuscript.
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Ruiz-Talonia, L., Whalley, R.D.B., Gross, C. et al. Overcoming limitations to propagation from seed of 40 Australian species important for restoration. New Forests 54, 993–1012 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-022-09953-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-022-09953-7