Seed Morpho-Anatomy and Germination Enhancement of the Australian Native Species <i>Lomandra longifolia</i> Labill. and <i>L. hystrix</i> (R.Br.) L.R. Fraser & Vickery
<i>Lomandra</i> species are an important understory component of many Australian native ecosystems, contributing to the floristic richness and stabilizing soils. However, a limited understanding of their germination biology currently hinders their efficient use in seed-based restoration...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Applied Biosciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0464/2/2/16 |
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| author | Fernanda Caro Beveridge Alwyn Williams Robyn Cave Sundaravelpandian Kalaipandian Steve W. Adkins |
| author_facet | Fernanda Caro Beveridge Alwyn Williams Robyn Cave Sundaravelpandian Kalaipandian Steve W. Adkins |
| author_sort | Fernanda Caro Beveridge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Lomandra</i> species are an important understory component of many Australian native ecosystems, contributing to the floristic richness and stabilizing soils. However, a limited understanding of their germination biology currently hinders their efficient use in seed-based restoration and ornamental plant production. The present study investigated <i>Lomandra longifolia</i> and <i>L. hystrix</i> diaspore morpho-anatomy and evaluated different mechanical and/or chemical treatments (nicking, leaching, smoke water and gibberellic acid [GA<sub>3</sub>]) and under light or dark conditions to enhance germination. Embryos of both species were small and linear with a low embryo to seed ratio (<0.45). Germination rates of both species were significantly hastened by leaching seeds in running water for 36 h as compared to a non-leached seed. The results suggest that pre-treating both <i>Lomandra</i> species by leaching could maximize the effectiveness of seed used by resulting in faster, more uniform and, therefore, reliable germination of these species. Finally, seeds of <i>L. longifolia</i> had low final germination (<40%), with a high presence of viable but dormant seeds. The ecological cues that promote germination in nature for both species should be further examined. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:49:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-081b6caa84784733b7070c24f97469d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2813-0464 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:49:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Biosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-081b6caa84784733b7070c24f97469d62023-11-18T09:04:32ZengMDPI AGApplied Biosciences2813-04642023-05-012222223510.3390/applbiosci2020016Seed Morpho-Anatomy and Germination Enhancement of the Australian Native Species <i>Lomandra longifolia</i> Labill. and <i>L. hystrix</i> (R.Br.) L.R. Fraser & VickeryFernanda Caro Beveridge0Alwyn Williams1Robyn Cave2Sundaravelpandian Kalaipandian3Steve W. Adkins4School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, AustraliaSchool of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, AustraliaSchool of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, AustraliaSchool of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, AustraliaSchool of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia<i>Lomandra</i> species are an important understory component of many Australian native ecosystems, contributing to the floristic richness and stabilizing soils. However, a limited understanding of their germination biology currently hinders their efficient use in seed-based restoration and ornamental plant production. The present study investigated <i>Lomandra longifolia</i> and <i>L. hystrix</i> diaspore morpho-anatomy and evaluated different mechanical and/or chemical treatments (nicking, leaching, smoke water and gibberellic acid [GA<sub>3</sub>]) and under light or dark conditions to enhance germination. Embryos of both species were small and linear with a low embryo to seed ratio (<0.45). Germination rates of both species were significantly hastened by leaching seeds in running water for 36 h as compared to a non-leached seed. The results suggest that pre-treating both <i>Lomandra</i> species by leaching could maximize the effectiveness of seed used by resulting in faster, more uniform and, therefore, reliable germination of these species. Finally, seeds of <i>L. longifolia</i> had low final germination (<40%), with a high presence of viable but dormant seeds. The ecological cues that promote germination in nature for both species should be further examined.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0464/2/2/16direct seedingAustralian native seedseed-based restorationseed dormancyseed ecologyseed pre-treatments |
| spellingShingle | Fernanda Caro Beveridge Alwyn Williams Robyn Cave Sundaravelpandian Kalaipandian Steve W. Adkins Seed Morpho-Anatomy and Germination Enhancement of the Australian Native Species <i>Lomandra longifolia</i> Labill. and <i>L. hystrix</i> (R.Br.) L.R. Fraser & Vickery Applied Biosciences direct seeding Australian native seed seed-based restoration seed dormancy seed ecology seed pre-treatments |
| title | Seed Morpho-Anatomy and Germination Enhancement of the Australian Native Species <i>Lomandra longifolia</i> Labill. and <i>L. hystrix</i> (R.Br.) L.R. Fraser & Vickery |
| title_full | Seed Morpho-Anatomy and Germination Enhancement of the Australian Native Species <i>Lomandra longifolia</i> Labill. and <i>L. hystrix</i> (R.Br.) L.R. Fraser & Vickery |
| title_fullStr | Seed Morpho-Anatomy and Germination Enhancement of the Australian Native Species <i>Lomandra longifolia</i> Labill. and <i>L. hystrix</i> (R.Br.) L.R. Fraser & Vickery |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seed Morpho-Anatomy and Germination Enhancement of the Australian Native Species <i>Lomandra longifolia</i> Labill. and <i>L. hystrix</i> (R.Br.) L.R. Fraser & Vickery |
| title_short | Seed Morpho-Anatomy and Germination Enhancement of the Australian Native Species <i>Lomandra longifolia</i> Labill. and <i>L. hystrix</i> (R.Br.) L.R. Fraser & Vickery |
| title_sort | seed morpho anatomy and germination enhancement of the australian native species i lomandra longifolia i labill and i l hystrix i r br l r fraser vickery |
| topic | direct seeding Australian native seed seed-based restoration seed dormancy seed ecology seed pre-treatments |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0464/2/2/16 |
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