Smoke molecule and seed germination article

[Guest guest]

Is this the science behind the purpose of the Gaelic use of smoked thatch

for their oat growing that WAP found and tested as well as why native

peoples have used controlled burning historically to promote richer growth?

Looks like what the smoke gives to germination is as important as what the

burn gives in carbon.

Wanita

Breakthrough Discovery

by Holly Nott

Herald Sun

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,10086681%255E1702

09 July 2004

LOCAL scientists have become the first in the world to isolate and identify

a potent molecule of smoke that stimulates seed germination.

The discovery by West Australian scientists is said to be one of the most

significant advances in seed sciences.

The research, published today in the international journal Science, has

potential application world-wide for the agricultural and horticultural

industries.

The chemical butenolide stimulated germination in a broad range of

Australian native and agricultural species, including celery, Echinacea and

parsley, the scientists said.

Rye grass and wild oats also responded to the application of the chemical,

they said.

" This could herald a new and effective method of controlling weeds by

stimulating the germination of dormant seed banks prior to other

treatments, " WA Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority science director

Kingsley Dixon said.

" We have also found that the compound is active at extraordinarily low

levels and this represents new frontiers in nano-stimulation of

germination. "

Scientists from the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, in collaboration

with the University of Western Australia (UWA) and Murdoch University,

carried out the research.

Dr Dixon said scientists realised about 15 years ago what indigenous

Africans had known for centuries: that the smoke from burning plant material

promoted germination of some seeds of plant species.

Although top scientists around the world had researched what made smoke

germinate seeds, the WA team was the first to do so.

" This discovery represents one of the most significant advances in seed

science with benefits in the natural, agricultural, conservation and

restoration sciences, " WA Premier Geoff Gallop said today.

" It also provides a new and exciting method for scientists to understand the

role of wildfires in the world's ecosystems and biodiversity. "

Dr Gallop applauded the work of Dr Dixon and Associate Professor Emilio

Ghisalberti and PhD student Gavin Flematti, of UWA, and Associate Professor

Trengove, of Murdoch University.

" For restoration industries in Australia and overseas, the potency of the

chemical is so great that it requires about one gram per hectare of native

bushland - to enable the most cost-effective restoration from native seed

banks ever achieved, " Dr Dixon said.

The team's research was now focused on testing more effective restoration

opportunities and investigating how the molecule behaved in native and

agricultural species.

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