Grass roots-native perennial grasses for sustainable pasture systems

Summary

To develop a national program to deliver seedbased solutions to overcome seed germination and establishment barriers for a profitable and productive broadacre native perennial grass pasture and restoration industry. This aim will be met via the following objectives being addressed for fourteen promising species currently in limited commercial production and will be completed in collaboration with the DPI&F (QLD) (RIRDC project DAQ332A). 1. Refine new advances in seed production technology to increase commercial availability of native perennial grass species (including the use of the discovery by the applicant of one chemical in smoke that stimulates the germination of native species) for pasture systems and rehabilitation sites. 2. Define and prioritise the information and implement technology required to overcome barriers to commercial production focussing on improving seed germination seedling vigour and seedling stress tolerance. 3. Increase the efficiency of the seedtosite establishmentby targeting a series of high potential native pasture species and recent innovations in seed technologies including polymerbased seed coatings for efficient delivery of germination enhancement and growth promoters to seed.

Program

New and Emerging Plant Industries

Research Organisation

University of Western Australia

Objective Summary

To develop a national program to deliver seedbased solutions to overcome seed germination and establishment barriers for a profitable and productive broadacre native perennial grass pasture and restoration industry. This aim will be met via the following objectives being addressed for fourteen promising species currently in limited commercial production and will be completed in collaboration with the DPI&F (QLD) (RIRDC project DAQ332A). 1. Refine new advances in seed production technology to increase commercial availability of native perennial grass species (including the use of the discovery by the applicant of one chemical in smoke that stimulates the germination of native species) for pasture systems and rehabilitation sites. 2. Define and prioritise the information and implement technology required to overcome barriers to commercial production focussing on improving seed germination seedling vigour and seedling stress tolerance. 3. Increase the efficiency of the seedtosite establishmentby targeting a series of high potential native pasture species and recent innovations in seed technologies including polymerbased seed coatings for efficient delivery of germination enhancement and growth promoters to seed.