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Innovative Seed Enhancement Technologies
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Innovative Seed Enhancement Technologies

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2024) | Viewed by 13724

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alison Ritchie

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Western Australia 6009, Australia
Interests: plant ecology; restoration ecology; seed production areas; seed enhancements
Dr. Lauren Svejcar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
USDA–ARS, Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR, USA.
Interests: restoration ecology invasive species management; dryland ecosystems; spatial contexts of biotic interactions and abiotic processes at the local and global scales

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to contribute to the Special Issue “Innovative Seed Enhancement Technologies”

Seed enhancement technologies (SETs) are being developed and applied to native plant species increasingly in order to alleviate barriers to plant establishment in ecological restoration. Seed-based restoration faces many edaphic and biotic challenges that can be overcome through post-harvest seed treatments that further ‘enhance’ the performance of seeds beyond dormancy-breaking treatments. The application of innovative seed enhancement technologies in the restoration industry is still in its infancy, yet it has seen advancements in the agricultural and horticultural sectors. As almost 1 billion hectares of lands have been pledged for restoration globally under the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, effective and successful seed-based restoration is of high importance. SETs provide restoration practitioners with many opportunities to improve native seed delivery, accommodate increasingly larger scales of restoration and tackle a broad range of land legacy issues. The adoption of SETs to meet the restoration targets of the coming decade requires progressive research efforts, knowledge and data sharing, collaboration and improvements to native seed use. Native or wild plant SETs and their application in ecological restoration are rapidly expanding areas of research. This Special Issue aims to provide the latest research on various new tools, developments, approaches and applications of innovative seed enhancement technologies from the perspective of native plant restoration.

Dr. Alison Ritchie
Dr. Lauren Svejcar
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • seed science
  • ecological restoration
  • seed treatments
  • seed-based restoration

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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10 pages, 903 KiB  
Article
A Test of Activated Carbon and Soil Seed Enhancements for Improved Sub-Shrub and Grass Seedling Survival With and Without Herbicide Application
by Lauren N. Svejcar, Trace E. Martyn, Hayley R. Edlund and Kirk W. Davies
Plants 2024, 13(21), 3074; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13213074 - 1 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1594
Abstract
Re-establishing native plants while controlling invasive species is a challenge for many dryland restoration efforts globally. Invasive plants often create highly competitive environments so controlling them is necessary for effective establishment of native species. In the sagebrush steppe of the United States, invasive [...] Read more.
Re-establishing native plants while controlling invasive species is a challenge for many dryland restoration efforts globally. Invasive plants often create highly competitive environments so controlling them is necessary for effective establishment of native species. In the sagebrush steppe of the United States, invasive annual grasses are commonly controlled with herbicide treatments. However, the same herbicides that control invasive annual grasses also impact the native species being planted. As such, carbon-based seed technologies to protect native seeds from herbicide applications are being trialed. In addition to controlling invasive species, ensuring good seed-to-soil contact is important for effective establishment of native species. In this grow room study, we explored the impact of different seed ameliorations when no herbicide was applied and when herbicide was applied. We selected two native species that are important to the sagebrush steppe for this study—the sub-shrub Krascheninnikovia lanata and the perennial bunchgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata—and used three different seed ameliorations—seed pelleting with local soil alone, local soil plus activated carbon and activated carbon alone—to ensure both greater seed-to-soil contact and protection against herbicides. Shoot and root biomass data were collected eight weeks after planting. We found that when herbicide was not applied, K. lanata had the strongest response to the soil alone amelioration, while P. spicata had the strongest response to the activated carbon alone amelioration. However, when herbicide was applied, K. lanata performed best with the soil plus activated carbon treatments, with an average 1500% increase in biomass, while P. spicata performed best with the activated carbon alone treatments, with an over 4000% increase in biomass, relative to bare seed. The results from our study indicate that there is a positive effect of local soils and activated carbon as seed ameliorations, and further testing in the field is needed to understand how these ameliorations might perform in actual restoration scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Seed Enhancement Technologies)
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15 pages, 1614 KiB  
Article
Morphological Seed Traits Predict Early Performance of Native Species to Pelletized Seed Enhancement Technologies
by Samantha E. Andres, Paige E. Lieurance, Charlotte H. Mills, Sasha G. Tetu and Rachael V. Gallagher
Plants 2024, 13(16), 2256; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162256 - 14 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1756
Abstract
Native seeds are a finite resource, and their inclusion in revegetation is vital for supporting restoration outcomes that are both effective and scalable. Pelletized seed enhancement technologies (SETs) offer a promising solution to improve seed use efficiency in ecological restoration. Yet, knowledge of [...] Read more.
Native seeds are a finite resource, and their inclusion in revegetation is vital for supporting restoration outcomes that are both effective and scalable. Pelletized seed enhancement technologies (SETs) offer a promising solution to improve seed use efficiency in ecological restoration. Yet, knowledge of how diverse suites of native species perform when pelletized is required to optimize the application of SETs to the many species and ecosystems where restoration is required. Using a greenhouse trial of 64 Australian plant species, we assessed species performance to pelleting by evaluating (1) overall species amenability to pelleting based on total emergence and survival and (2) how pelleting modifies the rate of emergence based on average time to emergence, emergence rate index, and time spread of emergence. We investigated the potential for using morphological seed traits (seed endosperm:seed ratio, seed length, seed area, and seed coat thickness) to predict performance outcomes, by identifying traits that may aid in the prediction of species amenability to pelleting and emergence speed when pelletized. We found that some species demonstrate high amenability to pelleting and that pelleting can modify the emergence rates for many species. This work advances our understanding of the applicability of SETs for diverse native species, demonstrating the application of such technologies for meeting ecological restoration goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Seed Enhancement Technologies)
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18 pages, 1901 KiB  
Article
Development of a Rhizobium Seed Coating to Establish Lupine Species on Degraded Rangelands
by Bridget M. Church, Brad Geary, Joel Griffitts, Curtis L. Drake, Kate Ruebelmann, Shannon V. Nelson and Matthew D. Madsen
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2101; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152101 - 29 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1198
Abstract
Restoring native plant species on degraded landscapes is challenging. Symbiotic partners in the plant rhizosphere can aid in nutrient acquisition, pathogen protection, stress tolerance, and many other processes. However, these microbes are often absent in altered landscapes and need to be re-integrated to [...] Read more.
Restoring native plant species on degraded landscapes is challenging. Symbiotic partners in the plant rhizosphere can aid in nutrient acquisition, pathogen protection, stress tolerance, and many other processes. However, these microbes are often absent in altered landscapes and need to be re-integrated to improve restoration efforts. We evaluated, within a laboratory setting, the ability of commercial and indigenous rhizobia strains to form nodules on lupine species used for rangeland seedings in the Great Basin region of the Western United States and ascertained if these strains could be applied through a seed coating. We also evaluated if a compost amendment applied via seed coating could further enhance the performance of the rhizobia strains. Our analysis showed that successful nodulation could occur using commercial and wildland-collected indigenous strains through either a liquid culture applied to seedlings or as a dry seed coating. However, the number of root nodules and the presence of a pink color (indicating nitrogen fixation) were typically higher in the commercial product than in the indigenous strains. Compost did not improve nodulation or the performance of the nodules; however, this treatment alone improved shoot growth. Overall, these results suggest that commercial rhizobium may be more effective in improving plant growth, and future research with native rhizobia may want to consider identifying strains compatible with seed-coating delivery. Longer-term studies are now merited for assessing how the rhizobia strains evaluated in this study influence plant growth, particularly in a field setting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Seed Enhancement Technologies)
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15 pages, 2461 KiB  
Article
Slow Release of GA3 Hormone from Polymer Coating Overcomes Seed Dormancy and Improves Germination
by Alexandra J. S. Larson, Maureen M. Cartwright, Whitney D. Jones, Katrina Luce, Mei-Yu Chen, Kate Petersen, Shannon V. Nelson, David J. Michaelis and Matthew D. Madsen
Plants 2023, 12(24), 4139; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12244139 - 12 Dec 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2312
Abstract
Seed dormancy often hinders direct seeding efforts that are attempting to restore degraded landscapes. Gibberellic acid (GA3) can be applied to physiologically dormant seeds to induce germination, but this hormone is rarely effective, as it can degrade or be leached from [...] Read more.
Seed dormancy often hinders direct seeding efforts that are attempting to restore degraded landscapes. Gibberellic acid (GA3) can be applied to physiologically dormant seeds to induce germination, but this hormone is rarely effective, as it can degrade or be leached from the seed. We tested different polymer matrixes (polylactic acid, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and ethylcellulose) to apply and slowly release GA3 to the seed. These polymers were tested as seed coatings in either a powder, liquid, or a combination of powder and liquid forms. We found that a liquid ethylcellulose/GA3 coating generally outperformed the other polymers and applications methods using our test species Penstemon palmeri. With this top-performing treatment, seed germination was 3.0- and 3.9-fold higher at 15 °C and 25 °C, respectively. We also evaluated the liquid ethylcellulose/GA3 coating on P. comharrenus, P. strictus, P. pachyphyllus, and P. eatonii. Again, the coating had a strong treatment response, with the degree of difference related to the relative level of dormancy of the species. Growth studies were also performed in pots to ensure that the side effects of GA3 overdosing were not present. Here, we found minimal differences in root length, shoot length, or biomass between plants grown from untreated and GA3-coated seeds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Seed Enhancement Technologies)
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13 pages, 1432 KiB  
Article
Breaking Dormancy and Increasing Restoration Success of Native Penstemon Species Using Gibberellic Acid Seed Coatings and U-Shaped Furrows
by Amber J. Johnson, Bradley Geary, April Hulet and Matthew D. Madsen
Plants 2023, 12(23), 4005; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12234005 - 28 Nov 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2416
Abstract
Many plant species exhibit strong seed dormancy. This attribute benefits the species’ long-term survival but can impede restoration when rapid establishment is required. Soaking seeds in gibberellic acid (GA3) can overcome dormancy and increase germination but this treatment may not be [...] Read more.
Many plant species exhibit strong seed dormancy. This attribute benefits the species’ long-term survival but can impede restoration when rapid establishment is required. Soaking seeds in gibberellic acid (GA3) can overcome dormancy and increase germination but this treatment may not be effective outside the laboratory. An easier and potentially more effective method to apply this hormone is to coat seeds with a GA3-impregnated polymer. Seed dormancy can also be mitigated by creating a favorable microsite with increased soil moisture. We compared the emergence and establishment of penstemon seeds coated with GA3 to those of uncoated seeds planted in shallow drill rows versus deep, U-shaped furrows. Overall, 6 times more Palmer’s penstemon (Penstemon palmeri; p < 0.01) and 21 times more thickleaf penstemon (P. pachyphyllus; p < 0.001) established when coated with GA3, but GA3 coating did not affect the establishment of firecracker penstemon (P. eatonii; p = 1). Establishment was higher from deep furrows than shallow rows (p < 0.001). These results indicate that GA3 seed coating and deep, U-shaped furrows may improve the restoration success of some native forbs by breaking dormancy and providing a favorable microsite. Land managers could use these techniques to restore native forbs in dry, disturbed areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Seed Enhancement Technologies)
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19 pages, 2932 KiB  
Article
Improving Seed Morphology and Germination Potential in Australian Native Grasses Using Seed Enhancement Technologies
by Bianca Berto, Todd E. Erickson and Alison L. Ritchie
Plants 2023, 12(13), 2432; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132432 - 23 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2169
Abstract
Difficult to handle seed material and poor germination commonly limit the uptake of native grasses in restoration and commercial-scale seeding efforts. Seed enhancement technologies (SETs) offer valuable solutions for improving the handling of seed material and optimising germination. This study considered eight widespread [...] Read more.
Difficult to handle seed material and poor germination commonly limit the uptake of native grasses in restoration and commercial-scale seeding efforts. Seed enhancement technologies (SETs) offer valuable solutions for improving the handling of seed material and optimising germination. This study considered eight widespread Australian native grasses; two representative of Mediterranean to temperate climates (‘cool-climate’ species) and six representative of arid to subtropical climates (‘warm-climate’ species). Through a series of experiments, this study logically selected and applied SET treatments to improve seed handling and germination for each study species. Seed handling was prioritised and addressed using flash flaming and/or acid digestion, while hydropriming was used following seed-handling treatments to enhance germination. Flash flaming and acid digestion were both applied to successfully reduce or remove bulky floret structures while maintaining or improving germination. Flaming at 110 ± 10 °C with continuous exposure for 10 min and acid digestion concentrations of 75–80% with exposure times of 1–2.5 min were generally successful. Sub-optimal concentrations of sulphuric acid often compromised germination. Hydropriming did not improve germination outcomes when applied following flaming or acid digestion. Optimising SETs for germination, emergence and establishment in different environments, and the viability and costs of application on larger seed batches are key considerations for the implementation and upscaling of SETs in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Seed Enhancement Technologies)
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8 pages, 540 KiB  
Brief Report
Evaluating Seed Enhancement Technology’s Effects on Seed Viability during Multi-Year Storage: A Case Study Using Herbicide Protection Pellets
by Owen Baughman, Anna Hosford and Emily Ralston
Plants 2023, 12(20), 3662; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203662 - 23 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1511
Abstract
The viability of seed often decreases during multi-year storage. For seed enhancement technologies (SETs) that apply treatments to native seed prior to sowing in restoration projects, it is important to determine if SETs affect the rate of viability loss in storage to understand [...] Read more.
The viability of seed often decreases during multi-year storage. For seed enhancement technologies (SETs) that apply treatments to native seed prior to sowing in restoration projects, it is important to determine if SETs affect the rate of viability loss in storage to understand if treated seeds can tolerate storage or if they must be sown immediately after treatment. Examining herbicide protection pellet (HPP) seed technology, we conducted germination trials on 10 seedlots of four species to compare three treatments: original bare seed kept in seed storage for 2–3 years, seed retrieved from 2–3-year-old HPPs made from pre-storage original bare seed (old HPPs), and seed retrieved from HPPs that were freshly-made using post-storage original bare seed (new HPPs). For three perennial bunchgrasses, we saw equal or higher germinability of seed from old HPPs compared to the original bare seed and new HPPs, suggesting application of HPP technology to these species prior to multi-year storage is suitable. For the seeds of a perennial shrub, although we saw greater germination of original bare seeds compared to old HPPs, the lowest germination was from new HPPs, still suggesting HPP application prior to storage as a suitable practice. We suggest these tests be performed with all new SETs under development for ecological restoration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Seed Enhancement Technologies)
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