Synthetic seeds next step for world-first propagation method of WA native plants

5/6/00

Kings Park scientists have achieved a world first in devising a method for mass propagation of Western Australian native species.
The process was unveiled today by Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes on World Environment Day.
Mrs Edwardes said the process, which was derived from tissue cultured plants, resulted in the production of large numbers of plantlets from tiny fragments which were excised from the seed of native rushes and sedges.
Called somatic embryogenesis, the process had been developed for WA species where plants were needed for land restoration and reclamation studies.
Mrs Edwardes said the discovery was important because many of these species produced little seed or were unable to germinate because of seed dormancy problems.
She said this was also an important announcement on World Environment Day because it showed researchers at Kings Park were supporting the Day's theme of 'time to act' and developing ways that further helped conserve our important biodiversity.
The research being undertaken by PhD student Maggie Panaia and research scientists at Kings Park has resulted in the discovery that hormones in the culture media can influence the way in which plants produce masses of the small embryos.
With the potential to produce up to 60,000 plants from a single gram of starting mother stock, the process developed by the Kings Park team has enormous benefits for land care and mining companies wanting to restore native species.
Without such a process as somatic embryogenesis, important native plants needed in land restoration would be missing in rehabilitation programs.
The next stage of the research will attempt to create a synthetic seed like structure for transporting the embryonic plants produced by the process to the field sites for planting.
The research is being sponsored by the Soil and Land Conservation Council, Alcoa World Alumina, Iluka Resources (Westralian Sands) and the Minerals and Energy Research Institute of WA.
Media contact: Steve Manchee on 9421 7777