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Effects of a butenolide present in smoke on light-mediated germination of Australian Asteraceae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2007

D.J. Merritt*
Affiliation:
Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth, WA, 6005, Australia School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
M. Kristiansen
Affiliation:
Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth, WA, 6005, Australia
G.R. Flematti
Affiliation:
School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
S.R. Turner
Affiliation:
Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth, WA, 6005, Australia School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
E.L. Ghisalberti
Affiliation:
School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
R.D. Trengove
Affiliation:
School of Engineering Science, Murdoch University, Rockingham, WA 6168, Australia
K.W. Dixon
Affiliation:
Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth, WA, 6005, Australia School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
*
*Correspondence: Fax: +61 8 9480 3641, Email: dmerritt@bgpa.wa.gov.au

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one, a germination active butenolide present in plant-derived smoke, gibberellic acid and smoke water on seeds of Australian Asteraceae exposed to different light regimes. Seeds of all species required light, with maximum germination occurring under white light, or light dominated by 640 nm. Compared to untreated seeds, butenolide increased germination of Angianthus tomentosus, Gnephosis tenuissima, Myriocephalus guerinae, Podolepis canescens and Rhodanthe citrina at suboptimal light wavelengths and in the dark to a level equal to, or greater than, smoke water. Germination of Erymophyllum glossanthus and Gnephosis acicularis was not promoted by butenolide or smoke water under any light regime. The action of gibberellic acid was compared to that of butenolide for three species (Angianthus tomentosus, Myriocephalus guerinae and Podolepis canescens), and both compounds were found to stimulate germination. This study provides evidence that butenolide can act in a similar fashion as gibberellic acid in promoting seed germination of light-sensitive seeds. The ecological significance of these findings is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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