Microbial Functional Capacity Is Preserved Within Engineered Soil Formulations Used In Mine Site Restoration

Mining of mineral resources produces substantial volumes of crushed rock based wastes that are characterised by poor physical structure and hydrology, unstable geochemistry and potentially toxic chemical conditions. Recycling of these substrates is desirable and can be achieved by blending waste with native soil to form a 'novel substrate' which may be used in future landscape restoration. However, these post-mining substrate based 'soils' are likely to contain significant abiotic constraints for both plant and microbial growth. Effective use of these novel substrates for ecosystem restoration will depend on the efficacy of stored topsoil as a potential microbial inoculum as well as the subsequent generation of key microbial soil functions originally apparent in local pristine sites. Here, using both marker gene and shotgun metagenome sequencing, we show that topsoil storage and the blending of soil and waste substrates to form planting substrates gives rise to variable bacterial and archaeal phylogenetic composition but a high degree of metabolic conservation at the community metagenome level. Our data indicates that whilst low phylogenetic conservation is apparent across substrate blends we observe high functional redundancy in relation to key soil microbial pathways, allowing the potential for functional recovery of key belowground pathways under targeted management

Seed biology of Australian arid zone species: Germination of 18 species used for rehabilitation

Revegetation of disturbed land, particularly in arid environments, is often hindered by low seedling establishment. Information on seed biology and germination cues of keystone species is lacking, particularly in arid Australia; a major zone for mining developments. This study investigated seed characteristics and germination of 18 common species required for rehabilitation of disturbed areas at Shark Bay Salt in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, Western Australia. Untreated seeds of seven species (Aphanopetalum clematideum, Atriplex bunburyana, Austrostipa elegantissima, Melaleuca cardiophylla, Pembertonia latisquamea, Rhagodia baccata, Salsola tragus) exhibited high germination percentages. Seeds of two species (Acacia tetragonophylla, Stylobasium spathulatum) had low imbibition, which increased with hot-water treatment, hence require scarification for germination. Gibberellic acid, smoke water and karrikinolide (a butenolide isolated from smoke) substantially increased germination percentages of three species (Anthocercis littorea, Diplolaena grandiflora, Solanum orbiculatum). Seeds of the remaining six species (Dioscorea hastifolia, Eremophila oldfieldii, Nitraria billardierei, Ptilotus exaltatus, Thryptomene baeckeacea, Zygophyllum fruticulosum) had low germination percentages regardless of treatment. Most species germinated equally well at 26/13 °C and 33/18 °C, however seven species had improved performance at 26/13 °C. This study is significant to land managers and conservation agencies with an interest in optimising germination of arid zone seeds for restoration. Crown Copyright © 2009

Seed germination of Solanum spp.(Solanaceae)for use in rehabilitation and commercial industries

Effective methods for propagation of native Solanum species are required for mine rehabilitation and the native food industry in Australia. This study investigated seed germination of eight native Solanum species with respect to incubation temperature and the efficacy of germination-promoting compounds gibberellic acid (GA3), the butenolide isolated from smoke (karrikinolide, KAR1) and smoke water (SW). Seeds of all species were tested under a temperature regime of 26/13°C or 33/18°C. In these conditions, seeds of only two species, S. cunninghamii Benth. and S. phlomoides Benth. germinated to high levels without treatment. Of the remaining six species, GA3 alone promoted germination in S. chippendalei Symon, S. diversiflorum F.Muell. and S. sturtianum F.Muell., whereas GA3, KAR1 and SW were effective at promoting germination of S. centrale J.M.Black, S. dioicum W.Fitzg. and S. orbiculatum Dunal ex Poir. to varying degrees. Additional incubation temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C) were examined for S. centrale and S. orbiculatum. For both species, broadly similar patterns were noted in the response of seeds to GA3, KAR1 and SW across all temperatures. However, for S. centrale seeds, germination percentages were higher at 26/13°C than at any of the constant temperatures, and there was a trend of increasing germination with increasing constant temperature for S. orbiculatum seeds. Analysis of seed embryo type and imbibition characteristics and consideration of the subsequent germination results indicates that dormant Solanum seeds possess physiological dormancy

Effect of seed treatment on the emergence of Cassia Brewsteri and Lysiphyllum carronii seeds stored in soil

Dormancy-breaking treatments are applied to seeds of many Australian species used for mine-site restoration in arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. Once seeds are sown, several months may pass before a rain event sufficient for germination. Therefore, it is important that treated seeds are able to survive in soil until conditions are hospitable for germination and growth. However, little is known about the effects of seed dormancy-breaking treatments on the longevity of seeds in soil. Two species that are potential candidates for use in mine site restoration programs in Queensland were trialed viz., Cassia brewsteri (F. Muell.) Benth and Lysiphyllum carronii (F. Muell.) Pedley. Untreated, boiled and acid treated seeds of the two species were sown in soil in a glasshouse. Seeds were watered immediately or kept dry for one or three months before watering and emergence was assessed. When applied to seeds incubated on filter paper in a germination cabinet, boiling and acid treatments were effective methods of breaking dormancy and increasing germination for both C. brewsteri and L. carronii seeds. However, in soil, seedling emergence from boiled seeds was the same or less than that of untreated seeds. Storage time in soil before watering had little effect on seedling emergence in the glasshouse, suggesting that most decreases in emergence compared with laboratory germination occurred after the input of water to the system. Treatments that promote germination in the laboratory can reduce seedling emergence in soil. Thus, treated seeds should be tested for survival in soil before use in mine- site restoration programs

Chlorophyll fluorescence in guanandi tree (Calophyllum brasiliense) after herbicide application

Chlorophyll fluorescence is currently used as a rapid diagnostic and nondestructive method to detect and quantify damage on the photosynthetic apparatus of leaves on weeds, crops and ornamental/coniferous trees in response to both environmental stress and herbicides. This study aimed to evaluate chlorophyll fluorescence in guanandi plants (Calophyllum brasiliense) after application of different postemergence herbicides. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design, with six treatments (control, bentazon, sulfentrazone, isoxaflutole, atrazine and glyphosate) and five replications. The herbicide treatments were applied with a stationary sprayer, and electron transport rate (ETR) was subsequently analyzed with OS5p Multi-Mode Chlorophyll Fluorometer. In the monitored period, guanandi plants subjected to atrazine showed higher sensitivity to chlorophyll fluorescence than the other treatments. Although bentazon is a photosystem II inhibitor, it showed no major changes in electron transport for the studied species and in the monitored period. In summary, ETR is a good parameter to evaluate the effect of some herbicides on Calophyllum brasiliense plants.A fluorescência da clorofila tem sido utilizada como um método diagnóstico rápido e não destrutivo para detectar e quantificar danos no aparato fotossintético das folhas em plantas daninhas, culturas e árvores ornamentais/coníferas em resposta ao estresse ambiental, assim como em resposta aos herbicidas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a fluorescência de clorofila em guanandi (Calophyllum brasiliense) após aplicação de diferentes herbicidas em pós-emergência. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com seis tratamentos (controle, bentazon, sulfentrazone, isoxaflutole, atrazine e glyphosate) e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos herbicidas foram aplicados em pulverizador estacionário, para posterior análise da taxa de transporte de elétrons (ETR) com o aparelho Multi-Mode Chlorophyll Fluorometer OS5p. No período monitorado, as plantas de guanandi apresentaram maior sensibilidade ao atrazine que aos demais tratamentos, em relação à fluorescência da clorofila. O bentazon, inibidor do fotossistema II, não ocasionou maiores alterações no transporte de elétrons na espécie e nos períodos avaliados. Em síntese, a ETR mostrou-se um bom parâmetro para avaliar o efeito de herbicidas na espécie arbórea estudada.Lab Nacl Ciencia &Tecnol Bioetanol, Campinas, SP, BrazilEscola Super Agron Luiz de Queiroz, Piracicaba, SP, BrazilUNESP, Fac Ciencias Agron, Botucatu, SP, BrazilUNESP, Fac Ciencias Agron, Botucatu, SP, Brazi