Flash Flaming Improves Flow Properties of Mediterranean Grasses Used for Direct Seeding

The demand for native grasses is increasing in restoration and agriculture, though their use is often limited due to seed handling challenges. The external structures surrounding the grass seed (i.e., the floret) possess hairs, awns, and appendages which create blockages in conventional seeding equi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plants (Basel) 2020-12, Vol.9 (12), p.1699
Main Authors: Berto, Bianca, Erickson, Todd E, Ritchie, Alison L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Appendages
direct seeding
flash flaming
Germination
Gibberellic acid
Grasses
native grasses
Optimization
seed cleaning
seed enhancement technology
seed handling
Seeding
Seeds
Stimulants
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Summary:The demand for native grasses is increasing in restoration and agriculture, though their use is often limited due to seed handling challenges. The external structures surrounding the grass seed (i.e., the floret) possess hairs, awns, and appendages which create blockages in conventional seeding equipment. Flash flaming is a patented technology which allows precision exposure of floret material to flames to singe off hairs and appendages. We used two grasses native to Mediterranean ecosystems of Western Australia ( R.Br. and R.Br.) to evaluate the effects of different flaming techniques on flow properties and germination. Flaming significantly improved flowability in both species and had both neutral ( ) and negative ( ) effects on germination. Flaming torch size influenced germination, though flaming temperature (low or high) and whether this was kept constant or alternating had no effect. The best evaluation of germination following flaming was achieved by cleaning flamed florets to seed and/or germinating in the presence of karrikinolide (KAR ) or gibberellic acid (GA ). We suggest that flaming settings (particularly torch size) require species-specific evaluation and optimisation. Removing seeds from flamed florets and germination testing this material in the presence of stimulants may be a useful protocol for future flaming evaluations.
ISSN:2223-7747
2223-7747
DOI:10.3390/plants9121699