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Interestingly, the incidence of seed myxospermy (myxospermy is the ability of a seed to produce and expand mucilage on hydration) is significantly higher in plants that occupy environments characterised by water deficit and particularly sandy rooting mediums. Seed mucilage has high water holding capacity that is thought to protect against desiccation stress and improve the success of germination. However, the ecological significance of myxospermy is not yet being fully understood. Recent research by Valentine and Iannetta has identified specific myxospermous seed-bank densities which allow seedlings to develop normally (based on root elongation rates) in sand rooting medium with 5x less water compared to no-seedbank controls. Thus, there is the potential that the mucilage could act as a protectant to the seedling during germination and root emergence. Here we further hypothesis that the mucilage could be utilized to support plant growth and development later in plant development and aim to establish the optimum technology for delivery.
Aim: Develop and test techniques for delivering mucilage via seed mimics into sandy arid environments enabling maximal plant and root growth under reduced water supply.
Methods / Approach: This project aims to develop myxospermous seed mimics to deliver sand pore space management to maintain and improve plant growth with reduced irrigation, while still supporting cropping, or restoration efforts, to ensure high productivity. This will require the student to initially develop the bioassay to test the level of mucilage / seed mimics required (plant growth assay), assess a range of mucilage / seed mimics in terms of chemical and physical properties and then combine and test combinations. The student will be expected to develop the understanding of why combinations work, and not just which ones work. One important aspect will be to investigate longevity of the seed mimics/mucilage and the effect of breakdown products on soil water relations, as breakdown compounds may increase soil hydrophobicity rather than increase it It is envisaged that the initial plant growth experiments will use forage (legume) crops for the supported crop (for biomass), in contrast to the previous work that utilized barley at the seedling stage only. This will enable faster cycling to latter growth stages for experimental purposes. Water status of the growth material will be monitored using, for example: mass changes, water sensors and / or tensiometers, with wetting properties assessed with a small-scale infiltrometer. Plant growth and underlying stress will be monitored using, manual plant growth measurements and imaging using 2D and 3D imaging (for plant size) and hyperspectral imaging (for plant stress status). In addition, the student will undertake research into potentially useful mucilage options through literature sources, utilizing previous research of supervisors and utilizing methodologies (confocal microscopy, µCT, tension tables water release analysis, and chemical analysis) to assess mucilage properties.
Funding Notes
References
Toorop, P.E., Campos Cuerva, R., Begg, G.S., Locardi, B., Squire, G.S., Iannetta, P.P.M. (2012). Co-adaptation of seed dormancy and flowering time in the arable weed Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. (shepherd's purse) Annals Botany 109, 481–489
Deng, W., Iannetta, P.P.M., Hallett, P.D., Toorop, P.E., Squire, G.R., Jeng, D.-S. (2012). The rheological properties of the seed coat mucilage of Capsella bursa-pastoris L. Medik. (shepherd’s purse). Biorheology 50, 57-67
Downie H, Adu MO, Schmidt S, Otten W, Dupuy LX, White PJ and Valentine TA (2015). Challenges and opportunities for quantifying roots and rhizosphere interactions through imaging and image analysis? Plant Cell & Environment 38(7): 1213-1232. DOI: 10.1111/pce.12448 (Jul 2015)