- Position:
- Restoration Ecophysiologist
- Phone:
- (+61 8) 9480 3639
- Fax:
- (+61 8) 9480 3641
- Email:
- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Research interests:
- Enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in native plant seeds/seedlings.
- Seed dormancy alleviation and germination stimulation of native and exotic (weed) species.
- Plant physiological responses to abiotic stress.
- Promoting use of native plants in Agricultural systems.
- Degraded land restoration.
Academic background:
Previous to my appointment at Kings Park and Botanic Garden in January 2005, I completed my undergraduate through the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Western Australia graduating with 1st class honours. My honours thesis focused on physiological responses of crop species (chickpea, white lupin and wheat) to low soil phosphorus.
Thesis title: “Differential root exudation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) on different soils and its role in phosphorus acquisition”.
Supervisors: Professor Hans Lambers and Dr Erik Veneklaas (University of Western Australia); Dr Kadambot Siddique and Dr Mike Bolland (Agriculture Western Australia).
I commenced my PhD studies in 2001 through the Soil Science Discipline, School of Earth and Geographical Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Western Australia. PhD studies involved researching plant responses to abiotic (salinity, drought and heat) and biotic (bacterial) stress factors and using plant signalling compounds to regulate stress responses. Basic research outcomes included examining effects of signalling compounds on plant growth/survival and physiological response mechanisms including photosynthesis, ion uptake and root ion fluxes under stress. Applied research outcomes included examining delivery mechanisms of the compounds to seeds/plants and monitoring subsequent effects under field conditions.
PhD was completed in April 2006.
Thesis title: Physiological Investigation of Effects of Salicylic Acid on Abiotic and Biotic Stresses in Plants (with Special Reference to Salinity).
Supervisors: Professor Krishnapillai Sivasithamparam (UWA) and Dr Tissa Senaratna (UWA and Kings Park and Botanic Gardens).
Project information:
Title: Grass roots – native perennial grasses for sustainable pasture systems
Funding Source: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC)
Research Partners: (i) Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity (Dr Megan Ryan, Dr Meredith Mitchell); (ii) Native Seeds Pty Ltd (Mr Ian Chivers); Department of Primary Industries Qld (Dr Kendrick Cox).
Funding timelines: 2005 – 2008
Description: To develop a national program to deliver seed-based solutions to overcome seed germination and establishment barriers for a profitable and productive broad-acre native perennial grass pasture and restoration industry. This aim will be met via the following objectives being addressed for promising species currently in limited commercial production and will be completed in collaboration with the DPI&F (Qld): (i) Refine new advances in seed production technology to increase commercial availability of native perennial grass species (including the use of the discovery by the applicant of one chemical in smoke that stimulates germination of native species) for pasture systems and rehabilitation sites; (ii) Define and prioritise the information and implement technology required to overcome barriers to commercial production, focussing on improving seed germination, seedling vigour and seedling stress tolerance; (iii) Increase the efficiency of seed-to-site establishment, by targeting a series of high potential native pasture species and recent innovations in seed technologies including polymer-based seed coatings for efficient delivery of germination enhancement and growth promoters to seed.
Title: Releasing agricultural weed seed dormancy through application of a novel smoke derived chemical.
Funding Source: Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
Research Partners: n/a
Funding timelines: 2005 – 2006
Description: Weeds are one of the most serious threats facing Australia's primary producers costing the southern agricultural sector an estimated $3.5 billion per year, with farmers spending approximately $70 per hectare per annum on weed control. Current weed control strategies target the 1-9 % of viable seeds that germinate during the growing season, ignoring the ~90 % of viable seeds which remain in the weed seed bank. Through the application of an innovative and exciting germination enhancing technology this project specifically targeted up to 90% of the weed seed bank that is not addressed by current weed control strategies. Through understanding weed seed dormancy mechanisms , and alleviation there of, it is likely that control practices for integrated weed management systems will be more effective in controlling both herbicide resistant and non-resistant populations within a few crop cycles.
Title: Reliable establishment of non-traditional perennial pasture species
Funding Source: (i) Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity; (ii) Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA); (iii) Australian Wool Initiative (AWI)
Research Partners: (i) Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (Dr Phil Nichols, Dr Ed Barrett-Lennard, Mr Geoff Moore, Mr Ronald Yates) (iii) Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity (Dr Meredith Mitchell, Dr Megan Ryan) (iii) Department of Primary Industries Victoria (Dr Meredith Mitchell) (iii) Charles Sturt University (Dr David Kemp), (iv) NSW Department of Primary Industries (Dr Greg Lodge)
Funding timelines: 2006 - 2008
Description: A range of perennial pasture options to improve both the productivity of pastures and the effective management of recharge and discharge areas are being developed and promoted across southern Australia. While recipes specifying the steps for reliable establishment exist for the traditional temperate pasture species (both annuals and perennials), this is not true for the newly emerging options. Currently, there is an unacceptably high failure rate for establishment from seed of non-traditional species, notably halophytic shrubs (particularly saltbushes), native pastures and exotic, warm season perennials. Unless the constraints and risks associated with establishment of these pasture options can be overcome, their adoption will be limited and their productivity and environmental benefits will not be fully realised. In addition, pastoral zone graziers need low-cost techniques to rehabilitate large areas with saltbush. This project will focus on research and development of a suite of reliable, robust and economical establishment recipes for the most promising saltland, native and warm season perennial species for recharge, discharge and pastoral areas of southern Australia.
Title: Improving the establishment of saltbushes (Atriplex spp.) on saltland - preliminary research
Funding Source: Sustainable Grazing of Saline Lands (SGSL); Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity
Research Partners: Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (Dr Ed Barrett-Lennard)
Funding timelines: 2005-06
Description: Our research focused primarily on three saltbush species (Atriplex amnicola, A. nummularia and A. undulata). We initially surveyed the published and “grey” literature for methods of rapidly improving rates of germination and establishment of these species. After the review it was agreed that the best approach would be to determine the optimal temperature conditions for germination and then survey the benefits of butenolide, bract removal, light, seed priming and the application of various plant hormones. The best combinations of solutions from laboratory work were then trialled on a marginally saline field site near Meckering and in the glasshouse using soil from this site.
Publications:
Refereed publications:
- Jason Stevens, Tissa Senaratna, and Krishnapillai Sivasithamparam (2006). Salicylic acid induces salinity tolerance in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Roma): associated changes in gas exchange, water relations and membrane stabilisation. Plant growth Regulation 49 (1): 77 - 83
- Veneklaas, E.J., Stevens, J., Cawthray, G.R., Turner, S., Grigg, A.M. and Lambers, H. (2003). Chickpea and white lupin rhizosphere carboxylates vary with soil properties and enhance phosphorus uptake. Plant and Soil 248:187-197.