Research Reports, Summaries, and Progress Reports

Please note that years refer to the dates when AFF awarded grants.

2022

Improving germination success for Australian native plant seeds using plasma treatments

Bryan Coad, School of Agriculture Food and Wine, University of Adelaide (Final Report Summary)

2021

Does fire season impact post-fire seed predation of serotinous seeds?

Tom Le Breton, Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of New South Wales (Interim Report)

Soil disturbance trials improve germination and seedling establishment for the nationally endangered Whibley wattle (Acacia whibleyana)

Jasmin Packer, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide (Final Report Summary)

Cryobiotechnology for conservation of endangered Sweet Myrtles

Chris O’brien, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation and The University of Queensland

The effects of soil microbial community on grassland restoration techniques in South Australian Mediterranean-type climate region

Diego Guevara, University of Adelaide

2019

Is mitochondrial function the key to improving cryopreservation of threatened Australian flora?

Bryn Funnekotter, Curtin University and Kings Park Science (DBCA)

2018

Hirst,M.J.,Messina,A., Delpratt, C.J., & Murphy,S.M.(2019). Raising rarity:Horticultural approaches to conserving Victoria’s rare and threatened wildflowers.Australasian Plant Conservation: Journal of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation, 27(4), 14–16. School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne

2017

The evolutionary significance of range disjunctions in South Australian eucalypts

Ed Biffin1, Kor-Jent van Dijk1,2, and Michelle Waycott1,2; 1.Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of South Australia, Hackney Rd, Adelaide, 5001, 2.School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005

How hungry are carnivorous plants? Investigating the nutrition and ecology of Australian carnivorous flora

Laura Skates, Kings Park and Botanic Gardens, W.A. (Progress report)

Germination of Persoonia species

Kerryn Chia, Kings Park and Botanic Gardens, W.A. (Final report)

Myrtle rust resistance genes

Peri, Tobias, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney

2016

Lens morphology in Australian acacias – implications for germination, propagation, cultivation and conservation

Geoffrey E. Burrows, School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Locked Bag 588, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga NSW 2678, Australia

Interactions between native and exotic plants in the context of grassland restoration and the importance of below-ground processes

Monique Ellie Smith, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA

Can the native rusty fig, Ficus rubiginosa, beat climate change?

David Mackay, Ecosystem management, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351

Seeds, seed banks and cultivation of endangered coastal salt marsh plants under climate change

Todd Minchinton, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong

2015

Understanding climate adaptation and its implications for revegetation in Eucalyptus microcarpa: linking genomic and phentoypic variation

Rebbaca Jordan1, Suzanne M Prober2, Ary A Hoffmann1, and Shannon K Dillon3, 1Bio21 Institute, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville Vic 3010, 2CSIRO Land and Water, Floreat WA 6014 and 3CSIRO Agriculture, Black Mountain ACT 2601

Establishment of an ex-situ collection and seed orchard for the endangered Grampians Globe-pea

N. Reiter, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Corner of Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne, VIC 3977, Australia and Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia

Patterns of smoke germination in south-eastern Australian plants

Alexandra J.R. Carthey and Michelle R. Leishman, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2019

Genetic diversity and structure of Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla): Potential for genetic contamination of Lord Howe Island world heritage area.

Paul Rymer, Collin Ahrens, Desi Quintans, Matias Simoes, Jane DeGabriel, Seth Menser,and James Cook, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, Australia

New Approaches for the Conservation Genomics of the Genus Cycas L. in Australia

James A. R. Clugston, Murray J. Henwood and Nathalie S. Nagalingum.

2014-15

Clinal variation in seed dormancy and regeneration success of Boronia: implications for persistence under climate change.

Mark Ooi (1,2) & Berin Mackenzie (1), 1-Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, 2052 NSW
2 -School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, 2522 NSW

2012-13

Identifying cost-effective reforestation approaches for biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in southern Australia
Corey J. A. Bradshaw & Briony Horner, The University of Adelaide; Succession Ecology Pty Ltd Grant Details

The dynamics of formation and dissipation of patches associated with fallen logs in a chenopod shrubland of southern Australia
Alexandra S. Bowman and José M. Facelli, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA 5005 Grant Details

2011-12

Determining the pollinators of rare and endangered Epacris species: implications for conservation
Karen Johnson and Peter McQuillan, University of Tasmania Grant Details

Techniques for improving Phytophthora resistance in potential new floricultural crop Newcastelia interrupta
Melinda Perkins, University of Queensland Grant Details

2010-11

Germination of Australian alpine species and implications in a changing climate
Amelia J. Martyn, Karen D. Sommerville and Catherine A. Offord, The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, New South Wales Grant Details

2010

Vegetation change in the Pretty Valley alpine grasslands from 1945 to 2003: the influence of grazing on plant community succession
John Morgan & Pete Green Grant Details

2009-10

“Green caviar” and“sea grapes”: targeted cultivation of high-value seaweeds from the genus Caulerpa
Nicholas A. Paul ¹*, Symon A. Dworjanyn², Rocky de Nys¹
1 School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville 4811
2 National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University PO Box 4321 Coffs Harbour Grant Details

Impact of climate on the genetic diversity of native species using Microlaena stipoides as a model
R.J. Henry^1,2, S. McDonald¹, F. M. Shapter¹, I. Chivers³ and D.L.E. Waters¹ ¹ Centre for Plant Conservation Genetics, Southern Cross University. ²Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland ³ Native Seeds Pty Ltd, Melbourne Grant Details

Developing a screening procedure to determine impact of climate change on seed germination threatened native plant species
Dr Jenny Guerin, Thai Te, Michael Thorpe, Daniel Duval and Dr Phillip Ainsley, South Australian Seed Conservation Centre Grant Details

2009

Understanding the biochemical basis of flower colour in Australian native Ptilotus and Gomphrena
Dr Dion K. Harrison, Dr Jitka Kochanek and Professor Daryl C. Joyce, University of Queensland Grant Details

Can the phenology of Australian wild relatives of cultivated rice be modified for human use?
Brian Atwell and Margaret Morgan, Departments of Biological Sciences & Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Macquarie University Grant Details

2008-09

An evaluation of the temperature and daylength requirements of Australian potted colour species
Margaret Johnston, Centre for Native Floriculture, School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Gatton Grant Details

2008

Reproductive biology of the Magenta Lilly Pilly (Syzygium paniculatum) and its implications for conservation
Katie A. G. Thurlby^{1, 2} , William B. Sherwin² , Maurizio Rossetto¹ , and Peter G. Wilson¹
¹ National Herbarium of NSW, Botanic Gardens Trust, Mrs Macquaries Rd Sydney, NSW 2000
² School of Biotechnology and BioMolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052 Grant Details

The relative importance of fire regimes, environmental gradients and climate change for rainforest distribution in the Sydney region
Carola Kuramotto de Bednarik, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra Grant Details

2007-08

Pollination biology of Ptilotus axillaris
Melinda Perkins and Margaret Johnston, Centre for Native Floriculture, School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Gatton Grant Details

The conservation status of the rare desert tree Acacia peuce in Queensland
Jon Luly, TESAG, James Cook University Townsville Grant Details

Mycorrhizal associations in the Fabaceae: are they really needed?
Tina Bell and Ghazala Yasmeen, School of Forest and Ecosystem Science, University of Melbourne, Creswick, Victoria Grant Details

2007

Breeding behaviour of Santalum lanceolatum self-, intra- and interspecific cross-compatibility
Tony Page and Hanington Tate, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland Grant Details

Mechanical constraint model of seed coat dormancy in Grevillea
E. Charles Morris and Candida Briggs, School of Natural Sciences, Hawkesbury Campus, University of Western Sydney Grant Details

2006-07

Harnessing native Fabaceae for agriculture – the importance of mycorrhizal fungi
Mark Tibbett, Megan H. Ryan, Susan Barker, Yinglong Chen, Matthew D. Denton, Tamara Edmonds-Tibbett and Christopher Walker, School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia Grant Details

2006

Do heat and smoke affect the permeability of the Grevillea seed coat to large molecular weight compounds?
E. Charles Morris & Candida Briggs, School of Science, Food and Horticulture, University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury Grant Details

Identification of fungal mycorrhizal species associated with increased plant growth of the rare Fabaceae species Gastrolobium vestitum
Dr Celeste Linde, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200 Grant Details

2005-06

Measuring and managing the impact of secondary salinisation on riparian flora
Alan Lymbery, Michelle Ingram and Farhan Bokhari
Fish Health Unit, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University Grant Details

Development of new root vegetable crops from southern Western Australia’s diverse tuberous flora
Woodall GS¹, Moule ML¹, Eckersley P², Boxshall B¹ and Puglisi B¹
¹Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management,
The University of Western Australia, Albany WA
² Eckersley Rural Consulting Bunbury WA Grant Details

2005

The biology and cultivation of Revwattsia fragile (Watts) D. L. Jones, a rare Queensland fern, for potential commercial production
D. Christine Cargill^1,2 and Jen Johnston¹: ¹ Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, CSIRO. Canberra. ACT. 2601;² Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra. ACT. 2601 Grant Details

Land-use legacies in the Woohlpooer State Forest: The potential for recovery of herbaceous vegetation after release from a long history of sheep grazing in a species-rich woodland
Jodi N. Price, Nathan Wong and John W. Morgan, Department of Botany, La Trobe University Grant Details

2004

Plasma discharge treatment for improved germination of seeds and killing of fungal spores on seed coats
Stefani S. Griesser, Shakti Prakash and Hans J. Griesser
Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095 Grant Details

The role of phytohormone auxin in adventitious rhizogenesis in Grevillea
Santi Krisantini, School of Agriculture and Horticulture, University of Queensland, Gatton Grant Details

Exploring the horticultural potential of native Australian flowering shrubs in the Solanum brownii group
Adam Marchant, Andrew Perkins, George Orel, Gillian Towler Grant Details

2003

Life histories and reproductive biology of plants in the desert and halophytic genus Frankenia (Frankeniaceae) in Australia
Dr Lyndlee C. Easton, School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University Grant Details

Germination, Establishment and Mycorrhizal Synthesis in the Epacrid Woollsia pungens
Anne E Ashford & John H Palmer, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales Grant Details

Epacris impressa Labill.: Inoculation of cuttings with ericoid mycorrhizal fungus and DNA fingerprinting of floral races
Melanie Conomikes, Cassandra McLean and Gregory Moore Grant Details

Developing a technique for obtaining colour accurate photographs of Australian Native Flowers
Michael Eckert Grant Details

Lignotuber formation in Banksia
Raelene Mibus and Margaret Sedgley, University of Adelaide Grant Details

Hybridisation in three sympatric Persoonia species: P. chamaepitys, P. myrtelloides and P. levis
Chris Nancarrow, Institute for Conservation Biology and Law, University of Wollongong Grant Details

Developing propagation techniques for bush tomato
Krystyna A Johnson and Amani K Ahmed, University of Technology, Sydney Grant Details

Implications of reproductive biology and morphology on the conservation of Grevillea williamsonii (Proteaceae)
Elizabeth James, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Grant Details

Interactions between nematodes and mycorrhizae and survival of the native hills daisy (Ixodia archillaeoides).
Paul Dalby, Evelina Facelli and Greg Walker, University of Adelaide Grant Details

Do introduced honey bees Apis mellifera disrupt breeding systems of bird-adapted Australian plants? A comparison in Grevillea
Thomas Celebrezze , David J. Ayre and Robert J. Whelan, University of Wollongong Grant Details

1998

Re-construction of an Australian Grassland.
John Delpratt, Burnley College, University of Melbourne
Ian Shears, Horticultural Consultant. Grant Details

Sporobolus virginicus a Native Grass for Saline Soils
Dr Anthony Smith White, University of NSW Grant Details