Phylogeographic analyses of Gymnocarpos przewalskii indicated high genetic diversity and a significant phylogeographic structure. Thirty-one different cpDNA haplotypes were detected, and four independent glacial refugia were inferred. Furthermore, population bottlenecks and postglacial recolonisation were identified in the northern Tarim Basin, western Yumen and the Jinta region in Gansu Province.

Caesalpinia echinata seeds are desiccation-tolerant and accumulate starch, sucrose and cyclitols during maturation. Here we demonstrate that desiccation intolerant immature seeds maintain high germination and marked increase of cyclitols and sucrose when dried after soaking in PEG solution, suggesting that it changes carbohydrate metabolism and mimics the natural maturation drying.

Studies of long-term vegetation changes are critical in understanding the successional dynamics of natural ecosystems. We compared archival forest inventory data with new field surveys to document changes in stand structure over 60 years. Our results illustrate a continuation of forest encroachment that was initially documented in the late 1800s.

Auxin application to plants can induce several classes of genes known as auxin-responsive genes (ARG).Earlier research with a limited number of probes implicated ARG, especially the Aux/IAA family, in tomato pedicel abscission. This study provides a comprehensive overview of ARG expression and the influence of Ca2+ in tomato abscission.

Monttea aphylla produces oil, is self-incompatible and relies on three bee species (Apidae), two generalist (Centris brethesi and Mesonychium jenseni) and one specialist (C. vardyorum). C. vardyorum collects oil and was the main pollinator. M. aphylla shows different reproductive biology along its distributional range, increasing its specialization to the south.

Effect of NaCl on survival, morphology, chlorophyll and phenolic content of two moss – Bryum argenteum Hedw. and Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv., and three fern species – Asplenium viride Britton, Ceterach officinarum DC, and Phyllitis scolopendrium (L.) Newman was explored. Possible role of phenolics in salt tolerance was discussed.

The development of polyembryony is a common reproductive strategy in conifers. The aim of this study is to determine patterns of polyembryony and survival frequency in Araucaria angustifolia. We demonstrate that A. angustifolia presents both polyzygotic and cleavage polyembryony, and that survival of multiple embryos is a rare event.

The effects of climatic change and relative sea level rise on southeast Tasmanian coastal saltmarshes were expressed in changes to vegetation communities in marshes and in the extent of the marshes. These changes indicate that saltmarshes are highly susceptible to current environmental changes.

The genetic control of flowering time has been well studied in annual plants such as Arabidopsis, but in trees the process is less understood. In this study we isolate the E. globulus homologues of two important flowering genes and show that expression of FT in leaves, measured over a 2-year period, is associated with the annual transition from vegetative to reproductive growth (i.e. flower bud initiation) rather than anthesis time. This is the first study of seasonal expression of flowering time genes in Eucalyptus.

Genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of fragmented Allocasuarina verticillata populations were assessed to improve seed collection and deployment practices. Genetic diversity was lower in small populations while a lack of strong population structure suggestions seed can be collection from a broader spatial scale than currently undertaken.

The role and relationship between hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) reduction and the inhibition of abscisic acid (ABA)-induced stomatal closure by ethylene were studied. Our results showed that ethylene probably induces H₂O₂ removal and reduces H₂O₂ levels in Vicia faba guard cells, and finally inhibits stomatal closure induced by ABA.

Occupancy models are assumed to be indicative of habitant quality and are often used as surrogate abundance models.This was tested by creating occupancy and abundance models for two Xanthorrhoea species. One species exhibited no correlation between occupancy and abundance, indicating the need for species specific validation of surrogate models.

Patterns of species richness and endemism of the genus Acacia in Australia were mapped. The distribution for both diversity metrics vary greatly across the continent. The primary centres of species richness are located in Western and Eastern Australia. 21centres of endemism were mapped with 16 of them in Western Australia.

The smoke-derived chemical karrikinolide triggers seeds in the Brassicaceae, Solanaceae and Asteraceae families to germinate, yet species in the Poaceae – another major understorey and weed family – have responded with mixed results. Here we explore the karrikinolide-responses of seven grasses and show how some species can be induced to respond.

Traits associated with desiccation delay, particularly percent leaf loss, corresponded best with experimental drought survival in these evergreen species. This suggests that finer classifications of deciduousness based on percent leaf loss under drought stress may be useful in predicting species responses to drought conditions under climate change.

The ancient plant group cycads do not display an inverse relationship between atmospheric [CO₂] and the number of stomata on a leaf surface that is commonly observed in other plant groups. The stomata of fossil cycads may not be suitable indicators of [CO₂] or CO₂ : O₂ ratio in palaeo-atmospheres.

Banded ironstone ranges form small islands in the arid landscapes of southwestern Australia. Some ranges are centres of plant endemism and mineral exploitation. Little is known of their biology, this information is critical for determining rehabilitation options. Our studies show re-establishment of some endemic species will be difficult.

Predictive equations for above, below and total biomass are presented for native mallee and woodland trees from the south-western region of Australia. Both individual species specific and generic equations are developed and applied to native woodlands and eucalypt dominated environmental plantings to estimate their carbon capture and storage capacity.

Essential oil constitutes a mixture of low molecular compounds that can act as an allelochemical, having cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. Using Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce) and Allium cepa L. (onion) as plant tests, the present work showed that essential oils of Heterothalamus psiadioides and Heterothalamus alienus can modify mitotic activity and induce chromosomal abnormalities.

The responses of individual plant species to grazing and fertilisation are estimated from a hierarchical model that links species identities, plant traits and two continuous predictive variables. The results highlight the importance of fertilisation history in limiting species occurrences and determining options for future management.

Understanding of the effects of harvesting on C storage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Australian native forests is incomplete. GHG fluxes are likely to increase following harvest, and then decrease over time. However, it is currently difficult to quantify the magnitude and time course of changes for Australian systems.

There were no consistent differences in the floristic composition of the regenerating understorey vegetation, up to age ten years, that could be attributed to differences in the silvicultural systems. However, forests with a wet sclerophyll understorey responded to harvesting and burning disturbances very differently from forests with a rainforest understorey.

In an arid Australian environment, mistletoes were fire-susceptible obligate seeders with no means of in-situ seed storage. Three strategies by which they have been able to persist were identified and they are still secure in some habitats. However, changed fire regimes are causing extensive erosion in others.

Gall formation constitutes a specific plant-herbivore interaction that is inhibited, in many cases, by a hypersensitive reaction. Using Bauhinia brevipes Vogel (Fabaceae) as model of resistance or susceptibility to gall formation, the present work showed different protein concentration and common or distinct polypeptides shared among non-galled and galled tissues.

The retrotransoposon-based SSAP was used to study the genetic differentiation among Hibiscus tiliaceus populations representing the contrast of estuarine and inland habitats. The estuarine populations have significantly higher diversity and lower differentiation than the inland populations, suggesting that divergent selection may have overrode gene flow to promote local adaptation.