Non-native invasive plants have a range of impacts on native species, communities and ecosystems, and there is evidence that soil nutrient availability affects the likelihood of plant species invasions. A glasshouse study of seedlings of a non-native tree ( Tipuana tipu ) showed that soil phosphorus availability had a significant effect on plant growth, with plants grown in conditions similar to those in south-western Australia unable to survive and establish. This infers that soil nutrient availability may be a limiting factor for species invasions.

Polygala myrtifolia has become a significant environmental weed in Australia, where it has invaded coastal ecosystems in temperate regions. This study assessed the effects of selected environmental factors on its seed germination, which was optimal for untreated seeds under a 25°C–15°C temperature range, regardless of light conditions. Germination was inhibited under increasing salinity, moisture stress and burial depth. To prevent further spread, P. myrtifolia infestations should be actively managed by preventing seed dispersal and controlling emerging seedlings.

Changes in standing and fallen dead trees between 2011 and 2021 were measured over a study area near Hobart, Tasmania which ranged from lowland dry forest to subalpine forest. Both standing and fallen dead trees increased in this period of increasing drought and wind stress. Elevation, February temperature, fire history, aspect class, several vegetation types and several soil types influenced at least one of our mortality variables. It may be possible to mitigate drought effects by understorey burning.

Some plant species rely on fungal symbioses for energy, rather than the sun; such plants typically follow a general pattern of gene loss as they transition away from being photosynthetic. We found that an Australian orchid species typically regarded as being fully reliant on the fungal symbiont, retains the genes required for photosynthesis. This species may be able to utilise both energy sources, or may rather be only in the early stages of transitioning to fungal reliance.

Maintaining separate maternal lines in seed collections is essential for maximising the applications of these valuable resources. Ten reasons are provided, illustrating why keeping maternal lines separate can expedite conservation, restoration and research and improve the results and outcomes from these applications.

Time-delayed species loss in response to fragmentation associated with habitat clearance, is a conservation concern for management of biological diversity in the world’s fragmented landscapes. We found evidence of future species loss in some of the study communities. Banksia woodlands had 28% average loss (13 species per patch). Understanding how different community types respond to time-delayed impacts helps land managers to prioritise intervention efforts to pre-empt species decline and eventual extinction through conservation, management and restoration of remnant vegetation patches.

Seed endophytes can increase rates of germination and establishment, and comprise a key part of the initial seedling microbiome, but can also be latent pathogens and saprotrophs. Despite this, we have little knowledge of seed endophytes within native plants. Using literature and our dataset of fungi isolated from five native Australian plant species, we identify four key areas to integrate seed microbiomes applicable to seed-bank storage, direct seeding and seed-collecting protocols. Images by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust.

It is vital to understand how native plant species will cope with the anticipated increase in intense and frequent heatwaves, especially in the already severely urbanised Cumberland Plain Woodland. This study looks at seed germination and the novel addition of life-history trait information in the face of these intense and frequent heatwaves. Our research revealed heatwave intensity and frequency impact seed germination responses but life-history traits do not explain germination responses across species along the heatwave gradient.

Seed science is an important research topic that provides new information for the basic understanding of plant species but also for agricultural crop security and the conservation and restoration of wild plants. A recent conference – the Australasian Seed Science Conference, 2021 – was held online and featured presentations from 24 early to middle career researchers who contributed exciting new research to this field. Our review summarises the research presented by these scientists.

Seeds face multiple hurdles to establish into mature plants; so the majority of seeds fail to germinate, emerge, and initially establish. To inform the development of improved seed management practices, we unpacked three life-stage transitions (i.e. germination, emergence and survival) for five species across a range of reconstructed soils and varying levels of simulated rainfall. We found many species-specific trade-offs at each life-stage transition but highlight that less dormant, larger seeded species were more likely to recruit in highly degraded dryland environments.

The comparative longevity of seeds of 33 Australian rainforest species was assessed using artificial aging. Rainforest-restricted species were significantly shorter-lived than seeds from non-rainforest habitats previously assessed using the same method. Poor longevity was related to collection elevation, with both rainforest and non-rainforest species from higher elevations being shorter-lived. Longevity determined by artificial aging did not always reflect the actual longevity in storage; several rainforest species predicted to be long-lived showed significant declines in viability after 12 years or less in storage.

Seeds of six tropical montane cloud forest species were sown under light filters in a glasshouse, to investigate the effect of light/dark and light quality on germination. Responses to light quality and the presence/absence of light varied among species, suggesting divergent germination strategies. All six species were able to germinate at remarkably low R:FR values, suggesting they have the potential to survive changes in cloud immersion and light with climate change.