Breaking hard seed dormancy in the perennial legume Lebeckia ambigua E. Mey. to enhance sustainable agricultural production

In this study, seeds of Lebeckia ambigua E. Mey., a South African perennial legume, displayed high level physical dormancy, commonly termed ‘hardseededness’. Australian agricultural systems, trait is exploited in annual legumes to ensure their regeneration after cropping phase. While hardseededness has been studied extensively, there have fewer studies feature legumes. Here, for the first time, we examine conditions required hard seed breakdown L. ambigua, with experiments undertaken both field and laboratory. The Ornithopus sativus Brot. Biserrula pelecinus were included comparison. More than 50% when buried at 0.5 cm 87 weeks, remained hard, 25% still 188 weeks. We are also demonstrate genetic variation patterns cm. laboratory, softened exposure temperature 80°C 2–8 days dry oven reaching 60°C cycling oven, fluctuating humidity. Seed produced two different geographic regions Western Australia then or 4 soil, softening locations, became differentially soft over There was significant three-way interaction between burial depth, site maternal influences (P<0.01) on breakdown. pattern revealed legume reflects that described pyrogenic species does not fit models developed by researchers Understanding ecological triggers release from dormancy provided opportunities exploitation future sustainable development.