Native grasses are a dominant component of ecosystems throughout much of Australia.  The re-establishment of native grasses on disturbed land is important to the mining industry, landcare groups and other agencies.  However establishment is often limited by the lack of seed germination, which in many species is due to the presence of seed dormancy mechanisms.  For some minesites, seed dormancy in native species remains a key issue in attaining completion criteria and for installing a diverse vegetation cover.
The mechanisms that cause dormancy may be found within the seed’s embryo or in the surrounding tissues (seed coat).  In some examples, seeds have both coat-imposed and embryo dormancy, while in others it can be shown that as one form of dormancy is removed another is formed.  To be released from dormancy, the seeds must experience certain environmental conditions outside normal germination requirements, or must undergo certain metabolic or physiological changes. 
This project is investigating the location of dormancy mechanism(s) in selected native Australian grass species and variation between populations of some species.

• Bellairs S.M., Adkins S.W., Preston C., Farley G. (2000). Overcoming seed dormancy of Australian plants. In: Proceedings of the Third AMEEF Innovation Conference "On the threshold: research into practice." Brisbane, Queensland 15-17th August 2000. pp. 79-81.
• Bellairs S.M., Gravina A.J., Farley G., Francis D., Loch D. (2000). Native grass species and provenances most suitable for planting on main road verges. A collaborative project between The University of Queensland, Greening Australia and Queensland Department of Primary Industries. Report to Department of Main Roads, Queensland. November 2000. Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia. 49p.
• Farley G., Adkins S.W., Dixon K., Bellairs S.M., Preston C. (2000). Identifying dormancy mechanisms of Australian native plant species. In: Proceedings of Third Australian Workshop on Native Seed Biology for Revegetation, Perth, 17-18 May 1999 (eds C.J. Asher and L.C. Bell), Perth, pp. 163-165. Australian Centre for Mining Environmental Research, Kenmore.
• Preston C., Bellairs S.M., Farley G., Adkins S.W., Gravina A.J. (2000). Identifying Dormancy Mechanisms of Australian Native Plant Species. Report on progress of The University of Queensland component of the project. Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, The University of Queensland.
• Preston C., Bellairs S.M., Farley G., Adkins S.W., Gravina A.J. (2000). Supplementary report on progress of The University of Queensland component of the project: Identifying Dormancy Mechanisms of Australian Native Plant Species to Australian Centre for Mining Environmental Research. Report to CRL. January 2000. School of Land and Food Sciences & Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia. 11p.