Australian Flora Foundation

New final report

Geoff Woodall, Melinda Moule, Peter Eckersley, Ben Boxshall and Ben Puglisi: Development of new root vegetable crops from southern Western Australia's diverse tuberous flora. Brochures relating to the Australian food and dye products from the project are available. Summary and Final report

New scientific publications from research supported by the Foundation
Abstracts of the following publications have recently been added to the website

M. Tibbett, M.H. Ryan, S.J. Barker, Y. Chen, M.D. Denton, T. Edmonds-Tibbett & C. Walker. The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizas of selected Australian Fabaceae. An abstract can be found here. It appeared in Plant Biosystems, 2008, Vol. 142, No. 2, pp. 420–427

A.K. Ahmed, K.A. Johnson, M.D. Burchett and B.J.Kenny. The effects of heat, smoke, leaching, scarification, temperature and NaCl salinity on the germination of Solanum centrale (the Australian bush tomato). An abstract can be found here. It appeared in Seed Science & Technology (2006) 34: 33-45

Candida L. Briggs and E. Charles Morris. Seed-coat dormancy in Grevillea linearifolia: little change in permeabilityto an apoplastic tracer after treatment with smoke and heat. An abstract can be found here. It appeared in the Annals of Botany (2008) 101: 623–632

David H. Duncan, Adreinne B. Nicotra and Saul A. Cunningham. High self-pollen transfer and low fruit set in buzz-pollinated Dianella revoluta (Phormiaceae). An abstract can be found here. It appeared in the Australian Journal of Botany (2004) 52:185-193

David H. Duncan, Adrienne B. Nicotra, Jeff T. Wood and Saul A. Cunningham. Plant isolation reduces outcross pollen receipt in a partially self-compatible herb. An abstract can be found here. It appeared in the Journal of Ecology (2004) 92: 977–98

TM Llorens, DJ Ayre and RJ Whelan. Evidence for ancient genetic subdivision among recently fragmented populations of the endangered shrub Grevillea caleyi (Proteaceae). An abstract can be found here. It appeared in Heredity (2004) 92: 519–526

Newsletters
The most recent Newsletter (January 09), and links to earlier newsletters in the New Series are here.

Young Scientist prizes for 2008
The Ecological Society of Australia Young Scientist prizes for 2008 were:
Talk: Christina Czembor, University of Melbourne. Can we be certain?: Using expert models to manage Box-Ironbark forests Summary
Poster: Tanya Bailey, University of Tasmania. Use of fire, cultivation and coarse woody debris as restoration techniques in Tasmanian dry forests. . Summary

Call for Applications for Grants from the Foundation to begin in 2010
We are now calling for applications for grants to begin in 2010. The Foundation expects to support between two and four projects at $5000 - $12,000 each in 2010 with possible extension into 2011. Preliminary applications (2 A4 pages) will be accepted until 23rd March 2008. Short listed applicants will be asked to submit a full application. The Call for Applications is here.

The Annual General Meeting was held on 24th November 2008
The President's report is here.
The AGM supported the award of grants to new projects:
Phillip Ainsley ‘Developing a screening procedure to determine the impact of climate change on seed germination in threatened native plant species’
Brian Atwell ‘Can the phenology of Australian wild relatives of cultivated rice be modified for human use?’
Dion Harrison ‘Understanding the biochemical basis of flower colour in Australian native Ptilotus and Gomphrena’
Robert Henry ‘Impact of climate on the genetic diversity of native species using Microlaena stipoides as a model’
Catherine Lovelock ‘The capacity of native saltmarsh halophytes to remove salt from saline wastewater discharge – an experimental assessment of salt uptake mechanisms in common Australian saltmarsh chenopods’
Nicholas Paul ‘Green caviar” and “sea grapes”: Targeted cultivation of high-value seaweeds from the genus Caulerpa’

A project proposal by Peter Wilson and Maurizio Rossetto from the Sydney Botanical Gardens on the Magenta Lilly Pilly (Syzygium paniculatum) was approved by the Scientific Research Committee, but was unable to be funded. An outline of this project is here for any one or any group that would be interested in sponsoring this proposal.

Three Councilors retired by rotation and were re-elected, Richard Williams, Ian Cox and David Murray. Paddy Lightfoot who was appointed as a Councillor by the Council during the year retired in accordance with Article 43 and was re-elected.

The new Council is:
President: Dr Peter Goodwin
Secretary: Mr Ian Cox
Treasurer: Dr Jenny Jobling
Vice President: Professor Richard Williams
Vice President: Dr E. Charles Morris
Members: Dr David Murray(ASGAP representative)
Mr Ross Smyth-Kirk
Professor Acram Taji

New reports
A new final report has recently been added to the website
E. Charles Morris, and Candida Briggs Do heat and smoke affect the permeability of the Grevillea seed coat to large molecular weight compounds? Summary and Final report


		Australian Flora Foundation
	*Banksia menziesii*	Fostering research into the biology and cultivation of Australian plants
	*Banksia menziesii*	News Introduction The Australian Flora Foundation helps us find answers about Australian plants. Much more is known about introduced plants in Australia than our native plants! So little is known in detail because so few resources have been provided. You can help the Foundation to foster research into the biology and cultivation of Australian plants. The generous support of members, donors and sponsors makes it possible to fund many worthwhile projects. How to help. Membership Greater knowledge and understanding is needed in order to cultivate and utilise our flora, and to ensure the survival of our plants in natural habitats. This website details grants and reports from projects we have supported, and students awarded the young scientist prize. Research workers with projects they believe the Foundation might support should go to Information for researchers. For easy access to information by particular research workers, or on particular Australian species, try the search page. News 8 June 2009 New final report Geoff Woodall, Melinda Moule, Peter Eckersley, Ben Boxshall and Ben Puglisi: Development of new root vegetable crops from southern Western Australia's diverse tuberous flora. Brochures relating to the Australian food and dye products from the project are available. Summary and Final report New scientific publications from research supported by the Foundation Abstracts of the following publications have recently been added to the website M. Tibbett, M.H. Ryan, S.J. Barker, Y. Chen, M.D. Denton, T. Edmonds-Tibbett & C. Walker. The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizas of selected Australian Fabaceae. An abstract can be found here. It appeared in Plant Biosystems, 2008, Vol. 142, No. 2, pp. 420–427 A.K. Ahmed, K.A. Johnson, M.D. Burchett and B.J.Kenny. The effects of heat, smoke, leaching, scarification, temperature and NaCl salinity on the germination of Solanum centrale (the Australian bush tomato). An abstract can be found here. It appeared in Seed Science & Technology (2006) 34: 33-45 Candida L. Briggs and E. Charles Morris. Seed-coat dormancy in Grevillea linearifolia: little change in permeabilityto an apoplastic tracer after treatment with smoke and heat. An abstract can be found here. It appeared in the Annals of Botany (2008) 101: 623–632 David H. Duncan, Adreinne B. Nicotra and Saul A. Cunningham. High self-pollen transfer and low fruit set in buzz-pollinated Dianella revoluta (Phormiaceae). An abstract can be found here. It appeared in the Australian Journal of Botany (2004) 52:185-193 David H. Duncan, Adrienne B. Nicotra, Jeff T. Wood and Saul A. Cunningham. Plant isolation reduces outcross pollen receipt in a partially self-compatible herb. An abstract can be found here. It appeared in the Journal of Ecology (2004) 92: 977–98 TM Llorens, DJ Ayre and RJ Whelan. Evidence for ancient genetic subdivision among recently fragmented populations of the endangered shrub Grevillea caleyi (Proteaceae). An abstract can be found here. It appeared in Heredity (2004) 92: 519–526 Newsletters The most recent Newsletter (January 09), and links to earlier newsletters in the New Series are here. Young Scientist prizes for 2008 The Ecological Society of Australia Young Scientist prizes for 2008 were: Talk: Christina Czembor, University of Melbourne. Can we be certain?: Using expert models to manage Box-Ironbark forests Summary Poster: Tanya Bailey, University of Tasmania. Use of fire, cultivation and coarse woody debris as restoration techniques in Tasmanian dry forests. . Summary Call for Applications for Grants from the Foundation to begin in 2010 We are now calling for applications for grants to begin in 2010. The Foundation expects to support between two and four projects at $5000 - $12,000 each in 2010 with possible extension into 2011. Preliminary applications (2 A4 pages) will be accepted until 23rd March 2008. Short listed applicants will be asked to submit a full application. The Call for Applications is here. The Annual General Meeting was held on 24th November 2008 The President's report is here. The AGM supported the award of grants to new projects: Phillip Ainsley ‘Developing a screening procedure to determine the impact of climate change on seed germination in threatened native plant species’ Brian Atwell ‘Can the phenology of Australian wild relatives of cultivated rice be modified for human use?’ Dion Harrison ‘Understanding the biochemical basis of flower colour in Australian native Ptilotus and Gomphrena’ Robert Henry ‘Impact of climate on the genetic diversity of native species using Microlaena stipoides as a model’ Catherine Lovelock ‘The capacity of native saltmarsh halophytes to remove salt from saline wastewater discharge – an experimental assessment of salt uptake mechanisms in common Australian saltmarsh chenopods’ Nicholas Paul ‘Green caviar” and “sea grapes”: Targeted cultivation of high-value seaweeds from the genus Caulerpa’ A project proposal by Peter Wilson and Maurizio Rossetto from the Sydney Botanical Gardens on the Magenta Lilly Pilly (Syzygium paniculatum) was approved by the Scientific Research Committee, but was unable to be funded. An outline of this project is here for any one or any group that would be interested in sponsoring this proposal. Three Councilors retired by rotation and were re-elected, Richard Williams, Ian Cox and David Murray. Paddy Lightfoot who was appointed as a Councillor by the Council during the year retired in accordance with Article 43 and was re-elected. The new Council is: President: Dr Peter Goodwin Secretary: Mr Ian Cox Treasurer: Dr Jenny Jobling Vice President: Professor Richard Williams Vice President: Dr E. Charles Morris Members: Dr David Murray(ASGAP representative) Mr Ross Smyth-Kirk Professor Acram Taji New reports A new final report has recently been added to the website E. Charles Morris, and Candida Briggs Do heat and smoke affect the permeability of the Grevillea seed coat to large molecular weight compounds? Summary and Final report Project seeking sponsorship A tribute from the Australian Flora Foundation to Bill Payne is here. A tribute to Val Williams is here Website comments to pbgoodwin@iinet.anti-spam.net.au. Remove .anti-spam before using this email address.