Professor Dixon will highlight information on the interaction of smoke with native species and the work done between Kings Park and UWA.
Friends of the Library
Tuesday 8 April 2008 at 7:30pm for 8pm
Library Meeting Room
Ground Floor
Reid Library Building
The University of Western Australia
Practical uses of smoke in conservation, agriculture, and horticulture
Smoke from burning plant material promotes germination of seeds of plant species from Australia, North America, South Africa and Spain. Until now, the identity of the active agent(s) in smoke has remained unknown. Professor Dixon will highlight information on the interaction of smoke with native species and the work done between Kings Park and UWA on the isolation and identification of a novel compound that enhances seed germination to the same level as plant-derived smoke.
About the Speaker
Professor Kingsley Dixon is the inaugural Permanent Visiting Professor in the School of Plant Biology at UWA and Director of Science at Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth, Western Australia. He is a specialist in the ecology, restoration and conservation biology of Australian native plants and ecosystem and has led the science group at Kings Park and Botanic Garden for the past 20 years in principles of integrated conservation science. This research group has contributed significantly to seed science in Australia, with major advances in understanding seed dormancy (pioneering work in smoke technology). Over the past 12 years Dr Dixon has been instrumental in leading and working with the research team that led to the discovery of a butenolide molecule responsible for eliciting smoke-like germination in seeds of Australian, agricultural and horticultural species.
Please note that the ground floor entrance to the Library, nearest to the carpark, will be open from 7.30pm - 7.45pm.
Members: Free Non-members: $5.00 donation
