Improving the outcomes of seed-based restoration in cold and hot deserts: An investigation into seed dormancy, germination, and seed enhancement

Direct seeding is a fundamental means of restoring degraded plant communities but often achieves less than 5% plant recruitment. In drylands, plant establishment is most constrained during germination and emergence. To promote plant recovery in highly degraded environments, seed treatments can be used to relieve dormancy and enhance the performance of difficult-to- ' establish species. Focusing on two biodiverse bioregions (the North American Great Basin and the Western Australian Pilbara), I resolved the primary seed germination traits of key regional plant species and demonstrated the potential of combining dormancy alleviation treatments with seed enhancement technologies to improve dryland restoration efforts.