Seagrasses are marine plants which carry out multiple ecosystem services. Nevertheless, they are declining globally, as they face multiple threats. Seagrass restoration aims to reverse such negative trends, however prolonged dormancy of broadcasted seeds and consequent low germination rates are the main bottlenecks in seed-based restoration. To address these issues, in this study, exogenous hormone treatments (gibberellic acid, strigolactone and karrikin) were applied to seagrass Zostera marina. Genes associated with said hormones were found in the Z. marina genome, confirming that this species could react to the chosen treatments. The salient finding was that 9 mg/L and 13-20 mg/L gibberellic acid significantly increased germination rates, while 1 mg/L, 5 mg/L and 8 mg/L strigolactone significantly improved seedling development. Oppositely, exogenous karrikin application had very little effect. Seedlings showed no abnormal growth, proving hormones do not negatively impact Zostera marina in its development. The findings of this study brought the field of hormone-treated seagrass forward, by identifying treatments which enhance Z. marina germination and development without hindering the plant. To enhance the effectiveness of seed-based restoration projects, it is therefore recommended to treat seeds with gibberellic acid and strigolactone. For future investigations, an integrated approach of mixed hormone treatments should be explored.
promotor/supervisor feedback
nothing yet
