This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English AgricultureReport.
A discovery about a chemical in smoke could be a big help tofarmers. Smoke causes lots of seeds to begin to grow. But smokecontains lots of different substances. No one knew which one causedthe process of germination to begin.
Now researchers from the University of Western Australia say theyknow. They published their findings this month in the magazineScience. The compound is called butenolide.
To find it, the Australian team burned plants as well as paper.Both contain cellulose, the basic material of all plant life. Theteam separated butenolide from the other substances in the smokefrom the burnt cellulose. Their work took eleven years.
They performed experiments on seeds that normally germinate afterfires. They also included seeds from plants that do not normallyneed fire to germinate. They found that both kinds of seedsgerminated at a high rate when treated with butenolide. They foundthat even an extremely small amount of this carbon-based chemicalcan be effective.
The discovery of butenolide could mean a lot not just to farmersbut also to scientists who want to help rare plants grow. It couldbe used on wild lands and to help forests grow back more quicklyafter fires.
Farmers could treat seeds with butenolide to increase theproductivity of their crops. Kingsley Dixon, a member of theAustralian team, notes that it could also be used to controlunwanted plants. A farmer could treat fields with the chemical. Thiswould cause weeds to germinate and grow. Then the farmer would useother treatments to kill the weeds before any crops are planted.
Most kinds of seeds require a period of inactivity before theycan germinate and send out roots. Inactivity is a natural defense,so the plants do not attempt to grow when conditions are poor. Someseeds need cold weather before they can germinate. Others cannotsprout until their outer skin is broken, which heat from a fire cando.
Smoke from forest fires is known to cause seeds to germinateimmediately. Now, scientists know what it is in smoke that causesseeds to start to grow. What they do not know yet is why butenolidedoes what it does.
If you have a question about agriculture, we might be able toanswer it on the air. Send an e-mail to special@voanews.com. And putthe word agriculture in the subject line.
This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by MarioRitter. This is Steve Ember.