The factors that influence seed production and seed dormancy in rare plant species are crucial to their conservation yet are often poorly understood. In this study, we examined the breeding system and seed biology of the critically endangered Australian endemic species Persoonia pauciflora through a series of experiments. Pollinator visitation surveys and manipulative hand-pollination treatments were conducted to investigate the breeding system and subsequent seed production. We used an experimental seed burial to examine the breakdown of the woody endocarp and changes to germination over time. Seed germination response under simulated local seasonal conditions was also examined. Persoonia pauciflora was found to be predominantly pollinated by native bees, and cross-pollinated flowers produced significantly more mature fruit (18 ± 3%) than self-pollination treatments (2–3%). The average strength of P. pauciflora pyrenes buried in soil significantly decreased over two years, from 413.3 ± 14.6 N to 130.8 ± 11.8 N. Post-burial seed germination was cyclical, with highest final germination percentage occurring following late-summer exhumations (75 ± 2% and 74 ± 14%, respectively). When seeds were incubated under different local seasonal conditions, germination at local summer temperatures was more likely when compared with autumn/spring and winter temperature-incubated seeds. Our study highlights the importance of ensuring appropriate biotic pollen vectors are present in the local landscape for maximising viable fruit production for this species. In addition, our data indicate that recruitment will most likely occur after the endocarp has suitably weakened, allowing physiological dormancy of the embryo to be relaxed and germination to commence following summer temperatures.

中文翻译：

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影响极度濒危Persoonia pauciflora (Proteaceae)果实生产和种子生物学的环境因素

影响稀有植物种子生产和种子休眠的因素对其保护至关重要，但往往知之甚少。在这项研究中，我们通过一系列实验研究了极度濒危的澳大利亚特有物种 Persoonia pauciflora 的育种系统和种子生物学。进行了传粉媒介访问调查和人工人工授粉处理，以调查育种系统和随后的种子生产。我们使用实验性种子埋葬来检查木质内果皮的分解和发芽随时间的变化。还检查了模拟局部季节性条件下的种子萌发反应。Persoonia pauciflora 被发现主要由本地蜜蜂授粉，和异花授粉的花比自花授粉处理（2-3%）产生明显更多的成熟果实（18±3%）。埋在土壤中的 P. pauciflora 芘的平均强度在两年内显着下降，从 413.3 ± 14.6 N 降至 130.8 ± 11.8 N。 2% 和 74 ± 14%）。当种子在不同的当地季节条件下孵化时，与秋季/春季和冬季温度孵化的种子相比，在当地夏季温度下发芽的可能性更大。我们的研究强调了确保当地景观中存在适当的生物花粉载体的重要性，以最大限度地提高该物种的可行果实产量。此外，