By Simone Pedrini

Salicylic acid is a chemical compound found in the bark of the willow tree (and many other plants), that has been used for its medicinal properties since the age of the ancient Sumerians, more than 4000 year ago. Its modern synthetic version, Acetylsalicylic acid, also known as aspirin, is one of the most widely used medications in the world.

Recently published research in the journal PlosOne reveals that this compound can do more than just heal your headache. It can also help with restoring ecosystems that have been damaged and establishing sustainable pastures.

This study performed on native perennial grasses showed that very low concentrations of Salicylic acid, applied to the seed can improve plant survival. Salicylic acid was already known for its ability to deliver stress resistance to plants such as tomatoes, but its effect on natives were still unknown.

Salicylic acid was applied to the seed using a technology called seed coating that consists in covering a seed with powdery material and a liquid binder (glue). This process allows the modification of seed shape and size and makes the seeding operation easier and more efficient.

Combining the benefits of Salicylic acid with those of seed coating will improve the chances of success of the many seed-based restoration projects in Australia, and globally, and help reach the ambitious restoration targets set by the UN in the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030).

Further research is now needed to test salicylic acid as a coating in other wild species to improve native plant resistance to drought, extreme temperatures, salinity, pathogens, and herbicides.

Moreover, coating with salicylic acid in combination with other beneficial compounds should be tested on a broader array of plant species used in restoration, as their combined impact on seed germination, emergence, growth and plant establishment could improve the successful deployment of native seed onto degraded landscapes, ultimately allowing for a more efficient seed-based restoration.

The full paper, ‘Seed encrusting with salicylic acid: a novel approach to improve establishment of grass species in ecological restoration’ was published in PLOS ONE and can be found online here.