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We introduce the AusTraits database - a compilation of measurements of plant traits for taxa in the Australian flora (hereafter AusTraits). AusTraits synthesises data on 375 traits across 29230 taxa from field campaigns, published literature, taxonomic monographs, and individual taxa descriptions. Traits vary in scope from physiological measures of performance (e.g. photosynthetic gas exchange, water-use efficiency) to morphological parameters (e.g. leaf area, seed mass, plant height) which link to aspects of ecological variation. AusTraits contains curated and harmonised individual-, species- and genus-level observations coupled to, where available, contextual information on site properties. This data descriptor provides information on version 2.1.0 of AusTraits which contains data for 937243 trait-by-taxa combinations. We envision AusTraits as an ongoing collaborative initiative for easily archiving and sharing trait data to increase our collective understanding of the Australian flora.

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An HPLC method using a cation‐exchange column and UV detection for the simultaneous determination of dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP), glycinebetaine, prolinebetaine, proline and arginine in plant tissue extracts is described. Recoveries of DMSP and glycinebetaine in either 5% perchloric acid, or methanol:chloroform:water (12:5:1) extracts of sugarcane leaf tissue were 94.0–95.4%. Proline was resolved in the 5% perchloric acid extract (recovery was 93.8%), whereas in the methanol:chloroform: water extract quantification of proline was not possible due to interference by unidentified compounds. Retention times of DMSP and arginine were increased when the pH of the mobile phase was decreased from 4.6 to 3.5, and the adjustment of the pH of the mobile phase was shown to be necessary in order to resolve DMSP in extracts from sugarcane leaves. The quantification of DMSP in sugarcane leaves using the HPLC method was compared with an indirect GC method, and the values obtained using GC were 1.14–1.65‐fold higher. This discrepancy remains to be resolved. The detection limit for DMSP using the HPLC technique was about 2 µmol/g dry weight, while for the GC method it was 0.04 µmol/g dry weight. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background Cinmethylin, a pre‐emergence herbicide inhibiting fatty acid thioesterase activity, has recently been introduced to Australian cereal cropping for the control of Lolium rigidum Gaud. (annual ryegrass). To date, there have been no confirmed cases of cinmethylin resistance identified in this species, but some populations exhibit reduced sensitivity to this herbicide. To explore the mechanism which contributes to reduced sensitivity of annual ryegrass to cinmethylin, the extent and nature of cinmethylin metabolism, using carbon‐14 (14C)‐labelled herbicide, were analysed in three reduced‐sensitivity annual ryegrass populations, alongside a susceptible population and cinmethylin‐tolerant wheat as controls. Results All samples showed the same metabolite profile, with the extent of production of a specific water‐soluble metabolite being correlated to the level of herbicide sensitivity. Application of the cytochrome P450 inhibitor phorate caused a decrease in water‐soluble metabolite production as well as seedling growth in the presence of cinmethylin, indicating that reduced cinmethylin sensitivity in annual ryegrass could be wholly or partially due to oxidative modification of cinmethylin. Conclusion Because annual ryegrass has the potential to metabolize cinmethylin in the same way as wheat, careful stewardship is required to ensure the longevity of this herbicide. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.