Correction to: Maternal environment and seed size are important for successful germination and seedling establishment of Pterocarpus erinaceus (Fabaceae)

AbstractSoil seed banks are important to the maintenance and restoration of floras. Extant seed banks exhibit unique characteristics with regard to the distribution of seed size and seed density. Seeds were recovered from the Upper Pennsylvanian Wise Formation in southwest Virginia. Structurally preserved seeds were also examined from coal balls of the Pennsylvanian Pottsville and Allegheny Groups, Ohio. The size distribution of the seeds from the Wise Formation is similar to that of structurally preserved seeds of the Upper Pennsylvanian Pottsville and Allegheny Group coal balls. In contrast, the seed size distributions in extant wetland, grassland, woodland and forest habitats are significantly narrower than that of seeds from the Pennsylvanian seed banks. Larger seeds are less dependent on light for germination, and aid in seedling establishment more than smaller seeds, especially in dense stable forests where disturbance events are rare. Large seed size may contribute to increased seed longevity, which reduces the effect of environmental variability on seed germination and development. The significantly larger size of the Palaeozoic seeds may have imparted an advantage for seedling establishment in the dense Palaeozoic forests. The preponderance of large seeds may be a result of the absence of large seed predators (e.g. herbivorous tetrapods), and may have been an evolutionary strategy to minimize damage to the embryo from a predator population dominated by small invertebrates with chewing or sucking mouthparts. The estimated seed density of 192 seeds/m2in the Palaeozoic seed bank falls within the range of modern seed banks, but at the lower end of modern seed bank densities in a variety of habitats.

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Effects of seed size and seed weight on seedling establishment, seedling vigour and tolerance of summer turnip rape (Brassica rapa) to flea beetles, Phyllotreta spp.

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/p06-166 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 87 (2) ◽

pp. 385-393 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

R. H. Elliott ◽

L. W. Mann ◽

O. O. Olfert

Keyword(s):

Seed Size ◽

Brassica Rapa ◽

Seedling Establishment ◽

Seed Weight ◽

Flea Beetle ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Seedling Vigour ◽

Shoot Dry Weight ◽

Flea Beetles ◽

Beetle Damage

A 3-yr study was conducted on three synthetic Brassica rapa L. cultivars to determine the effects of seed size and seed weight on seedling establishment, seedling growth and susceptibility to feeding damage by flea beetles, Phyllotreta spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Seed lots of AC Boreal, Fairview and Hysyn 110 were sieved to obtain small, medium and large seeds (1.4–1.6, 1.6–1.8 and 1.8–2.0 mm, respectively). In the laboratory, seedlings grown from large seeds had the largest cotyledons, highest shoot dry weight and highest biomass. Shoot weights increased as seed size increased. Sized seeds of the three cultivars were grown in the field without insecticides in 1998–2000. Seedlings of small seeds had the highest flea beetle damage and poorest seedling establishment. Shoot dry weight and biomass 14–35 d after planting increased as seed size and seed weight increased. Compared with small seeds, large seeds improved shoot dry weight, biomass and seed yield by 13–43, 25–57 and 12%, respectively. Results indicated that seedlings of medium and large seeds are more vigorous and tolerant to flea beetle damage than seedlings of small seeds. Tolerance was due to a higher initial seedling weight rather than higher relative growth rate. Shoot dry weights, biomass and yield of the three cultivars were more strongly correlated with 1000-seed weight than with seed diameter. Key words: Canola, flea beetles, seed size, seedling vigour, tolerance, seed weight

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SEED SIZE, NUMBER, AND HABITAT OF A FLESHY-FRUITED PLANT: CONSEQUENCES FOR SEEDLING ESTABLISHMENT

Ecology ◽

10.1890/0012-9658(2002)083[0794:ssnaho]2.0.co;2 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 83 (3) ◽

pp. 794-808 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Wendy Parciak

Keyword(s):

Seed Size ◽

Seedling Establishment ◽

Size Number

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Senecio L. (Asteraceae) in Australia: Reproductive biology of a genus found primarily in unstable environments

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt9850197 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 197 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

M.E. Lawrence

Keyword(s):

Exotic Species ◽

Reproductive Biology ◽

Seed Size ◽

Breeding System ◽

Seedling Establishment ◽

Sexual Maturity ◽

First Year ◽

Perennial Species ◽

Habitat Stability ◽

Dispersal Potential

The reproductive biology of 28 native and four exotic species of Senecio is described in terms of their breeding system, longevity, habitat stability, seed size and number, dispersal potential and seedling establishment. Nineteen species (15 perennial, 2 annual, 2 ephemeral) are self-incompatible, 13 are self-compatible (4 perennial, 7 annual, 2 ephemeral) and nearly all occur in unstable environments. The success of the perennial species in unstable environments perhaps reflects the fact that they all reach sexual maturity within 1 year of germination and, provided populations of self-incompatible species are large enough, they can set seed in the first year.

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Germination and seedling establishment in cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.): An interaction between seed size, relative growth rate and seedling biomass

Journal of Plantation Crops ◽

10.19071/jpc.2017.v45.i2.3305 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 110

Author(s):

Babli Mog, J.D. Adiga M.G. Nayak and G.S. Mohana

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Seed Size ◽

Seedling Establishment ◽

Seedling Survival ◽

Seedling Emergence ◽

Seed Mass ◽

Germination Percentage ◽

Mass Ratio ◽

Unit Leaf ◽

Seedling Biomass

Seeds of cashew were used to determine the effect of seed mass (5.2 to 7.8 g) on germination, seedling emergence and growth under nursery conditions. Germination percentage and germination time showed significant correlation with seed mass. Large sized seeds had higher germination percentage (81.6%) and produced more vigorous seedlings. Per cent seedling emergence was related to seed mass with large sized seeds exhibited faster emergence. Seed mass significantly affected seedling survival and survival rate was high in seedlings arising from large sized seeds (62.9%). Seedling vigor expressed in terms of shoot and root length, leaf number, leaf area and total dry matter was significantly affected by seed mass. Seedlings that emerged from large sized seeds showed better growth and produced heavier seedlings as compared to medium sized seeds. RGR showed significant variation (0.152 to 0.240 g g-1day-1) among two seed size classes positively correlated with seed mass, leaf area (LA), unit leaf rate per unit leaf area (ULRM), root to shoot ratio (R/S) and root mass ratio (RMR) and negatively with stem mass ratio (SMR). The study concluded that the seed mass and RGR have influence on seedling growth and success of seedling establishment in cashew.

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