Relationship between seed size and litter effects on early seedling establishment of 15 tropical tree species

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (05) ◽  
pp. 569-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiano Micheletto Scarpa ◽  
I. F. M. Valio
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Shade Tolerance ◽  
Carbon Fixation ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Early Seedling

A close relationship has been reported between seed size and many different plant traits such as seedling size, relative growth rate, seedling survival, distance of dispersion, colonization and density of seeds in the soil (Coomes & Grubb 2003, Jurado & Westoby 1992, Lahoreauet al. 2006, Saverimuttu & Westoby 1996, Souza & Valio 2001). Although the association of seed size and shade tolerance is unclear (Westobyet al. 1996) some authors have suggested that a larger-seeded species is better able to tolerate low light availability (Foster 1986, Foster & Janson 1985, Leishman & Westoby 1994) by producing a vigorous seedling with a higher ability to withstand predation (Armstrong & Westoby 1993, Foster 1986) and delaying the beginning of carbon fixation so as to increase survival under a canopy and under leaf litter.

Seed reserves and light intensity affect the growth and mycorrhiza development of the seedlings of an Australian rain-forest tree

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Gehring
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Shade Tolerance ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Deep Shade ◽  
Seed Reserves

Interspecific variation in seed size can affect seedling establishment in the light-limited understorey of rain forests. Large seeds with extensive seed reserves may allow seedlings to (1) persist in the deep shade, thereby increasing the likelihood of exposure to a canopy gap (Leishman & Westoby 1994, Saverimuttu & Westoby 1996); (2) promote growth, thereby allowing seedlings to reach higher light strata or to develop sufficient photosynthetic tissue to meet their energy needs in low light (Foster 1986); and (3) allow compensation for tissue losses to herbivores and pathogens (Armstrong & Westoby 1993, Foster 1986, Harms & Dalling 1997). However, comparisons of shade tolerance among species that vary in seed size have produced conflicting results; short-term seedling survival was strongly positively associated with seed size in several studies (Grime & Jeffrey 1965, Leishman & Westoby 1994), but only weakly in others (Augspurger 1984, Grubb & Metcalfe 1996).

Light-dependent seedling survival and growth of four tree species in Costa Rican second-growth rain forests

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Iriarte Vivar Balderrama ◽  
Robin L. Chazdon
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Light Transmittance ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Growth Increments ◽  
Light Gradient ◽  
Second Growth ◽  
Survival And Growth

The dependence of tree seedling survival and growth on light availability was evaluated over 15 mo in three second-growth, wet forest stands (15–18 y old) in north-eastern Costa Rica. Seedlings of four canopy tree species (Dipteryx panamensis, Hyeronima alchorneoides, Virola koschnyi and Vochysia guatemalensis) were planted into four canopy treatments in three replicated stands and in a pasture site, spanning a nearly complete gradient of light availability. Survival and growth of all species increased in response to increasing light availability, but species differed in survival in shaded microsites (6–20% light transmittance) and in growth increments per light increase. Hyeronima showed the highest mortality at low light levels and the highest relative height growth increase per light increase. In contrast, Virola showed high survival at low and moderate light, but showed the lowest leaf area and above-ground biomass per light increase among all species. Dipteryx and Vochysia maintained relatively high rates of survival and growth across the entire light gradient. Hyeronima and Virola showed trade-offs between growth and survival responses to light, unlike Dipteryx and Vochysia. Differences among species in seedling survival at low light may be determined by a variety of physiological and morphological traits that may or may not be mechanistically linked to growth responses.

Sapling growth as a function of resources in a north temperate forest

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 2172-2183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen W. Pacala ◽  
Charles D. Canham ◽  
John A. Silander Jr. ◽  
Richard K. Kobe
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Shade Tolerance ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
High Light ◽  
Fast Growth ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Fast Growing ◽  
Growth Functions

Radial and height growth are characterized for saplings of 10 dominant tree species in a transition oak–northern hardwoods forest in southern New England. Growth of saplings in the field is regressed against measures of whole-season light availability, soil moisture, and sapling size. Statistical tests show strong effects of light availability on growth, but no significant effects of soil moisture. Comparison of the light-dependent growth functions for the 10 species revealed three apparent interspecific trade-offs. (i) Species growing quickly at high light tended to grow slowly at low light and vice versa. The order of species from fast growing at high light to fast growing at low light did not correspond to traditional classifications of shade tolerance, and variation along this axis was approximately continuous. (ii) There was substantial variation off the species continuum defined in i. At any point along the continuum from fast growth at high light to fast growth at low light, some species grew faster than others, and these faster growing species had lower survivorship during periods of suppression than the slower growing species. (iii) Height growth at high light was inversely related to survivorship when suppressed. This variation was again continuous (species did not cluster into discrete categories), but the order of the species did correspond closely to a traditional ordering of shade tolerance. There was little correspondence between our estimated growth functions and the growth functions assumed in the JABOWA–FORET class of forest simulation models. These results raise serious concerns about the current practice of assigning growth functions to species in simulation models using traditional classifications of shade tolerance.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF ROOT DEFORMATION AND LIGHT AVAILABILITY ON GROWTH AND BIOMASS ALLOCATION OF Senna multijuga SEEDLINGS (Rich) H. S. Irwin & Barneby

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emile Caroline Silva Lopes ◽  
Ândrea Carla Dalmolin ◽  
Ivan Bezerra Allama ◽  
Karine Ferreira Pereira ◽  
William Martin Aitken II ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Tropical Tree ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Root Deformation ◽  
Senna Multijuga

ABSTRACT The effects of root deformation caused by errors in the pricking-out process in forest nurseries are still unknown for tropical tree seedlings. We analyzed the effects of light availability and root deformation on growth and biomass allocation in seedlings of Senna multijuga, a pioneer tropical tree commonly used in forest restoration programs. Our hypotheses were: (a) as a typical light-demanding species, the seedlings of S. multijuga may have their growth compromised by low light availability; (b) root deformation impairs growth rates and induces changes in biomass allocation; and (c) the effects of low light availability on growth and biomass allocation are increased by root deformation. Seedlings with and without root deformation were cultivated for 43 days under three levels of total daily photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (28, 12, and 1 mol photons m-2 day-1). Seedlings of S. multijuga had their growth rates severely affected by values of PAR at about 1 mol photons m-2 day-1, but root deformation did not affect the relative growth rates of the whole plant. Instead, root deformation caused a decrease in the relative growth rate of roots in all light availabilities. The changes in root growth affected biomass allocation to the roots. The interactive effects of light availability and root deformation on the allocation of biomass to leaves are more pronounced at low light availability. Root deformations may lead to the production of seedlings with a low competitiveness capacity regardless of light conditions.

Direct and indirect effect of seed size on seedling survival along an experimental light availability gradient

2019 ◽  
Vol 281 ◽  
pp. 64-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Ma ◽  
Charles G. Willis ◽  
Chunhui Zhang ◽  
Huakun Zhou ◽  
Xinquan Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Light Availability

Growth and phenotypic plasticity of two tropical tree species under low light availability

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marúcia da Cunha Fagundes ◽  
Ândrea Carla Dalmolin ◽  
Luciana Santos Lobo ◽  
Ana Cristina Schilling ◽  
Martielly Santana dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Shade Tolerance ◽  
Carbon Allocation ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Tropical Tree ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Tropical Tree Species

Abstract Aims Screening tree species in tropical rainforest according to their shade tolerance is important to efficiently manage the native trees of economic significance in secondary forest enrichment regimes. The objective of this study was to determine the whole-plant light compensation point (WPLCP) and compare the phenotypic plasticity in relation to growth and carbon allocation of Cariniana legalis and Gallesia integrifolia seedlings under low light availability. Methods Seedlings were cultivated for 77 days under conditions of five photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (0.02, 1.1, 2.3, 4.5 and 5.9 mol photons m -2 day -1) in three replicates. Growth and carbon allocation variables were determined. Important Findings Growth rates of C. legalis were higher and lower than those of G. integrifolia under 1.1 and 5.9 mol photons m -2 day -1, respectively. The WPLCP differed significantly between the two species. In accordance with the criteria of the shade tolerance classification for these two tropical tree species, our results showed that C. legalis had lower WPLCP and phenotypic plasticity in terms of higher growth rates and greater shade tolerance than G. integrifolia. From a practical point of view, we demonstrated that the differential linkage between growth and changing PAR between the two species can become a useful tool for comparing and selecting tree species in forest enrichment projects.

Screening of F1 progeny for selection of superior hybrids in mulberry (Morus spp.) - A simple approach PART I: Screening of seedlings in relation to seed size

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 5256
Author(s):  
Daryoush Shafiei ◽  
Prof. Basavaiah*
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Size Classes ◽  
Morus Spp ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Size Grading

In mulberry (Morus spp.), the process of selection of promising hybrids from F1 population requires the screening of a large number of progenies and a long period. To develop a simple and faster approach for screening, studies were conducted using F1 seeds of two crosses. The details of screening studies conducted in relation to seed-size and seedling-size are reported separately in two parts. In this part, the F1 seeds were size-graded as small, medium and large seeds; their progenies were raised separately and screened in nursery. There was a considerable degree of variation in size of seeds and medium-size class seeds were in high percentage in both the crosses. The length, width and weight of seeds were also varied between the seed size classes significantly in both the crosses. The seed size classes differ with high significance in shoot length and Root collar diameter and also differ significantly in root length and weight of seedlings. The positive correlation between the seed size and growth of seedlings, seed size and germination, seed size and seedling survival in nursery indicated that size-grading of seeds and rejection of small seeds in the beginning of screening process may help to increase the efficiency of screening by increasing the chances of getting superior hybrids from limited progenies. However, confirmation on the performance of large seedlings from small seed size class may help to draw conclusion. Hence, the studies are continued with size- grading of seedlings in the next part of screening study.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document