Effects of plant size, leaf herbivory, local competition and fruit production on survival, growth and future reproduction of a neotropical herb

For many geophytes living in Mediterranean ecosystems, the passage of fire can produce bursts of flowering, seed production, vegetative growth, and seedling recruitment. In the present study, we investigated patterns of flowering and fruit production of the chaparral geophyte Chlorogalum pomeridianum (common soap plant) at two sites: one burned in a prescribed fire and one in nearby unburned chaparral. Both sites burned in a wildfire 2 years later, and we continued monitoring marked plants for an additional 6 years, enabling us to observe the effects of recent reburning on reproduction and growth. We found that flowering was stimulated by fire but was not strictly fire-dependent. There was a positive relationship between bulb size and leaf area, as well as between these two characteristics and flower and fruit production. Flower stalk initiation occurred when plants reached a minimum leaf area of ~1000 cm2, indicating that a minimum bulb size must be reached before reproductive effort is initiated. Direct herbivory of flowering stalks reduced fruiting and leaf herbivory indirectly prevented the initiation of flowering stalks. In the first several years after fire, flower and fruit production could be explained by resource matching but in subsequent years, resource matching was replaced by resource switching.

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Flowering phenology of tropical-alpine dwarf trees on Mount Kinabalu, Borneo

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467404001841 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 563-571 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Gaku Kudo ◽

Shizuo Suzuki

Keyword(s):

Flowering Phenology ◽

Plant Size ◽

Sympatric Species ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Flowering Pattern ◽

Flowering Synchrony ◽

Mount Kinabalu ◽

Main Plot ◽

Tropical Alpine ◽

Summit Region

The flowering phenology of five alpine dwarf-tree species was observed in the summit region (3900–3950 m elevation) of Mt. Kinabalu on Borneo Island from March 1998 to November 2001. For each target species, 20–50 individual plants were numbered in two observation plots and the number of inflorescences was monitored at 2–3-mo intervals. The flowering patterns varied among species. Rhododendron buxifolium bloomed extensively every March–May at the main plot but the flowering pattern at the subplot was less predictable. Mass flowering occurred in March 1998 when drought stress was very severe due to an El Niño event. Rhododendron ericoides showed continuous flowering throughout the year and high synchrony between the plots. Extensive flowering of Leptospermum recurvum occurred synchronously within and between plots in the early half of 1999, then flowering activity decreased greatly. Photinia davidiana showed an annual flowering cycle but the timing of the peak flowering differed between the plots. Vaccinium stapfianum showed synchronous flowering between the plots and the flowering peak appeared at longer than 1-y intervals. Plant size was positively correlated with mean flower production in all species, and with the flowering frequency of R. ericoides, R. buxifolium, and V. stapfianum at one of the plots at least. Two fleshy-fruited species, P. davidiana and V. stapfianum, had high selfing ability for fruit production and showed relatively low flowering synchrony among individuals in comparison with the other species. These results indicate that the trigger for initiation of flowering may differ among sympatric species in a tropical-alpine ecosystem at least in normal years.

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Effects of Floral Traits, Pollinator Visitation, and Plant Size on Ipomopsis aggregata Fruit Production

The American Naturalist ◽

10.1086/285637 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 143 (5) ◽

pp. 870-889 ◽

Cited By ~ 105

Author(s):

Randall J. Mitchell

Keyword(s):

Plant Size ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Floral Traits ◽

Ipomopsis Aggregata ◽

Pollinator Visitation

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027 Tomato Plant Size and Fruit Yield as Affected by the Date of Symptom Appearance of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.3.392e ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 392E-392

Author(s):

Juan C. Diaz-Perez ◽

D. Bertrand ◽

D. Giddings

Keyword(s):

Plant Development ◽

Tomato Plant ◽

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus ◽

Plant Size ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Tomato Spotted Wilt ◽

Wilt Virus ◽

T Values

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) can cause serious damage to tomato, pepper, lettuce, and other crops. The virus is transmitted by several species of thrips. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the time (t, days after transplanting) when TSWV symptoms first appeared on tomato plant size and fruit yield. Tomato (`Florida-47') plants were drip-irrigated and planted over black plastic mulch. The experiment was carried out in Tifton, Ga., during Spring 1999. High populations of thrips were detected since early stages of plant development, which resulted in a high incidence of TSWV. Plant fresh weight was significantly higher (r2 = 0.632, n = 216) the later in plant development TSWV symptoms first appeared (i.e., with increasing t values). Total fruit production of individual plant linearly increased with increasing t values (r2 = 0.664, n = 216). As with total fruit production, fruit marketable yield was also higher with increasing t values; however, marketable yield was significantly reduced even when plants were infected later in the season (t > 55 days after transplanting). Our results suggest that it is important to keep tomato plants free from TSWV as long as possible. This applies to both developing and developed plants.

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Transplant Container Shape and Strawberry Transplant Growth

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.32.3.505c ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 505C-505

Author(s):

Eric B. Bish ◽

Daniel J. Cantliffe ◽

Craig K. Chandler

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Root Growth ◽

Surface Area ◽

Plant Density ◽

Plant Size ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Production Costs ◽

Before And After ◽

Bare Root ◽

Container Shape

Bare-root strawberry transplants have been conventionally used for establishment of strawberry fruiting fields. These bare-root transplants have variability in vegetative vigor that results in irregular flowering patterns. We have been experimenting with a containerized transplant system to produce uniform transplants. Increasing transplant container volume by increasing perimeter, rather than depth, has resulted in increased plant size, but also increases transplant production costs. This study evaluated three container perimeters (17, 25, 32 cm) and three container shapes (circular, elliptical, and biconvex) such that different cell perimeters had the same greatest diameter. All containers had a depth of 3.5 cm. Root imaging analysis (MacRHIZOTM) was used to measure root growth in the container as well as root growth 3 and 6 weeks after transplanting. Increasing container perimeter led to increased plant growth before and after transplanting, but did not affect fruit production. Transplant container shape did not significantly alter plant growth or fruit production. Biconvex and elliptical containers required 25% and 15% less surface area, respectively. Therefore, a biconvex shaped container can be used to increase plant density during transplant propagation, decreasing surface area needed and reducing production costs.

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The Use of Leaf Removal and Prohexadione-Ca to Modify `Camarosa' Strawberry Nursery Plant Morphology for Plasticulture Fruit Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.39.4.820b ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 820B-820

Author(s):

Julia Reekie* ◽

Peter Hicklenton ◽

John Duval ◽

Craig Chandler ◽

Paul Struik

Keyword(s):

Plant Morphology ◽

Plant Size ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Synthesis Inhibitor ◽

Total Leaf Area ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Nursery Plant ◽

Nursery Field ◽

Time Of Harvest

Our previous work on modifying strawberry plant morphology used either mowing to remove the leaf laminas and part of the petioles on `Camarosa', or a new reduced-risk gibberellin synthesis inhibitor, Prohexadione-Ca (ProCa), to restrict cell elongation in `Sweet Charlie'. These early studies showed promising results in acheiving desirable plant size and increasing fruit yield in annual hill plasticulture. Therefore, in the growing seasons of 2001 and 2002, we used `Camarosa' to explore the possibility of combining mowing and ProCa as a means of modifying strawberry transplant morphology in the nurseries, and studied its effect on fruit production in annual hill plasticulture. Plants were mowed and treated with 62.5 μL·L-1 of ProCa in a nursery field in Nova Scotia (45°26'N, 63°27'W). Treatments consisted of either mowing, the application of ProCa, or a combination of mowing and ProCa on one of two dates, 5 or 19 Sept. ProCa application early in the growing season had increased the production of daughter plants in the nursery. All plants were harvested in early October, and immediately transplanted in Dover, Fla. (28°00'N, 82°22'W). Fruits were collected twice weekly from late November to February or March. At time of harvest, both mowing and ProCa reduced plant height and total leaf area; plants which were treated with ProCa and mowed were the shortest. On average, treated plants had higher fruit yield as compared to untreated plants. In 2001, early fruit production in December was increased significantly in treated plants.

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Irrigation and Fertigation with Drip and Alternative Micro Irrigation Systems in Northern Highbush Blueberry

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.50.6.897 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 50 (6) ◽

pp. 897-903 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Oscar L. Vargas ◽

David R. Bryla ◽

Jerry E. Weiland ◽

Bernadine C. Strik ◽

Luna Sun

Keyword(s):

Canopy Cover ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Plant Size ◽

Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽

Fruit Production ◽

First Year ◽

Highbush Blueberry ◽

Irrigation Systems ◽

Northern Highbush Blueberry ◽

Micro Irrigation

The use of conventional drip and alternative micro irrigation systems were evaluated for 3 years in six newly planted cultivars (Earliblue, Duke, Draper, Bluecrop, Elliott, and Aurora) of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). The drip system included two lines of tubing on each side of the row with in-line drip emitters at every 0.45 m. The alternative systems included geotextile tape and microsprinklers. The geotextile tape was placed alongside the plants and dispersed water and nutrients over the entire length. Microsprinklers were installed between every other plant at a height of 1.2 m. Nitrogen was applied by fertigation at annual rates of 100 and 200 kg·ha−1 N by drip, 200 kg·ha−1 N by geotextile tape, and 280 kg·ha−1 N by microsprinklers. By the end of the first season, plant size, in terms of canopy cover, was greatest with geotextile tape, on average, and lowest with microsprinklers or drip at the lower N rate. The following year, canopy cover was similar with geotextile tape and drip at the higher N rate in each cultivar, and was lowest with microsprinklers in all but ‘Draper’. In most of the cultivars, geotextile tape and drip at the higher N rate resulted in greater leaf N concentrations than microsprinklers or drip at the lower N rate, particularly during the first year after planting. By the third year, yield averaged 3.1–9.1 t·ha−1 among the cultivars, but was similar with geotextile tape and drip at either N rate, and was only lower with microsprinklers. Overall, drip was more cost effective than geotextile tape, and fertigation with 100 kg·ha−1 N by drip was sufficient to maximize early fruit production in each cultivar. Microsprinklers were less effective by comparison and resulted in white salt deposits on the fruit.

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Tropical tree seedling dynamics: recruitment patterns and their population consequences for three canopy species in Panama

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467400008038 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 369-383 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Diane de Steven

Keyword(s):

Growth Rates ◽

Seedling Recruitment ◽

Seedling Survival ◽

Plant Size ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Barro Colorado Island ◽

Maximum Height ◽

Tree Seedling ◽

Average Growth

ABSTRACTA study of seedling demography of three shade-tolerant canopy tree species (Quararibea asterolepis, Trichilia tuberculata, and Tetragastris panamensis) was initiated to integrate with long-term studies of tree fruit production and of tree population dynamics on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Over a five-year period, all seedlings (height <50 cm) and small saplings (height ≥50 cm to dbh 1 cm) were measured and monitored in permanent tree-centred transects (N = 10–11 trees per species). Survival rates increased with plant size class and were similar among species. Maximum height growth rates increased with increasing plant size, but average growth rates did not; this disparity suggests the importance of release from understorey suppression for long-term recruitment success. Among the three species, Quararibea had the lowest standing seedling densities and almost no sapling recruitment, whereas Tetragastris had the highest densities of both seedlings and saplings; Trichilia seedling and sapling densities were intermediate. In all three species, a few trees produced very high seedling and sapling densities in comparison with the sample average. All three species exhibited a year of exceptionally high new seedling recruitment during the study period; these good years were not coincident among the species but instead reflected the species' phenological differences. Since seedling survival becomes relatively constant and high after the first few years of life (c. 80% y−1), such large new cohorts persist as a year-class effect in the seedling population and thus maintain seedling numbers over time. The interspecific differences in seedling and sapling dynamics were consistent with overall 10-year trends of a declining Quararibea population, a stable Trichilia population, and an increasing Tetragastris population.

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Does masting scale with plant size? High reproductive variability and low synchrony in small and unproductive individuals

Annals of Botany ◽

10.1093/aob/mcaa118 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 126 (5) ◽

pp. 971-979 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Michał Bogdziewicz ◽

Jakub Szymkowiak ◽

Rafael Calama ◽

Elizabeth E Crone ◽

Josep M Espelta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Periodic Variation ◽

Plant Size ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Low Fertility ◽

Mast Seeding ◽

Species Variation ◽

Individual Plant ◽

Exact Nature ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Seed Crops

Abstract Background and Aims In a range of plant species, the distribution of individual mean fecundity is skewed and dominated by a few highly fecund individuals. Larger plants produce greater seed crops, but the exact nature of the relationship between size and reproductive patterns is poorly understood. This is especially clear in plants that reproduce by exhibiting synchronized quasi-periodic variation in fruit production, a process called masting. Methods We investigated covariation of plant size and fecundity with individual-plant-level masting patterns and seed predation in 12 mast-seeding species: Pinus pinea, Astragalus scaphoides, Sorbus aucuparia, Quercus ilex, Q. humilis, Q. rubra, Q. alba, Q. montana, Chionochloa pallens, C. macra, Celmisia lyallii and Phormium tenax. Key Results Fecundity was non-linearly related to masting patterns. Small and unproductive plants frequently failed to produce any seeds, which elevated their annual variation and decreased synchrony. Above a low fecundity threshold, plants had similar variability and synchrony, regardless of their size and productivity. Conclusions Our study shows that within-species variation in masting patterns is correlated with variation in fecundity, which in turn is related to plant size. Low synchrony of low-fertility plants shows that the failure years were idiosyncratic to each small plant, which in turn implies that the small plants fail to reproduce because of plant-specific factors (e.g. internal resource limits). Thus, the behaviour of these sub-producers is apparently the result of trade-offs in resource allocation and environmental limits with which the small plants cannot cope. Plant size and especially fecundity and propensity for mast failure years play a major role in determining the variability and synchrony of reproduction in plants.

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Plugging Date and Cold Storage Affect Strawberry Transplant Production and Performance in Annual Plasticulture

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.39.4.829a ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 829A-829

Author(s):

Fumiomi Takeda Takeda ◽

Stan Hokanson* ◽

John Enns ◽

Penelope Perkins-Veazie ◽

Harry Swartz

Keyword(s):

Tissue Culture ◽

Cold Storage ◽

Cold Treatment ◽

Plant Size ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Cold Room ◽

High Tunnels ◽

Mother Plants ◽

And Performance

`Chandler' strawberry plants were propagated in tissue culture and grown from April to August in a protected environment to produce stolons. July-harvested daughter plants were stuck in cell packs with rooting media and placed under mist sprinklers, or cold stored at 2 °C for 42 days. Among the July transplants, some were kept in the greenhouse until field planting (14 Sept.) and others were moved into a cold room on 14 August. Daughter plant size and position on the stolon affected rooting and quality of transplants. July-harvested daughter plants that were plugged and misted after being cold stored for 42 days developed fewer roots than daughter plants plugged immediately after detaching from mother plants in July or August. In the field, transplants produced from daughter plants harvested in July and cold stored for 42 days developed more stolons than transplants from July- and August-harvested daughters that were not exposed to cold storage treatments. Larger daughter plants produced more branch crowns than did smaller daughter plants during the fall. All transplants from daughter plants harvested in July and propagated without cold treatment bloomed by November. Fruit production ranged from 521 to 703 g per plant. `Chandler' plants from daughter plants that weighed 10 g produced 10% greater yield than those that weighed <1.0 g. Plants generated from daughter plants plugged in July produced 26% more fruit than those plants plugged in August. Greenhouse soilless systems can be used to grow `Chandler' mother plants for generating runner tips and transplants for the annual plasticulture in colder climates. `Chandler' plants produced in July can yield a late fall crop under high tunnels and more fruit in the spring than August-plugged transplants

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