scholarly journals Seed size, number and strategies in annual plants: a comparative functional analysis and synthesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 126 (7) ◽  
pp. 1109-1128
Author(s):  
John G Hodgson ◽  
Gabriel Montserrat Marti ◽  
Bozena Šerá ◽  
Glynis Jones ◽  
Amy Bogaard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Seed Size ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Positive Function ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
Negative Function ◽  
Ecological Importance

Abstract Background and Aims Plants depend fundamentally on establishment from seed. However, protocols in trait-based ecology currently estimate seed size but not seed number. This can be rectified. For annuals, seed number should simply be a positive function of vegetative biomass and a negative function of seed size. Methods Using published values of comparative seed number as the ‘gold standard’ and a large functional database, comparative seed yield and number per plant and per m2 were predicted by multiple regression. Subsequently, ecological variation in each was explored for English and Spanish habitats, newly calculated C-S-R strategies and changed abundance in the British flora. Key Results As predicted, comparative seed mass yield per plant was consistently a positive function of plant size and competitive ability, and largely independent of seed size. Regressions estimating comparative seed number included, additionally, seed size as a negative function. Relationships differed numerically between regions, habitats and C-S-R strategies. Moreover, some species differed in life history over their geographical range. Comparative seed yield per m2 was positively correlated with FAO crop yield, and increasing British annuals produced numerous seeds. Nevertheless, predicted values must be viewed as comparative rather than absolute: they varied according to the ‘gold standard’ predictor used. Moreover, regressions estimating comparative seed yield per m2 achieved low precision. Conclusions For the first time, estimates of comparative seed yield and number for >800 annuals and their predictor equations have been produced and the ecological importance of these regenerative traits has been illustrated. ‘Regenerative trait-based ecology’ remains in its infancy, with work needed on determinate vs. indeterminate flowering (‘bet-hedging’), C-S-R methodologies, phylogeny, comparative seed yield per m2 and changing life history. Nevertheless, this has been a positive start and readers are invited to use estimates for >800 annuals, in the Supplementary data, to help advance ‘regenerative trait-based ecology’ to the next level.

Yield response of narrow-leafed lupin plants to variations in pod number

1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Palta ◽  
C. Ludwig
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
Subsequent Removal ◽  
Seed Filling ◽  
Specific Number ◽  
Pod Number ◽  
Number Of Seeds

The effect of pod number on the seed yield and components of seed yield was examined for narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) grown at a plant density of 36 plants/m2 in both the glasshouse and the field. Diflerent numbers of pods per plant in the glasshouse-grown lupin were generated by the application of N6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) to a specific number of flowers to ensure artificially that they set pods, and the subsequent removal of the remaining untreated flowers. Pod number ranged from 6 to 65 pods/plant in the glasshouse and was naturally distributed from 2 to 22 pods/plant in the field. Increases in seed yield per plant occurred as pod number per plant increased from 2 to 30 pods. No further increases in seed yield resulted when pod number per plant increased from 30 to 55 pods. Seed yield per plant was depressed as pod number increased from 55 to 65 pods. Seed size fell as pod number per plant increased over 20 pods and was less affected once the number of seeds per pod was reduced. The reduction in seed number per pod resulted from an increase in the number of seeds that aborted during seed filling. The data suggest that at a plant density of 36 plants/m2 there is potential for improving seed yield per plant by increasing the number of pods that reach maturity, provided it does not exceed 30 pods/plant. However, if consideration is given to producing large seeds, often preferred by buyers, the number of pods per plant should not exceed 20 pods.

Seed size effects and competitive ability in Thlaspi arvense L. (Brassicaceae)

Botany ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Susko ◽  
Paul B. Cavers
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Seed Size ◽  
Intraspecific Competition ◽  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Thlaspi Arvense ◽  
High Nutrient

We examined the effects of seed size on plant size and competitive ability of Thlaspi arvense L. grown with and without intraspecific competition under contrasting soil fertility regimes. For solitary plants from each of four half-sibship families, seed mass was positively correlated with percentage germination, cotyledon size, and plant biomass after 15 d of growth, but differences in plant biomass largely disappeared at later dates. Small and large seeds of a single maternal family were sown in uniform or mixed arrangements of seed size classes (small:large; 100%:0%; 75%:25%; 50%:50%; 25%:75%; 0%:100%) at each of two densities (8 or 16 seeds·pot–1) under low and high soil nutrient regimes. In mixtures at low density under low soil fertility, plants from small seeds had significantly lower relative yields than expected. At high density, under either low or high nutrient conditions, plants from large seeds had significantly greater relative yields than expected. Hence, under most conditions, size inequalities between plants from seeds of different size resulted in a relative competitive advantage for plants from large seeds. The duration and extent of differences in plant size arising from T. arvense seeds of contrasting size depends on maternal genetic differences, intensity of intraspecific competition, and soil fertility.

Seed mass and nutrient content in nutrient-starved tropical rainforest in Venezuela

1997 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Grubb ◽  
David A. Coomes
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Tropical Rainforest ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Trees And Shrubs ◽  
Poor Soil

AbstractMean seed dry mass values were determined for 27 species of trees and shrubs in Amazonian caatinga (a forest-type especially short of nitrogen) and for 11 species in adjacent much taller forest on less poor soil. The tall trees (> 15 m) of caatinga have smaller seeds than the tall trees in adjacent forest on less infertile soil (both overall and in six taxonomically controlled comparisons), and than the tall trees in lowland rainforests elsewhere. The smaller seed size is interpreted in terms of a major advantage of keeping up seed number outweighing the marginal advantages of larger seed size. For trees of caatinga and adjacent forest considered together, there is a significantly greater concentration of P and Mg, and almost significantly greater concentration of N, in the embryo-cum-endosperm fraction of smaller-seeded species, but the content per seed of N, P and Mg is smaller in smaller seeds. The mean contribution of the seed coat (including endocarp for pyrenes) was 17% for dry mass, 3% for content of P, 10% for N and Mg, 15% for K, and 30% for Ca.

Effect of pollen load, self-pollination and plant size on seeds and germination in the endangered pink-lipped spider orchid, Caladenia behrii

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Petit ◽  
Manfred Jusaitis ◽  
Doug Bickerton
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Stem Length ◽  
Leaf Width ◽  
Pollen Load ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
Pollinator Effectiveness ◽  
Conservation Programs ◽  
Self Pollination ◽  
Hand Pollination

Caladenia behrii Schltdl. (Orchidaceae) (syn. Arachnorchis behrii) is a sexually deceptive, endangered orchid that produces aggregated pollen as pollinia. It is pollinated by a thynnine wasp, and may also be pollinated incidentally by other insects. Pollinator effectiveness may depend on the number of pollinia that pollinators carry and deposit, and on whether they mediate cross-pollination or self-pollination. To understand the role of pollinators and guide conservation programs, we determined the effect of pollen load (one pollinium v. two pollinia) and self-pollination on seed number, seed (embryo) size and germination at 35 days. We also examined the effect of plant size on seed size and seed number. By using partial correlations with leaf width, seed size, seed number, capsule volume and stem length, we found that leaf width was a good predictor for seed number, and that seed size was not correlated with any of the variables examined. Flowers pollinated with one pollinium and two pollinia did not produce seeds that differed in size or number. Cross-pollinated flowers produced fewer but larger seeds, which germinated faster than did seeds from self-pollinated flowers. We conclude that seed production in the field may be estimated from leaf size, that pollinators carrying one pollinium are as effective as those carrying two pollinia and that selfing affects germination negatively, partly because of the smaller size of selfed seeds. Conservation programs aiming to perform hand-pollination of this species should use crossing with a single pollinium.

Growth and yield of indeterminate soybeans. 1. Effect of defoliation

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 889
Author(s):  
LW Banks ◽  
AL Bernardi
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Leaf Damage ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Full Flowering ◽  
Beginning Of Flowering ◽  
Seed Yields ◽  
Over The Top

Indeterminate soybeans (Glycine max, varieties Chaffey and Farrer) were subjected to defoliation treatments in the field over 3 years to determine their ability to recover from leaf damage from foliage feeding pests. Defoliation treatments were imposed in years 1 and 2 by clipping all leaflets in half mechanically (50%) or by removing all leaves leaving the petioles on the plant (1 00%) to simulate 2 severe levels of sudden defoliation. The variety Chaffey was defoliated early in vegetative growth (V2), at the beginning of flowering (Fl), at full flowering (F100) or at the end of flowering (EF100) as single treatments in years 1 and 2. In year 3, only the top 4 leaves of each plant were clipped in half to simulate levels of defoliation experienced in commercial crops. In that year the variety Farrer was treated at stages V3 (early vegetative), F1 or F100 as single treatments or at V3 + F1, F1 + F100 or weekly from V3 to EF100 as repeated treatments. Severe defoliation (100%) at EF100 hastened maturity (95% of pods dry) by 24 days (year 1) and 22 days (year 2), which reduced seed size by 34 and 41%, seed number by 38 and 32% and seed yield by 58 and 60%, respectively. Seed yield was also reduced by a single 100% defoliation at F1 due to reductions in seed number rather than to seed size. The repeated defoliations in year 3 reduced leaf area index, plant height, seed number and .seed yield. Weekly defoliations reduced yield by 20% by reducing seed size by 8% and seed number by 13%. We conclude that, prior to flowering, 50% defoliation is unlikely to reduce yield, but repeated damage will reduce yield significantly. Also, indeterminate soybeans can withstand an initial 50% loss over the top 4 leaves at F1, but repeated defoliations reduce seed yields.

Response of Aryloxyalkanoate Dioxygenase-12 Transformed Soybean Yield Components to Postemergence 2,4-D

Weed Science ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 242-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. Robinson ◽  
David M. Simpson ◽  
William G. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Seed Yield ◽  
Yield Components ◽  
Growth Stage ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
Node Number ◽  
Grain Yield Components ◽  
2,4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid ◽  
Pod Number

New trait technology incorporating 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) resistance in soybean provides an alternative method to control weeds. However, the effect of postemergence treatments of 2,4-D on aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase-12 (AAD-12) soybean on injury and yield components has not been reported. Our objectives were to characterize the effect of 2,4-D (dimethylamine salt) rates (0, 1,120, and 2,240 g ae ha−1) and soybean growth stage (V5, R2, or V5 followed by R2) on AAD-12 soybean injury and yield components. Less than 3% soybean injury was observed when 2,240 g ha−1of 2,4-D was applied to R2 soybean, and less than 1% soybean injury was caused by 1,120 g ha−1of 2,4-D. Seed yield, seed mass, pod number, seed number, seed per pod, reproductive node number, pods per reproductive node, node number, and percent reproductive nodes were not affected by 2,4-D treatments when applied at the V5, R2, or the V5 followed by R2 soybean growth stage. This research demonstrates that soybean transformed with AAD-12 can tolerate foliar applications of 2,4-D at rates up to 2,240 g ha−1with no effect on soybean grain yield components.

Seed yield and biomass allocation in Sorghum bicolor and F1 and backcross generations of S. bicolor × S. halepense hybrids

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 468-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon K. Piper ◽  
Peter A. Kulakow
Keyword(s):  
Sorghum Bicolor ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Reproductive Allocation ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Perennial Grains ◽  
High Seed Yield

The Land Institute is developing perennial grains to be grown in prairie-like mixtures. One approach involves the development of a perennial grain sorghum by crossing tetraploid Sorghum bicolor with wild S. halepense to combine high seed yield with overwintering ability via rhizome production. We grew tetraploid S. bicolor, F1 hybrid (BC0), and two backcross generations (BC1 and BC2) in a randomized block design to examine total biomass, seed yield, and allocation to plant parts within and across generations. Root, rhizome, stem and leaf, and total biomass decreased from the BC0 to BC2 to S. bicolor generations, whereas panicle mass, seed mass, and reproductive allocation were lowest in the BC0 generation (p < 0.05, ANOVA). Mean seed mass (g ∙ plant−1) was 39.1 in the BC0, 107.3 in the BC1, 84.1 in the BC2, and 92.7 for the S. bicolor parent, which translated into yields of 171.9, 471.6, 396.7, and 407.5 g ∙ m−2, respectively. Reproductive allocation varied from 14.7% in BC0 to 28.9% in BC2 compared with 33.5% in S. bicolor. Mean allocation to rhizomes was 2.71% in BC0 but negligible in BC1 and BC2. There was no relationship between rhizome mass and seed mass within any generation, but there was a positive correlation between total plant mass and rhizome mass in BC0. We divided the BC0 population into four groups with respect to rhizome production and found no significant differences among the groups in plant size or seed yield. Within each generation, reproductive allocation was inversely related to culm mass. The lack of an apparent trade-off between allocation to rhizome versus allocation to seed within any generation supports the possibility of combining within a population high seed yield and production of perennating belowground organs. Key words: backcross, hybrid, perennial grains, reproductive allocation, rhizome, seed mass, Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum halepense.

scholarly journals The reproductive strategy in a Chloris virgata population in response to precipitation regimes

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 180607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Ying ◽  
Wang Chunxia ◽  
Zhang Jukui ◽  
Wang Chunqing
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Reproductive Strategy ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Seed Traits ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
Water Addition ◽  
Precipitation Regimes ◽  
High Precipitation ◽  
Chloris Virgata ◽  
Low Precipitation

Resource availability influences plant growth and reproduction. Here, a controlled experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the adaptation response of Chloris virgata to different precipitation conditions, and to further predict the reproductive strategy in a population of C. virgata under different precipitation regimes. Three regimes (low, typical and high) of water addition were used to simulate current precipitation patterns. In total 20 individuals for each treatment were analysed to compare tiller number, spike traits, seed traits, the relationship between seed size and seed number, and so on. In addition, the effects of different precipitation regimes on offspring vigour of C. virgata were also studied. Results indicated that tiller number, spike number, seed yield and seed number were unchanged under different water addition regimes, while seed size was about 0.5 mg at typical and high precipitation levels and was higher than that in the low precipitation level. The higher seed mass per spike and spike mass both occurred at typical and high precipitation levels. Significant positive correlations between seed mass and non-seed mass in C. virgata in response to precipitation regimes were largely allometric (size dependent), as was a significant negative correlation between seed size and seed number at low precipitation. The highest germination rates and seedling weights both occurred at typical and high precipitation levels. These findings showed that different precipitation regimes affected reproductive strategy of C. virgata. Chloris virgata will not benefit from low precipitation, while typical and high precipitation will improve seed traits and offspring vigour of this species.

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